Leave No Trace Selected Bayou Teche as a ‘Hot Spot’ in the Nation and are Hosting Events to Help Raise Awareness about Outdoor Recreation Ethics in Recreation and Natural Areas Around the Country
October 20, 2015 (Boulder, Colo.) The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and its Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers team are partnering with The Teche Ecology Culture History Education (TECHE) Project to host community events and educational activities October 26-November 2. The scenic and popular Bayou Teche Paddle Trail has experienced an increase in trail users in recent years. Impacts of excessive trash and invasive species along the waterway are a primary concern for the environment and burgeoning low-impact recreation economy. The TECHE Project volunteer organization has worked to remove over 50 tons of garbage and invasive species since 2009. In January of 2015 the Bayou Teche was designated as a National Water Trail under the U.S. Department of the Interior and National Park Service.
The Hot Spot Program, a key component of the Leave No Trace In Every Park initiative, raises community awareness and brings solutions and prevention measures to popular natural areas around the country facing heavy recreational use and consequently, the misuse of trails, parks and open space areas. The Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers travel throughout the country providing public education about how to reduce impacts in the outdoors and improve the trail user experience.
“The cumulative impact of so many people enjoying a great and historic waterway such as the Bayou Teche can negatively effect that place,” according to Blake Jackson, Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer. “In most cases, the land impact isn’t due to a malicious intent to harm nature and wildlife. Instead, it’s simply lack of Leave No Trace education and practices.”
The following is a list of events happening on and around the Bayou Teche Paddle Trail with the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers are free and open to the public:
Monday, October 26:Ribbon Cutting and Unveiling of New Floating Dock in Breaux Bridge: 4 pm: Kick-off the week with the TECHE Project, Subaru/Leave No Trace traveling trainers and parish and state officials for the ribbon cutting on the new floating dock in Breaux Bridge and the unveiling of the new Keep It Clean signs that were created through the Keep Louisiana Beautiful Healthy Communities Grant. Parc des Ponts de Pont Breaux. For more information contact Conni Castille 337-277-5292.
Tuesday, October 27: Overview of Leave No Trace Programs for all Patrons and Volunteers of Bayou Paddle Trail : 3 pm-5 pm: Join the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers and the TECHE Project for an interactive presentation where they’ll talk about the how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Participants also will be provided with information on how to easily and effectively integrate Leave No Trace into their daily lives. University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Campus Library. For more information contact: Conni Castille 337-277-5292.
Saturday, October 31: Trash Bash and Boogie Halloween Edition: Clean Up, Paddle Demos and Live Music: 9 am-6 pm at Bayou Teche Brewery:
9 am-12:30 pm Help clean up the Bayou Teche by participating in the Trash Bash and Boogie and learn the principles of how to ‘Leave No Trace’. The first 50 volunteers who show up will receive a free T-shirt and all volunteers will receive a free volunteer lunch and two free drinks of choice. The TECHE Project will provide canoes, gloves, trash pickers, and water. Volunteers will return the brewery at the end of the cleanup to join the kayak demonstrations, paddle workshops, and live music. Prizes will be given for the Spookiest Trash pulled out of the bayou and Most Original Costume.
1 pm – 3 pm Paddle with a Pro & Kayak Demo: Experience multiple kayaks, canoes, and SUPs with Pack & Paddle and learn proper techniques plus paddle safety with Cajun Paddle.
10 am-6 pm Live Music and Brew: After cleaning up and paddling. Join us at Bayou Teche Brewery for the live music and food throughout the day. The Music is FREE so come out and Boogie to:
10 am – 12pm: Diego Martin-Perez
12pm – 3pm: Spencer Nezat
3pm – 6pm: Horace Trahan and the Ossun Express
Bayou Teche Brewery, 1106 Bushville Hwy., Arnaudville, LA. For more information contact Dane Thibodeaux 337-654-3012.
“As the mangers of the Bayou Teche Paddle Trail, we are thrilled to work with the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers to engage our community about responsible outdoor recreation on Bayou Teche.” says Dane Thibodeaux, Bayou Operations Coordinator the TECHE Project. “Working with the national leader in outdoor ethics and education highlights the importance of a National Water Trail in our community and our economy.”
About Leave No Trace
The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics in a national nonprofit organization that protects the outdoors by teaching people how to enjoy it responsibly. Their Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers are mobile teams of educators that visit 48 states every year delivering Leave No Trace programs such as Hot Spots to over 15 million people. For more information, visit: www.LNT.org.
About the TECHE Project:
The Teche Ecology, Culture and History Education Project started in 2009. We are a non-profit organization made up of individuals, businesses and civic leaders passionate about making Bayou Teche a healthier waterway for fishing, kayaking, canoeing, boating, tubing and even swimming. We manage the Bayou Teche Paddle Trail, a National Water Trail in the U.S. Department of Interior. Along with aesthetics and recreation, we advocate for improved water quality in the Bayou Teche watershed through the reduction of non-point source pollution.
Media Contact:
Dane Thibodeaux or Conni Castille, TECHE Project, techeproject@gmail.com, (337)654-3012
Kate Lessman, Kathleen Lessman Communications/ Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, kathleen@kathleenlessmancommunications.com , (970)333-3395
