Outdoor News March 30, 2018

ATTA Offers Leadership Program

The Adventure Travel Trade Association has introduced it’s first Leadership Circles program, a virtual education and community building opportunity offering one-on-one professional coaching and peer group interaction designed to support diverse leadership styles for both men and women. Throughout the program participants will work closely with their peers and a professional coach, to identify important issues they want to address, participating in regular virtual gatherings, monthly webinars and a private online forum for ongoing discussion and relationship building.

The professional coach comes from Momentum Inc., of Bend, Oregon, a leadership development and executive coaching agency.  Momentum offers participants the opportunity to discuss their personal career challenges, receive insight and be equipped with information they can implement for months to come. Over the course of the program participants will naturally develop relationships with their peers creating a comfortable, learning community and the ATTA has created a private, online forum to provide a space for those relationships to continue to flourish long after the course has been completed.

Each circle has a unique curriculum that will cover topics encountered by today’s leaders which have been designed by leadership expert Moe Carrick of Momentum and include discussion points such as:

• Leading Your Culture
• Growing Allies
• Hard Conversations/Conflict
• Connections that Matter
• Getting Your Numbers
• Owning Your Story

Through this lens, participants will tap into the wisdom of their like-minded peers globally and experience unparalleled insights, feedback, and accountability that can be a challenge to create in our day-to-day lives.

Registration deadline extended to April 13, 2018. Courses begin April 23, 2018. 

Get the details and register at the Adventure Travel website.

Ezra Smith Wildlife Conservation Area

The Kennebec Land Trust (KLT) announced that George and Linda Smith are donating their 125-acre woodlot on Route 41 in Mount Vernon, Maine, to the Trust-to be named the Ezra Smith Wildlife Conservation Area. In accepting this generous gift, Mary Denison, KLT President, said, “We are honored that George and Linda chose KLT as the recipient of land that will forever benefit Maine’s people and wildlife. We are looking forward to a fall 2018 property and trail dedication when we will recognize their conservation vision, George’s father Ezra Smith, and the extended Smith family.”

The Ezra Smith Wildlife Habitat Conservation Area features wetlands that border beautiful Hopkins stream (pictured), an extensive fen, and a mixed hardwood-conifer upland forest. The property includes a diversity of wildlife habitats and a well-managed forest. A small parking area on Route 41 will provide easy public access for a future trail with interpretive signage about Maine’s wildlife and their habitats.

When KLT agrees to accept a property like George and Linda’s, the group assumes the responsibility for monitoring and managing the property in perpetuity. The cost of this financial responsibility varies with each property and KLT has a designated stewardship fund that helps support stewardship costs.

The income from the stewardship fund is dedicated to trail development and maintenance, local property tax payments (open space rate), and annual property monitoring. If you are interested in making a contribution to take care of this beautiful piece of land forever, please send your donation to: The Kennebec Land Trust, PO Box 261, Winthrop, Maine, 04086 or donate online.

Made in America Advisory Committee

On Monday, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced the members of the “Made in America” Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee. The Committee was established on November 8, 2017, and is intended to serve as an advisory board to the Secretary of the Interior on public-private partnerships across all public lands, with the goal of expanding access to and improving infrastructure on public lands and waterways.

“The Made in America Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee is made up of the private sector’s best and brightest to tackle some of our biggest public lands infrastructure and access challenges,” said Secretary Zinke. “Dating back to the early days of the National Park Service, American businesses have been helping improve the public’s public land experience by doing everything from building iconic lodges like the Grand Canyon’s El Tovar to the historic “red jammers” in Glacier National Park. This Committee will help build on that legacy and provide valuable insight into addressing the maintenance backlog on our public lands. The Committee’s collective experience as entrepreneurs and business leaders provide unique insight that is often lost in the Federal government. As we rebuild our nation’s infrastructure, we can continue the exponential growth of the American recreation sector, which supports millions of American jobs and bares a significant impact on our economy.”

The members of the Committee were selected for their diverse backgrounds and experiences with the recreational industry. Members will have knowledge utilizing public-private partnerships, providing recreational visitor experiences, developing and deploying infrastructure improvements, or a thorough understanding of recreational equipment.

