Earth Day is now a global event each year, and we believe that more than 1 billion people in 192 countries now take part in what is the largest civic-focused day of action in the world.
It is a day of action and participation. People plant trees, clean up their towns, roads and recreation areas. Corporations and governments use it to make pledges and announce sustainability measures supporting humans, biodiversity and the planet that we all live on.
We can all celebrate Earth Day by learning how to Tread Lightly! with the support of General Tire.
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Tread Lightly's mission is to protect recreation opportunities by promoting responsible outdoor ethics through stewardship and education. Celebrate Earth Day by planning a local cleanup or stewardship project, sharing Tread Lightly!'s message with your local recreation groups and becoming a member.
Learn how to minimize your impact and tread lightly on the trail with our T.R.E.A.D. principles:
- Travel Responsibly on land by staying on designated roads, trails and area. Go over, not around, obstacles to avoid widening the trails. Cross streams only at designated fords. when possible, avoid wet, muddy trails. On water, stay on designated waterways and launch your watercraft in designated areas.
- Respect the Rights of Others including private property owners, all recreational trail users, campers and others so they can enjoy their recreational activities undisturbed. Leave gates as you found them. Yield right of way to those passing you or going uphill. On water, respect anglers, swimmers, skiers, boaters, divers and those on or near shore.
- Educate Yourself prior to your trip by obtaining travel maps and regulations from public agencies. Plan for your trip, take recreation skills classes and know how to operate your equipment safely.
- Avoid Sensitive Areas on land such as meadows, lake shores, wetlands and streams. Stay on designated routes. This protects wildlife habitats and sensitive soils from damage. Don't disturb historical, archeological or paleontological sites. On water, avoid operating your watercraft in shallow waters or near shorelines at high speeds.
- Do Your Part by modeling appropriate behavior, leaving the area better than you found it, properly disposing of waste, minimizing the use of fire, avoiding the spread of invasive species and repairing degraded areas.
Tread Lightly! offers recreation tips for a variety of activities from fishing and camping to four-wheeling and shooting sports. Learn how to be responsible outdoors and help protect the parks and public land you love.
