Erase The Trace Challenge

The challenge that rewards you for getting out and fostering stewardship.

 

Purpose of the challenge.

Sometimes a little encouragement or incentive is all it takes to get someone out to experience something new. We use this same concept with the Erase The Trace Challenge (ETTC).

Every October we host the ETTC to encourage everyone to get out and pick up litter and trash from public lands, public spaces and communities. We do this by offering an entry to win prizes for every spot cleaned up.

How it works.

 

Here are the official rules for the 2023 Erase The Trace Challenge (ETTC) #EraseTheTraceChallenge:

  • This is a United States ONLY challenge. Sorry, many of our partners are unable to ship prizes out of the US.

  • This is a Instagram Only challenge.

  • Corporate Partners and their families are NOT ELIGIBLE.

  • Responsible Stewardship, Inc. Team Leaders and their families are NOT ELIGIBLE.

  • Challenge extends from Oct. 01 (12:00 AM) thru Oct.. 31 (11:59 PM) EST.

  • ONLY 1 POST/REEL PER DAY. Many locations can be cleaned up during that day. Total your weight collected and share that in your daily post/reel. No participant can have more than 31 entries.

  • EACH POST/REEL SERVES AS 1 ENTRY IN THE CHALLENGE

  • Take “BEFORE” photos or video of location with litter or trash.

  • Clean location up. Micro trash is as important as the larger items.

  • Take “AFTER” photos or video of location and bagged trash.

  • Weigh all trash and litter collected from each location. Either a photo image of the scale read out or posted total weight will qualify.

  • Post all photos/videos & weights of trash from each location in a single post/reel on Instagram. Only 1 post/reel per day. Each post/reel serves as 1 entry to the challenge.

  • Use the hashtag #EraseTheTraceChallenge and tag @responsiblestewardship in the post/reel.

  • Follow @responsiblestewardship to stay up to date on the ETTC.

Boom! You’re entered into the challenge. Each entry is a stand alone entry and is eligible in the challenge. Many winners have won multiple prizes due to them having multiple entries. They put in the effort and cleaned up multiple areas. More entries you do, the more chances you have to win. Prizes will be awarded in categories.

Our public lands, outdoor spaces and communities are the real beneficiaries of this challenge. Many of our challengers go on to continue to cleaning up areas because they see the positive impact they made in their local community.

OUR 2023 GOAL IS TO REMOVE 10,000+ LBS!!!!

Pick Up Litter

& Enter To Win

Our Corporate Partners

We couldn’t possibly put on the ETTC without our incredible corporate partners (CP). For the last two years our CPs have donated gear in the name of stewardship and asked for nothing in return. This dedication to promoting stewardship is what makes many of these outdoor brands stand out from the rest. Here’s a list of past and present ETTC corporate partners:

2023 CORPORATE PARTNERS:

If you would like to become a corporate partner in this years #EraseTheTraceChallenge then email us. We are always looking for more ways businesses can get involved in Responsible Stewardship. Together we can foster stewardship for the betterment of our public lands, public spaces and communities so they are more inviting for everyone to enjoy responsibly.

2023 ETTC Post Event Report

This was our third year hosting our #EraseTheTraceChallenge and our goal was to remove 10,000 lbs of trash and litter. Last year participants removed 7,636.82 lbs from public lands and community outdoor spaces.

The participants and various group lead cleanups stepped up to the challenge. This year we exceeded our goal and actually DOUBLED the amount set last year. TOGETHER we removed 14,458.90 lbs of trash and litter from roadsides, parks/trails, lakes/streams and illegal dumpsites. Here are the numbers:

• 304 Volunteers

• 588.5 Volunteer Hours

• $17,685.48 Value of a Volunteer Hour (based on national average $29.95 per hour)

• 47 Illegal Dumpsites

• 26 Lake & River Cleanups

• 72 Roadside Cleanups

• 49 Parks & Trails Cleanups

• 3 Mattresses Removed

• 136 Tires Removed

• 14,458.90 lbs Trash & Litter Removed

2023 Winners & Prizes

@sunriseseeker22 31 cleanups (3,187.74 lbs)

• Zpacks Duplex

• Zpacks Framed Backpack

• Goosefeet Down Pants

• HP/Apex Giant Food Bag & Titanium Accessories

• Vargo Cook Set

@jrayfromthegym 3 Cleanups (2,227.26 lbs)

• Zpacks Quilt

• Appgear Beanie

• Glacial Gear Sleeping Bag Liner

• Nashville Backpack

• BearVault Canister

• RS National Park Annual Pass

@kenziefromkansas 17 Cleanups (1,526 lbs I)

• Zpacks Trekking Poles

• HP/Apex Giant Food Bag & Titanium Accessories

• EE Quilt

• ESC Ranger Backpack

@jdwolfrode 6 Cleanups (1,197.50 lbs)

• Zpacks Rain Jacket

• AppGear Hoodie

• HP/Apex Giant Food Bag & Titanium Accessories

• LiteAF Backpack

@homo.homosapien 20 Cleanups (443.01 lbs)

• Arrowhead Resort weekend stay

• HP/Apex Giant Food Bag & Titanium Accessories

• Sawyer Prize Pack

@jennmadura 14 Cleanups (393.77 lbs)

• AppGear Sleeping Bag Liner

• Sawyer Prize Pack

• Evolved Supply Co Hoodie

@lostintransitchronicles 11 Cleanups (369.85 lbs)

• Goosefeet Down Socks

• HP/Apex Giant Food Bag & Titanium accessories

• RS RTIC Tumbler

@twin_mom_99 7 Cleanups (136.83 lbs)

• Custom Wood Sign

• AppGear Beanie

@bethhikes 11 Cleanups (127.20 lbs)

• Goosefeet Down Pillow

• Townshirt Sun Hoodie

@sparks7705 9 Cleanups (90 lbs)

• AppGear Poncho

@brooke.a.simmons 1 Cleanup (42.50 lbs)

• Alt Route Meals Pack

@markjonestn 1 Cleanup (16.21 lbs)

• Alt Route Meals Pack

@triakisone 2 Cleanups (14.40 lbs)

• Town Shirt Short Sleeve

@ironman619 1 Cleanup (12 lbs)

• Swiftwick Socks

@alicestjohn 2 Cleanups (11.51 lbs)

• Swiftwick Socks

@intentionally.astray 1 Cleanup (8.50 lbs)

• Rawlogy Cork Ball Set

@pamela.stair 5 Cleanup (8.15 lbs)

• Rawlogy Cork Ball Set

.@femmefoyer 2 Cleanups (7 lbs)

• Rawlogy Cork Ball Set

@juhsteeeen 1 Cleanup (6.48 lbs)

• Rawlogy Cork Ball Set

@jess.i.hike 2 Cleanup (5.77 lbs)

• Rawlogy Cork Ball Set