Leave No Trace Commitment
Leave No Trace Commitment
Members of the Maine Association of Sea Kayak Guides and Instructors will embrace the following Leave No Trace principles on all trips and will make every effort to educate their clients in the principles of Leave No Trace.
- Plan Ahead and Prepare. Know the regulations and usage guidelines (capacities, etc.) for the areas that you plan to visit. Contact the Maine Island Trail Association for more information (207-761-8225).
- Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces. Limit travel to sand, stone, resilient grasses and established trails. Locate kitchens on durable surfaces, preferably below the high tide line. Camp only in established campsites (or on sand or stone). Select campsite appropriate for your group size — chose no site larger than you need and do not modify a site too small to fit your needs. Never cut or clear vegetation -- dead or alive.
- Dispose of Waste Properly. Pack out all solid human waste, as well as garbage and trash -- your own and any you find. At the end of the trip, dispose of human waste in appropriate and legal ways, such as sanctioned RV dump stations.
- Kindle No Campfires. Always use campstoves for cooking. Kindle no fires, except for in an emergency. Remember that all non-emergency fires require a permit in Maine.
- Respect Wildlife. Enjoy wildlife from enough distance to prevent disturbance, including seals, nesting seabirds, rafting eiders, eagles, ospreys, loon etc.
- Leave What You Find. Allow others a sense of discovery by leaving rocks, plants, archaeological artifacts, and other natural objects where you found them.
- Be Considerate of Other Visitors. Be aware and considerate of other users at all times. People who live and work in the island environment deserve our courtesy. The continued enjoyment of all users depends on a shared island ethic.