Students from Cappanalea OEC, in Kerry recently took part in a Certified Awareness Course. The Leave No Trace mission is to protect the outdoors by teaching and inspiring people to enjoy it responsibly. Students learned about the 7 principles of Leave No Trace and how they can apply the principles in all areas. The Awareness course helps the students answer ‘Why is Leave No Trace important’ and understand the personal responsibility and choice-based approach of Leave No Trace vs prescriptive approach of existing countryside codes. The enthusiastic participants also find out that they have both the personal responsibility and capacity to choose.