This fall, Leave No Trace proudly commemorates four years of partnership with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Eastern Region’s Urban Connections Program, an initiative designed to connect city residents and urban communities with nearby green spaces and national forests through meaningful, nature-based education. By collaborating with a wide range of local partners and community organizations, the program fosters inclusive programming that engages youth and families in the outdoors, inspiring a lifelong sense of stewardship and connection to nature.
Since 2021, Leave No Trace has teamed up with local Urban Connections partners to offer programming ranging from formal workshops and trainings for youth and educators to interactive outreach and hands-on educational activities at local parks, community events, and festivals. The partnership has reached more than 32,000 people, educating nearly 6,000 youth at 100+ programs.
In 2025, the Urban Connections initiative focused on seven major metropolitan areas: Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Detroit, Milwaukee, Boston, St. Louis, and Newark. Local collaborators include Urban Ecology Center, Huellas Latinas, Wilderness Inquiry, Mass Audubon, and Audubon Center at Riverlands, among others.
In Detroit, Leave No Trace activation this summer included pop-up education at Metro Detroit Youth Day, family outreach at Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, and fun educational Leave No Trace games for campers through Detroit Parks and Recreation. One of many highlights was an engaging, hands-on Leave No Trace workshop for teen interns in a summer youth employment program at Belle Isle Nature Center, operated by the Detroit Zoological Society and funded by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The internship program provides “exposure to different career paths but at the same time fostering the love of nature, conservation, and environmental science for these youth,” stated Anthony Davis, Education Specialist from the Environmental Stewardship Internship program.
After participating in the Leave No Trace workshop, a young participant reflected:“Learning how long it takes for things to decompose was really eye-opening. I know so many people in my everyday life who throw trash out the window. I wish I could instill in them to dispose of things the right way… and help our planet.”
Looking ahead, even more people will benefit from this partnership through free, on-demand Leave No Trace education. In 2025, Leave No Trace launched a new online course, Leave No Trace for Urban Connections, with a second course offering, Leave No Trace in Daily Life, coming soon. Though tailored for Urban Connections communities and partners, the courses serve as valuable resources for anyone committed to responsible outdoor and environmental practices in city environments.
Through this broad array of programs and new educational offerings, the Urban Connections partnership continues to expand Leave No Trace’s reach, building lasting connections between city residents and their local parks, greenways, and nearby national forests for recreation, renewal, and learning about the natural world all around us.
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