Leave No Trace Level 2 Course

Become a Leave No Trace Leader in the Backcountry

5 days & nights

fall

age: 18+

Registration anytime

Guides provided by Philmont

Fee: $450 (2025)

Earn your Level 2 Instructor Certification through a 5-day trek-based course at Philmont—where ethics meet adventure.

Hiking and camping without a trace are signs of an expert outdoorsman, and of a Scout or Scouter who cares for the environment. Leave No Trace is an awareness and an attitude rather than a set of rules. It applies in your backyard or local park as much as in the backcountry. We should all practice Leave No Trace in our thinking and actions—wherever we go.

What you’ll do

A five-day course trains interested individuals ages 18 and up to serve as Leave No Trace Level 2 Instructors. Level 2 Instructors work with their council Outdoor Ethics Advocates to provide Leave No Trace Level 1 Instructor, Scouting America Leave No Trace Basic and other outdoor ethics awareness training.

This Leave No Trace Level 2 Instructor training is a trek-based training. The specific schedule for your course will be sent out to participants closer to the dates of the course but typically involves 2 days in the classroom at Philmont’s Base Camp and 3 days backpacking in the backcountry.

Scouting America is committed to implementing Leave No Trace at all program levels. Through a cooperative agreement with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, Scouting America is actively placing Level 2 Instructors in every council.

Who May Participate?

All participants must be registered members of Scouting America.
All participants must have completed Leave No Trace Level 1 Instructor course.
All participants must have completed the Scouting America Annual Health and Medical Record within the previous 12 months and meet physical condition requirements.

Participation Requirements

All participants must be registered members of Scouting America.
All participants must have completed Leave No Trace Level 1 Instructor course.
All participants must have completed the Scouting America Annual Health and Medical Record within the previous 12 months and meet physical condition requirements.

Trek Fees & Scholarships

Planning your Philmont trek? Learn about current fees and discover scholarship opportunities that can make your adventure more affordable.

Secure Your Spot on the Trail

Register Now for 2026 & 2027!

To register for the Leave No Trace Level 2 Instructor course, please use the application below. Questions? Contact us or call us at (575) 376-2281.

Be Philmont Prepared!

The Philmont Resource Toolbox has everything you need to get ready for your trek—equipment lists, itineraries, Guidebooks to Adventure, and all required forms. It’s your one-stop hub to help you hit the backcountry trails prepared and confident.