As our planet becomes more and more crowded, it is necessary that we pay more attention to preserving the environment for the enjoyment in the future. The National Park Service records more damage to its parks by Boy Scouts than any other group.
Taking troops (especially young scouts) into the backcountry requires additional skills over standard campground camping. Leave No Trace skills should be taught in advance to prepare both adults and scouts to protect and respect the environment. Backpacking in the backcountry is not the place to teach these skills. This is the place to practice what scouts have already learned from previous training in highly impacted campground environments.
The Leave No Trace Organization is committed to responsible outdoor recreation. You can find out how to have your leaders trained from Roundtable or your district training group.