Outdoor News April 6, 2018

National Park Cost Share Program

The NPS Challenge Cost Share Program is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the National Trails and Wild & Scenic Rivers systems.  Applications are being accepted until May 25.

Challenge Cost Share projects are intended to build collaboration between the National Park Service and project partners.  For FY 2018, the program will provide $386,000, to be matched 1-to-1 by non-federal funds and in-kind support.  The Park Service expects to support about 20 projects.

Project Goals: Applications are being accepted for projects that will advance any of the following goals:

• Improvements in recreation opportunities, access and infrastructure;
• Protection and restoration of trails or rivers/riverside lands;
• Stewardship through public engagement; or
• Increasing public use and awareness.

Eligibility and Administration: Eligibility is limited to specific NPS-administered areas; these eligible areas are Parks, National Trails (National Historic, Scenic, and Recreation Trails), and Wild and Scenic Rivers (including Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers). All projects are to be collaborative partnerships between NPS staff and a partnering nonprofit or educational institution. The NPS staff will submit the application, and the partner organization will receive and make use of the funds awarded for the proposed project.

Find the online application and complete information at: https://www.nps.gov/ccsp

Girl Scouts Partner with North Face

On Tuesday, the Girl Scouts announced a new partnership saying: “we’re thrilled to announce a multiyear collaboration with The North Face through which girls will challenge themselves, learn about the natural world, and continue the Girl Scout tradition of having life-changing outdoor experiences.”

The partnership will lead to the introduction of twelve new outdoor oriented badges that Girl Scouts can earn.  The badges address such topics as mountaineering, trail running, hiking and backpacking.

The organization added: “These 12 new badges, which will roll out over the next two years, will teach girls in virtually every U.S. zip code about the benefits of exploration as they take healthy risks, overcome fears, and revel in the beauty of the natural world. The North Face is also lending its expertise in design and tapping its network of subject matter experts to inform the badge activities. Thanks to this new programming, Girl Scouts will be prepared to inspire even more G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™spirit in girls as they create their own outdoor adventures and develop crucial leadership skills, preparing them for a lifetime of exploration and success.”

Health for All

Health for All is the slogan for this year’s World Health Day – tomorrow. The World Heath Organization (WHO) developed the campaign and says, “WHO is calling on world leaders to live up to the pledges they made when they agreed to the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, and commit to concrete steps to advance the health of all people. This means ensuring that everyone, everywhere can access essential quality health services without facing financial hardship.” Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of WHO, added, “No one should have to choose between death and financial hardship. No one should have to choose between buying medicine and buying food.”

As another way to celebrate World Health Day,  the National Park and Recreation Association wants everyone to visit a park, for their health.  As you know, parks are the cornerstone of nearly every community. They serve millions as a place anyone can go to be active, connect with nature, and have fun. What better time to celebrate parks than on World Health Day?  Promote your favorite park by taking a selfie at the park (a ‘parkie’) and posting it to Facebook and/or Twitter with one of these hashtags: #Parkies #EarthMonth #MeetMeAtThePark or #CelebrateEarth.

Outdoor Industry Fears Tariffs

The following is a statement from Rich Harper, manager of international trade for the Outdoor Industry Association, issued on Wednesday:

Good Morning from Washington, D.C.,

Following up on the president’s announcement last week that the United States would impose $50 billion in retaliatory tariffs on products from China, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released a preliminary list of products today that will be subject to an additional 25 percent tariff. In a positive sign for the $887 billion outdoor recreation economy, apparel, footwear and travel goods were not included on that initial list.

While this is welcome news, Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) and its members will continue to make the case that outdoor products should not be included on the final list. Following today’s release, USTR will institute a public comment period and a hearing in which companies and trade associations can petition to add or remove products from the final list.

Once that final list is released, the 25 percent tariff will be added to those products immediately and will remain in place until the president determines that China has met U.S. demands to improve its protection of intellectual property rights and prohibit illegal technology transfers.

