Leave No Trace delivers an extensive nationwide programme in partnership with stakeholders.

  • An accessible, effective national framework easily utilised by multiple stakeholders across Ireland
  • A training programme reaching all primary and secondary school children in the country
  • Full cooperation with all relevant government departments and state agencies, supporting their work and statutory duties
  • Bespoke support to the community, voluntary and charitable sector
  • Corporate involvement to deliver customised programmes and financial support

Where we work

Leave No Trace Ireland is at work across all 32 counties in Ireland and in countries across the world.
Our office is based in Westport Co. Mayo and we have a registered address with the Irish Sports Council in Dublin.

The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics has a rich history of work with the international community, engaging with NGOs, land agencies, governments, companies and youth serving organisations in over 90 countries. For more information on the international work carried out, download the international guide or visit The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoors Ethics for more information. 

Benefits of Leave No Trace

The ‘Leave No Trace’ programme raises awareness of responsible outdoor recreation and it tackles issues impacting the environment upon which we all depend, as well as actions we can take to improve and sustain it. 

1 Responsible action is taken to better the outdoor environment

Leave No Trace helps people understand how their decisions and actions affect the outdoor environment, builds knowledge and skills necessary to address complex environmental issues, as well as ways we can take action to keep our environment healthy and sustainable for the future.

2 People are empowered

Leave No Trace promotes active learning, citizenship, and student leadership. It empowers people to share their voice and make a difference in their communities. Leave No Trace helps build environmental knowledge and minimum impact skills.

3 Communities are strengthened

Leave No Trace promotes a sense of place and connection through community involvement. When people decide to learn more or take action to improve their environment, they reach out to community groups, donors, volunteers, and local facilities to help bring the community together to understand and address environmental issues impacting their community.

4 Tolerance and understanding are supported

Leave No Trace encourages students to investigate varying sides of issues to understand the full picture. It promotes tolerance of different points of view and different cultures.

5 Imagination and enthusiasm are heightened

Leave No Trace is hands-on, interactive learning that sparks the imagination and unlocks creativity.

6 Learning in the outdoors

Not only does Leave No Trace offer opportunities for practical learning outside but it also enables people to make connections and apply their learning in the real world. Leave No Trace helps learners see the interconnections of social, ecological, economic, cultural and political issues.

7 Critical and creative thinking skills are enhanced

Leave No Trace encourages people to investigate how and why things happen, and to make their own decisions about complex environmental issues. By developing and enhancing critical and creative thinking skills, Leave No Trace helps foster a new generation of informed consumers, workers, as well as policy or decision makers.

8 Connection with nature is increased

By exposing people to nature and allowing them to learn outside, Leave No Trace fosters sensitivity, appreciation, and respect for the environment. It combats “nature deficit disorder” … and its FUN!

9 Healthy lifestyles are encouraged

Leave No Trace gets people outside and active and helps address some of the health issues we are seeing today, such as obesity, attention deficit disorders, and depression. Stress is reduced due to increased time spent in nature.

10 National learning standards are met for multiple subjects

By incorporating Leave No Trace practices into the curriculum, teachers can integrate science, math, language, arts, history, and more into one rich lesson or activity, and still satisfy numerous national academic standards in all subject areas. Taking a class outside or bringing nature indoors provides an excellent backdrop or context for interdisciplinary learning.