The Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau (SCC&TB) and Leave No Trace have announced a partnership to ensure visitors to Red Rock Country have the knowledge to take care of the area’s sensitive environment while enjoying the endless recreation opportunities available.

“Taking action today to ensure Sedona’s beauty for future generations is vital to sustainability,” said SCC&TB President and CEO Candace Carr Strauss. “Partnering with Leave No Trace opens up new avenues for promoting the respectful actions that will help Sedona balance outdoor recreation on our public lands with mindful stewardship.”

Beginning the week of November 15, and in celebration of National Take a Hike Day on November 17, all 725+ SCC&TB members throughout greater Sedona will have access to official Leave No Trace communication materials that are geared towards educating visitors of the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace:  easily-understood practices that help minimize visitors’ environmental impact.

“The magic of Sedona from its red rocks to its rich forests make it a highly-visited destination landscape,” according to Dana Watts, Leave No Trace’s Executive Director.  Through this important partnership, we anticipate that Leave No Trace education and programs on the ground in Sedona will make a lasting difference.”

“The partnership includes a co-branding agreement that will make Leave No Trace highly visible in Sedona,” Strauss added. “Their nationally-recognized expertise will amplify our message of environmental responsibility as well as give visitors the information they need to be part of the solution.”

With the passage of Arizona’s first Sustainable Tourism Plan in 2019, Sedona’s tourism management approach seeks to balance the Plan’s four pillars of a thriving tourism economy, a memorable visitor experience, environmental stewardship, and resident quality of life.

COVID-19 caused a surge of visitation to Sedona as residents of nearby Phoenix and other Arizona cities took quick Red Rock Country forays to refresh body and soul in the area’s wide-open spaces and spectacular landscapes.

“We discovered the need to educate new visitors on responsible outdoor recreation,” Strauss said. “Leave No Trace will be a powerful voice for engaging them in protecting the beauty they come here to experience.”

The partnership announcement follows other chamber initiatives such as the formation of the Red Rock OHV Conservation Crew to mitigate Off-Highway Vehicle impact, as well as the continuation of the highly successful Sedona Trail Keepers, a private/public partnership responsible for funding significant trail maintenance and enhancement.

“We are a ‘Three C’ chamber, committed to catalyzing, convening and championing solutions to the complex challenges of being a world-renowned tourism destination,” Strauss said.

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ABOUT Leave No Trace:
Leave No Trace is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing programs, education, training and outreach in all 50 states and more than 100 countries around the globe. Utilizing the power of science, education for all and stewardship to support and protect nature, Leave No Trace is on a mission to ensure a sustainable future for the outdoors and the planet. Learn more at: www.LNT.org.

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