Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Selected for 2025 "Leave No Trace" Community Conservation Spotlight

June 5-7, 2025 - Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The Leave No Trace organization has selected the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest for a special 2025 Spotlight to highlight community conservation opportunities. As outdoor areas nationwide are being impacted by record use, this new initiative from Leave No Trace shines a light on communities rising to meet this challenge with multi-day, onsite education, and hands-on stewardship initiatives in partnership with other local groups volunteering to conserve access to public lands.

From June 5-7, the Leave No Trace organization will be in Central Washington to join with the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, Washington Trails Association and other community groups helping to conserve public lands to deliver Leave No Trace education and partner on a stewardship project.

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest was selected as one of 18 sites nationwide, nominated by local land agencies or community groups for the Leave No Trace Spotlight initiative. The diverse sites chosen in 2025 span the country, each with unique environmental challenges. The initiative aims to equip each Spotlight area and partners with relevant Leave No Trace tools that address the site's impacts and foster healthy lands and people.

"The Spotlight program is an amazing way to highlight the power of a community and the steps they can take to protect the outdoor areas they love," states Dana Watts, the Executive Director of Leave No Trace. "This program puts conservation into action and the 3-day Spotlight led by Leave No Trace staff, focuses on workshops, Leave No Trace education, and community engagement to ensure that every Spotlight host is left with the tools necessary to continue to protect and conserve the areas around them."

The following events are free and open to the public, and we encourage people of all ages to participate. For more information and to sign up for events, please visit -https://lnt.org/event/leave-no-trace-spotlight-okanogan-wenatchee-national-forest/.

Friday, June 6: Leave No Trace Pop-up Education & Cleanup, 12:00-3:00, Lake Cle Elum-Speelyi Beach, WA, Cle Elum Ranger District
Join the Leave No Trace Organization, Washington Trails Association, the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and local partners for an engaging and family-friendly outdoor education event. Play quick games to learn more about Leave No Trace and how to protect Speelyi Beach, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and all your favorite outdoor spaces. There will also be an opportunity to help clean up trash on the beach, so bring your work gloves if you would like to help! Bring water, snacks, a hat, sunscreen, and dress for the weather.

Friday, June 6: Leave No Trace Trivia & Social Hour, 6:00-8:00 pm, Riverfront Rock Gym, Wenatchee WA
Whether you are new to Leave No Trace or consider yourself an expert, join us for this family-friendly interactive game night to gauge your knowledge of Leave No Trace practices and principles while learning tips and techniques for protecting the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and all your favorite outdoor spaces. Don't miss this chance to participate in this fun stewardship trivia night and win some cool prizes! Or just come and mingle and learn from Leave No Trace staff and local partner groups that will also have information at this event.

Saturday, June 7: Volunteer Stewardship Workday 9:00-1:00, Liberty Campground, Cle Elum, WA
Join the Leave No Trace Organization, the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Washington Trails Association and other partners and give back to public lands during a fun and rewarding volunteer project. Tasks will include a litter clean up, fence work, painting, and other needed restoration work. Volunteers will be introduced to Leave No Trace and learn more about stewardship education while also celebrating the 2025 National Trails Day!

Host Agency: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/okanogan-wenatchee

For more information and to sign-up/RSVP please visit:https://lnt.org/event/leave-no-trace-spotlight-okanogan-wenatchee-national-forest/

Leave No Trace
1000 North Street
Boulder, CO 80304
Mark Eller, Director of Communications and Marketing
mark@lnt.org
303-442-8222

About Leave No Trace
Using the power of science and research, education for all, and stewardship to support and protect nature, Leave No Trace is on a mission to ensure a sustainable future for the outdoors and the planet. The Spotlight program is the newest education offering from Leave No Trace. Learn more at: www.LNT.org.
Facebook: @LeaveNoTraceCenter
Instagram: @LeaveNoTraceOrg
LinkedIn: @LeaveNoTrace

This release was published on openPR.