Requirement

4. Leave No Trace, waste, cleanliness and campsites

Required

Three parts. The Leave No Trace Seven Principles and the Outdoor Code are named again inside both requirement 10 and requirement 11(b), which is unusual emphasis.

What this is made of

4(a). Why Leave No Trace and the Outdoor Code matter here, and five ways to lessen your impact
4(b). Human waste, other waste, and staying clean
4(c). What makes a campsite the right campsite

Where this step comes from

Backpacking Merit Badge Requirements (Merit Badge Hub, last modified 2025-09-19), Requirement 4