July 9, 2026

Camden Meyer | Community Programs Educator

My first introduction to Leave No Trace happened back when I was a young Scout. After packing up camp, we always did a full camp sweep to pick up trash and make sure the site was left even better than we found it. Every time we found a piece of trash to pick up, we shouted “Trash Flower!”

Leave No Trace is an organization that aims to help people be more sustainable through science, education, and stewardship. Their work is centered around the 7 Leave No Trace Principles:

  1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
  2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
  3. Dispose of Waste Properly
  4. Leave What You Find
  5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
  6. Respect Wildlife
  7. Be Considerate of Others

Principle Three: Dispose of Waste Properly

One important Leave No Trace principle to think about when spending time outdoors is principle number three: dispose of waste properly. Trash left on the trails is not only an eyesore for other visitors but can also be harmful to wildlife. Around The Nature Place, we’ve found birds’ nests built with pieces of trash, including plastic straws, candy wrappers, string, fishing line, ribbons, and plastic bags.

Pieces of trash used in a bird's nest.
Looks like this bird found a few trash flowers of its own! Trash found in a bird’s nest at The Nature Place.

How to Practice Leave No Trace Principles

Trash found in nature and affecting wildlife can paint a pretty gloomy picture, but there is plenty we can do to help! One simple way to start is by planning ahead and preparing when it comes to the waste that you’ll produce outdoors. Before heading out, make sure you have a plan to pack out your snack wrappers and other waste. Once you get back, dispose of the waste properly in the trash, or recycle it whenever possible!

Another way that you can help is by doing trash cleanups at your favorite trails or parks! All you need is a bag or bucket and a pair of gloves. Other useful (but not necessary) tools that you can bring along include a trash grabber or old tongs, which can make picking up trash even easier. By helping to pick up trash, you are following three Leave No Trace principles:

  1. Disposing of waste properly by removing trash from the trails
  2. Respecting wildlife by preventing them from using trash in their homes
  3. Being considerate of others by making sure everyone can enjoy a trash-free nature experience
Man in a blue hat picking up trash and putting it into a large white bucket.
Picking trash flowers helps to take care of our natural spaces.

If you would like to help but don’t have the supplies, we’ve got you covered! Stop by the front desk at The Nature Place to check out our trash clean-up explorer backpack! You can borrow gloves, trash grabbers, and trash bags to help you pick up any trash that’s left on the trails. Once you’re done, you can bring your trash back to The Nature Place to have it weighed and see how much of an impact you’ve made!

Many clear backpacks hanging on a wooden stand.
Our explorer backpacks that are available for use are located behind the front desk.

Want to make your trail cleanups more fun and join a community of people documenting the great work they are doing? You can join the Leave No Trace at The Nature Place CitSci project!

This community science project helps to document the trash that you find while practicing principle number three: dispose of waste properly. The only additional tool you will need is a phone with the Leave No Trace app downloaded to show off your trash finds!

When you’re outdoors, it’s important to leave the native flowers that we find, but have fun picking all of the “trash flowers” that you can!