“America’s abundance and beauty is something to be both preserved and admired,” said Representative Dennis A. Ross. “As an RV enthusiast, I have been able to experience firsthand the glorious landscape of our great nation, and am thankful for those American entrepreneurs and innovators who think of new ways to experience what our country has to offer. I hope that with their guidance, more Americans will be able to witness the vast bounty of our land, from sea to shining sea.”

“Northern Indiana is the RV Capital of the World, so Hoosiers know outdoor recreation plays a critical role in growing our nation’s economy and creating American manufacturing jobs,” said Representative Jackie Walorski. “I’m pleased Secretary Zinke is launching the ‘Made in America’ Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee to help achieve the important goals of increasing access to our nation’s public lands, boosting investment in outdoor tourism, and building more American-made products like RVs and boats.”

The duties of the Committee are strictly advisory and will consist of, but not be limited to, providing recommendations including:

• Expand and improve visitor infrastructure developed through public-private partnerships;
• Implement sustainable operations embracing fair, efficient and convenient fee collection and strategic use of the collected fees;
• Improve interpretation using technology;
• Create better tools and/or opportunities for Americans to discover their lands and waters.

The members of the “Made in America” Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee are:

MEMBER NAME	ORGANIZATION
Benjamin Bulis	President & Chief Executive Officer, American Fly Fishing Trade Association
Amanda Covington	Senior Vice President of Communications & Government Relations, Vista Outdoor, Inc.
Linda Craghead	Assistant Secretary of Parks and Tourism, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism
Derrick Crandall	President, American Recreation Coalition; Counselor, National Park Hospitality Association
Bruce Fears	President, Aramark Leisure
Bradley Franklin	Government Relations Manager, Yamaha Motor Corporation USA
Antonio Gonzalez	President & Chief Officer, TAXA Outdoors
Jeremy Jacobs	Co-Chief Executive Officer, Delaware North
Christopher Maloof	Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development, RA Outdoors
Matt Miller	President, Newmar Corporation
Phil Morlock	Vice President, Government Affairs & Advocacy, Shimano American Corporation/Shimano Canada Ltd.
John Morris	Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Bass Pro Shops
Patrick Pacious	Chief Executive Officer, President, & Director, Choice Hotels International, Inc.
Jim Rodgers	Chairman & Chief Executive Officier, KOA (Kampgrounds of America)
K.C. Walsh	Executive Chairman, Simms Fishing Products

Some groups expressed concern about the make-up of the committee.

Adam Cramer, Executive Director of Outdoor Alliance, served for several years on an advisory committee for the Forest Service. He noted “The diversity of viewpoints at the Forest Service’s advisory committee was instrumental to our success. Diverse viewpoints are the best way to serve the public interest. There’s a missed opportunity on Interior’s Recreation Advisory Committee for motorized users, businesses, and human-powered outdoor recreation groups to work together and learn from one another.”

In a statement,  The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks said: “The Coalition is troubled by the membership of Secretary Zinke’s “Made in America” Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee. While the mission of this advisory group is clear, to gather advice from those who represent the recreation industry, we believe it is critical to balance the biases of those who seek to expand development and commercial uses of our public lands with advocacy representing the needs of the public. To the contrary, the committee represents a narrow slice of individuals and industries that make money from park development and use. The Secretary’s consistent failure to balance his zeal for development and commercialization of our public lands with a reasonable effort to protect resources is obvious and contradicts the basic duties of his job.”

The Outdoor Industry Association said: “Outdoor Industry Association appreciates the establishment of the ‘Made in America’ Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee at the Department of the Interior and we look forward to having our members and partners represented on the committee. Additionally, we believe the best way to invest in, expand access to and improve infrastructure on our nation’s public lands is through the protection of those public lands, including keeping our national monuments intact.  We intend to represent this message and like minded initiatives and ideas backed by the combined force of the businesses, organizations and individuals who make up the $887 billion outdoor recreation economy and the 7.6 million American jobs it supports, as we work with Secretary Zinke and the Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee. Additionally, we expect the full spectrum of outdoor recreation interests to be represented on the committee and will continue to actively seek individuals to submit for participation.

Montana Weekend Road Trip

On Wednesday, the Montana Department of Tourism and Business Development announced the latest in its series of videos titled Weekend Road Trip, featuring Scott and Miho Ligare as they get behind the wheel to explore the beauty of Southwest Montana.

