Hello and Welcome!

Welcome to The 11th Essential. If you are here, chances are you might have heard about the 10 essentials for outdoor recreation or you might not have. Either way, welcome! and it's time to add a new outdoor essential to the list - a trash bag.

Every time we head out into nature, we have the chance to help protect it. We have all hit the trail to find something that ended up left behind but shouldn't stay there. Now, you're prepared to help that lost item relocate. Pick up a piece of trash here, a bag of trash there. Help educate, help advocate. There are so many great ways for us to give back to these places that give us so much.

Next time you’re on the trail or whatever outdoor activity makes you feel joy, toss an extra bag you can toss trash in and toss that into your gear. That is you 11th Essential. Let it help you start conversations with others about the importance of stewardship.

Through every adventure, with every bag, with every person we start a conversation with – we can make a difference and spark change.

Never stop fighting to protect something you love. Every little bit DOES make a difference. Together, WE CAN move mountains (of trash). WE CAN protect the places that we go to feel safe. We can do it each time we #GetOutGrabOne.

You can make a difference by helping us spread the message of the #11thessential – a message of stewardship.

Our mission is two-fold. First, the actual act of packing your #11thessential and getting into nature. Secondly, we hope to be able to bridge the gap in outdoor education by supplementing current outdoor recreation education and Leave No Trace education in parks and other outdoor areas where funding and access lack and cause inequities in outdoor and recreation education.

With both actions, we hope to protect our places and our people for years to come.

Follow along on Instagram at @11thessential for updates!

Thank you and happy and clean trails to you! – Britany and The 11th Essential