funoutdoors.com - Coalitions & Initiatives

National Park Service Releases 2016 Centennial Action Plan

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:47:02 -0400

Washington, D.C. - The National Park Service (NPS) unveiled A Call to Action today identifying four key themes and 36 actions to ready the agency for its 100th anniversary in 2016. The plan commits the agency to connecting people to parks, strengthening local economies and encouraging organizational innovation within the NPS. The release came on Founder’s Day – August 25 – on the 95th anniversary of the creation of the agency.

The four key themes of A Call to Action are: (1) “Connecting People to Parks”; (2) “Advancing the Education Mission”; (3) “Preserving America’s Special Places”; and (4) “Enhancing Professional and Organizational Excellence.” NPS Director Jon Jarvis outlined the plan and a new emphasis on communications internally and with the agency’s key partners at a national town hall held in the historic Ford’s Theater in downtown Washington, D.C. The town hall was broadcast nationwide to NPS employees and partners. Joining Director Jarvis on stage were the President of the National Park Foundation, Neil Mulholland, and three agency employees: Corita Waters, Outdoor Recreation Planner with the Rivers and Trails Conservation Assistance Program; Lizette Richardson, Chief of Maintenance, Lake Mead National Recreation Area; and Dave Moore, Assistant Regional Director for the Northeast Region.

Coalition for Recreational Trails Announces 2009 Annual Achievement Awards Winners

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:19:06 -0400

Nine trail projects have been chosen by the Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT) as recipients of its 11th Annual Achievement Awards in recognition of their outstanding use of Recreational Trails Program (RTP) funds. These national awards will be presented at a special Capitol Hill ceremony in Washington, D.C. on June 10, 2009 as part of the celebration of Great Outdoors Week 2009.

The trail projects honored by the CRT and their award categories are:

Kings Campground and Trailhead Project (California) – Maintenance and Rehabilitation

Giant’s Stairs Trail Project (Maine) – Education and Communication

Meduxnekeag River Bridge (Maine) – Multiple Use Management and Corridor Sharing

Minnesota – Outstanding State Recreational Trails Advisory Committee

Highbridge Park Project (New York)– Environment and Wildlife Compatibility

Oregon – Outstanding RTP Program

Sam Houston Multiple-Use Trail (Texas) – Construction and Design

Southwest Key Trail (Texas) – Accessibility Enhancement

North Bend Lake Equestrian Trail (West Virginia) – Use of Youth Conservation/ Service Corps

National Get Outdoors Day 2009 Plans Announced

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:39:14 -0500

Washington, D.C. (January 15, 2009) A consortium of federal agencies and nonprofit organizations and the recreation industry today announced details for National Get Outdoors Day 2009, an annual event to encourage healthy, active outdoor fun across the nation. On June 13, 2009, participating organizations will offer sites for American families to sample both traditional and new types of outdoor activities. Prime goals of the day are reaching first-time visitors to public lands and reconnecting our youth to the great outdoors, and then invite those taking part in the day to visit specific sites for fun “EChO-Events” for opportunities to hike with rangers, learn to fish, and go mountain biking.

In June 2008, more than 60 National Get Outdoors Day events were held, drawing tens of thousands of youth and their families. The events included climbing walls, chances to have pictures taken with Smokey Bear, introductions to fishing and new activities like geocaching and much more.

New Outdoor Resources Review Group Meets

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:07:45 -0400

A diverse collection of recreation and conservation leaders gathered on Capitol Hill for the initial meeting of the new Outdoor Resources Review Group (ORRG), which was hosted by Honorary Co-Chairs Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM). Organized by Henry Diamond and Pat Noonan, long-time recreation and conservation leaders, the 17-member body will assess changes in recreation, recreation resources and recreation needs and formulate recommendations for the new Administration and the next Congress on whether a third national recreation commission is warranted and what issues would be most timely and productive to be addressed by the commission.

The work of ORRG will be funded by three foundations long associated with conservation and recreation issues, according to Henry Diamond: foundations linked to the Mellon, Packard and Rockefeller families. Staff work for the group will be led by Resources for the Future Senior Fellow Margaret Walls. The group plans three to four additional meetings in 2008 and early 2009.

Partnership Announces Initiative to Connect New Americans to Public Lands

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:42:58 -0400

Washington, D.C. (July 10, 2008) The White House Office of USA Freedom Corps, Department of Homeland Security’s Task Force on New Americans, National Park Service and American Recreation Coalition announced the creation of a public-private partnership to connect new citizens to America’s public lands. The initiative – named This Land Is Your Land – will coordinate public and private efforts to engage new Americans in volunteerism on public lands. The initiative also created the New Americans Outreach Task Force, which aims to draw newly naturalized citizens to National Parks and other public lands.

This Land Is Your Land was unveiled on July 7, 2008 at a special naturalization ceremony in Ellis Island’s Great Hall where 20 new citizens from 15 countries took the Oath of Allegiance within sight of the Statue of Liberty. Cokie Roberts, broadcast journalist and member of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, led the event and encouraged the new Americans to vote and to volunteer on public lands. She specifically challenged them to volunteer 100 hours to earn the President’s Volunteer Service Award during their first year of citizenship. Alison Young, Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of USA Freedom Corps (USAFC), asked the new citizens to answer the President’s 2002 national Call to Service that created USAFC. “It is our hope that through this new partnership, USA Freedom Corps can create an eagerness among new Americans to engage in volunteer opportunities in the great outdoors and to enjoy the grandeur of our National Parks,” said Young.

Coalitions & Initiatives

Fri, 18 Mar 2005 16:58:23 -0500

COALITIONS AND INITIATIVES

ARC works with various coalitions and initiatives to coordinate recreation activities and activism. These groups are key to preserving and bettering recreation resources throughout the country. Click on the links above or below to read more about the important work these groups do.

American League of Anglers and Boaters
Coalition for Recreational Trails
National Recreation Lakes
Scenic Byways
Take Pride in America
Technology Task Force
Wonderful Outdoor World (WOW)