BEND, OR -- Visit Bend has partnered with the Leave No Trace organization to encourage people to take care of the land while recreating outdoors.

The tourism board wanted to build on ‘The Bend Pledge’ created five years ago according to CEO Kevney Dugan, “Just an evolution of our effort to make sure that the way tourism plays out in our community is a model that leaves this destination intact for future generations, and that we are all being very thoughtful about our interactions with our natural resources and recreational aspects.”

Visit Bend has several ways they are getting out the message. “There will be a big digital focus on our social media channels. Just really encouraging people on the Leave No Trace principles, whether it’s pack it in, pack it out, there are ways to engage whether it’s through the webinar or on visitbend.com there’s a dedicated leave no trace landing page,” says Dugan who believes the Leave No Trace organization is well-respected making them an ideal partner.

He also noted that with record numbers of outdoor recreational users, the partnership comes at an important time “I think it's beholden on all of us that we engage in some meaningful way to make sure that we’re taking care of these places. The reason that people move here, visit here, you name it, is really about breathing fresh air and getting outside. And all of us have a role to play in how we take care of these special places.”

In addition to the Visit Bend webpage there is a new Leave No Trace mural at their downtown office.