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Evaluation of “Environmental Footsteps”

INTRODUCTION Environmentally conscious practices in camping and eco-tourism are becoming more prevalent in the U.S. Eco-tourism was first coined in the 1980s by Hector CeballosLascurian, who has carried this concept to more than 60 countries. Eco-tourism is defined as “environmentally responsible travel and visitation to relatively undisturbed natural areas in order to enjoy, study, and appreciate nature and any accompanying cultural features that promote conservation.” These environmentally friendly practices are evident in the U.S. national parks and beaches. Practices such as parking the car and paying a fee to ride park shuttles help reduce air pollution in the national parks, and the placement of signs stating, “Leave only your footprints,” (i.e., take your garbage with you when you go) promote the practice of eco-tourism. Garbage and litter in parks, oceans, lakes, rivers, and communities creates pollution and poses danger to both humans and wildlife. Individuals may be more likely to demonstrate good environmental practices at a state/national park or at the beach while following posted rules than they practice at home during their normal daily routines. With no “community ranger” checking for litter and enforcing pollution-reduction rules, many people fail to consider the impact of their usual behaviors on the local environment. The amount of materials and resources a person uses and discards can be viewed as his/her “environmental footprint,” and the size (impact) of this “eco-footprint” varies depending on the individual’s consumption and disposal patterns. Although “environmental footprint” is a widely used term, its origins are unclear. However, its popular and current use accentuates the need for students to understand and apply this term to their lifestyles. For students, the purposes of this lesson are: 1) to identify and evaluate their personal environmental habits and practices; and 2) to voluntarily reduce the environmental impact of these behaviors over the course of the project.