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Denton’s Clear Creek Natural Heritage Area Selected as 2024 Leave No Trace Spotlight Site

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The Clear Creek Natural Heritage Area in Denton has been honored as a 2024 Spotlight site by the Leave No Trace organization. This distinction underscores the area’s dedication to balancing recreational use with environmental protection. The initiative is part of a national effort to manage the growing impact of outdoor activities on natural spaces.

Gary Packan, Denton Parks and Recreation Director, expressed his excitement about the selection, highlighting the significance of Leave No Trace principles in promoting responsible outdoor recreation and stewardship.

This program, which involves nominations from local land agencies or community groups, focuses on addressing unique environmental challenges across a variety of U.S. locations. The aim is to provide these Spotlight sites with the necessary Leave No Trace tools to manage and reduce their environmental impact.

Dana Watts, Executive Director of Leave No Trace, pointed out the importance of the Spotlight program in demonstrating the effectiveness of community-driven conservation efforts. The program, led by the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Team, includes a range of activities, from workshops to community engagement, to empower sites with ongoing conservation capabilities.

The following free public events are scheduled at the Clear Creek Natural Heritage Area as part of the Leave No Trace initiative:

  • Friday, Jan. 24, 1-4 p.m.: Join in for a day of trail clean-up, trash pick-up, debris removal, and more, in collaboration with the City of Denton’s Parks and Recreation Department.
  • Saturday, Jan. 25, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Visit the Leave No Trace booth at the Outdoor Expo, held at the Clear Creek Natural Heritage Site’s Education Center. This is a great opportunity to learn about Leave No Trace education and how it can be applied in outdoor community settings.

Leave No Trace is dedicated to sustainable outdoor practices through education, research, and stewardship, aiming for a sustainable future for outdoor environments. The Spotlight program is a new educational initiative in this regard.

The Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center is a key environmental and recreational resource in North Central Texas, known for its rich biodiversity, extensive trails, and educational programs. It serves as an exemplary model of community collaboration in preservation, restoration, and sustainability.

For more detailed information on the events and the Leave No Trace initiative, please visit Leave No Trace’s website.

You can also connect with Leave No Trace on social media platforms: Facebook @LeaveNoTraceCenter, Instagram @LeaveNoTraceOrg, Twitter @LeaveNoTrace, and YouTube @leavenotracecenter.

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