“While we are pleased that outdoor products were left off the initial list of products that will be subject to a 25 percent tariff, we will continue to make the case that imposing these retaliatory tariffs on goods like apparel, footwear and travel goods that are already overtaxed is the wrong way to address China’s IP practices,” said Alex Boian, OIA’s vice president of government affairs. “We again call on the administration to pursue a more narrow, targeted approach, one that addresses legitimate concerns about protecting U.S. intellectual property without raising costs for American consumers.”

OIA will vigorously pursue legislative and administrative options to keep outdoor products off this list.

Please contact me to share your story and find out how you can get involved.

Rich

Rich Harper | Manager of International Trade
OUTDOOR INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (OIA)

Recreationists Care About Water Quality

People who camp, hike, fish or participate in other forms of outdoor recreation generally have a higher level of concern about water quality than those who don’t, according to a recent study co-authored by Portland State University professor Melissa Haeffner.

Haeffner and her colleagues used data from surveys conducted in the Wasatch Front region of Utah, the most populous part of the state stretching from Ogden to Provo. The area’s water quality is impacted by the combined effects of human population and agriculture. It’s also an outdoor recreation hub.

Survey data from the study, which was published in the Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, showed that people who recreate outside are more sharply attuned to water quality than the population at large. The rest of the population generally perceived water quality to be good, but expressed less concern about it than their more outward bound counterparts.

“This makes sense, because people wouldn’t be spending time recreating in water they didn’t think was clean enough. And if it was clean, they’d be more concerned about keeping it that way,” said Haeffner, an assistant professor of environmental science in PSU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

The amount of concern over water quality also was linked to education level and socioeconomic status. Higher levels of both tended to correspond with higher levels of outdoor recreation and interest in water quality.

The researchers’ interest in water quality perceptions was linked to a broader desire to understand differences in the level of support for public policies addressing water quality issues in the region. She said the information can be used by water managers in Utah to track shifts in public attitudes toward water quality as the state grapples with rapid climatic and demographic changes in the coming years.

Matthew J. Barnett et al, Influence of recreational activity on water quality perceptions and concerns in Utah: A replicated analysis, Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism (2018).  DOI: 10.1016/j.jort.2017.12.003

Special Savings for Our Readers

• Motivate Yourself and Your Family With EXPLORE! Logo Items.
• Clothing for Your Pursuits & the Moments in Between at Backcountry.com
• Colossal Closeout Event – Last Chance Gear Discounts at BikeNashbar.com!
  • April 10 ONLY: Carbon Bikes Up To 66% Off PLUS Totally Free Shipping on Any Order with no Minimum or Oversized Fees
  • April 9 – 15: Up To 61% Off Veulta Wheels, Castelli Clothing, Fox Mountain Apparel, Lazer & Limar Helmets. Up To 80% Off Select Cycling Products. Up To 57% Off Select Mountain Bikes. Up To 78% Off Select Cycling Tires. Exclusions Apply.
• Sierra Trading Post Camping Shop: Essentials & Gear Starting at $19.99
• Cabela’s Bargain Cave – Save up to 70% every day – Shop Now
• REI Members: Save 20% off one full-price item, and an extra 20% off one REI Garage item. Use coupon code: MEMPERKS. Lifetime membership is just $20. Deal ends Monday!

Video of the Week

The canyon photo above illustrates an interesting outdoor recreation activity – water hiking. This week’s video offers a look at the hike through Zion Narrows on the Virgin River in Utah’s Zion National Park.  The Narrows is the narrowest section of Zion Canyon. This gorge, with walls a thousand feet tall and the river sometimes just twenty to thirty feet wide, is one of the most popular areas in Zion National Park. You can see The Narrows by hiking along the paved, wheelchair accessible Riverside Walk for one mile from the Temple of Sinawava. If you wish to see more, you will be walking in the Virgin River. This can involve wading upstream for just a few minutes or it can be an all day hike. You can also hike sixteen miles downstream over one or two days, entering the park soon after starting the hike and then exiting at the Temple of Sinawava. Those who choose this option must get a permit and arrange transportation for the one and a half hour ride to start the hike outside the park at Chamberlain’s Ranch. See if you can find the location in the video that matches the photo. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwZQQ52fOOs

---