The couple’s journey begins in the historic mining town of Butte, where they enjoy a sunny walk through Uptown, a Victorian-era neighborhood, and visit local businesses like Headframe Spirits, a craft distillery. After their time in Butte, the road takes them south with stops at Big Hole National Battlefield and the ghost town of Bannack State Park. As their weekend road trip continues, the mountain peaks in the distance draw closer and the lush Big Hole Valley beckons. Here the couple stops to try something new, an afternoon fly fishing the Big Hole River.

“Driving down the open road, going slow and stopping at places that we see that look intriguing. That’s just about as good as a road trip can get,” says Scott.

Scott and Miho remember their hearty camp-style steak dinner at the Big Hole Lodge fondly. The friendly atmosphere in the riverside clearing perfectly embodied the spirit of their road trip adventure.

“It’s been an escape of a trip,” says Scott. “Being able to just leave work and everything behind…it’s pretty ideal.”

A road trip is the perfect way to explore Montana. Whether you have just a weekend like Scott and Miho, or are looking for a longer adventure, you’ll create memories during your journey with the road as your guide. Visiting Montana’s charming small towns along the way allows you to feel the sense of community and heritage through local dining, beverages, shopping and accommodations. Outdoor recreation can be found at every turn, with opportunities to experience unspoiled places across the state you won’t find anywhere else.
Find this episode at http://www.visitmt.com/campaign/montana-tv/episode-25.html

Minnesota Faces Maintenance Issues

National Parks are not the only parks facing maintenance problems. On Tuesday,  the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources noted that visitors to Jay Cooke State Park are awed by the scenic views of the St. Louis River and the historic swinging bridge. But one thing they won’t find at this iconic park is water for drinking or flushing toilets. It seems the park’s main water line failed this winter, forcing the park to shut down the water supply and close all of its bathrooms with flush toilets.

The broken water line is among the growing list of repairs needed throughout the state to hundreds of roofs, dilapidated bridges, washed out roads and culverts, substandard electrical service, and failing mechanical and utility systems. As part of his 2018 Public Works bill, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton is asking the Legislature to invest $130 million in urgently needed improvements to Department of Natural Resources’ buildings and other infrastructure. The DNR needs to make these fixes in order to provide recreation and natural resources services. These repairs also create hundreds of construction jobs for Minnesotans.

“My Public Works bill would invest $130 million to maintain and restore recreational buildings, access roads, campgrounds, boat launches, fishing piers, and other infrastructure across Minnesota,” Dayton said. These projects are essential for protecting our environment and improving recreational opportunities for Minnesotans. I urge the Legislature to preserve these Minnesota treasures for future generations by passing a robust Public Works bill that invests in our natural resources.”

DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr said the list of repairs needed at DNR facilities across the state grows longer each year.“These are facilities owned by the citizens of Minnesota and managed by the DNR,” said Landwehr. “Many of these needs are becoming urgent and require immediate funding to slow or stop their decline.”

According to the DNR’s most recently completed facility assessment, the agency has more than $35 million of building components in need of immediate repair or replacement. The DNR also has hundreds of millions of dollars of other investments needed over the next decade to prevent asset failures like the broken water line at Jay Cooke State Park. Repair costs increase about 8 percent annually, so addressing these problems now saves Minnesota money over the long term.

The 10-year capital needs report shows 192 of the agency’s inventory of 2,700 buildings are in crisis or unacceptable condition, and 520 are in poor condition. Some DNR forest road or trail bridges are weight restricted due to structural deterioration over time – meaning logging trucks and grooming vehicles can’t use them.

Many facilities have hidden infrastructure that is essential to outdoor recreationalists. In addition to Jay Cooke State Park, Blue Mounds State Park, near Luverne, has been without potable water for several years because of well contamination. Aging waste water treatment systems at other state parks, such as Itasca and Myre Big Island, also need replacement.

“Some basic services for people—access to clean drinking water and functional bathrooms—are now not being met at DNR facilities,” said Landwehr. “That is just simply unacceptable for a state whose $13 billion tourism economy is based on high-quality outdoor recreation opportunities.” “Our natural resources-related facilities have been used hard and loved well,” Landwehr added. “Investments are needed now to ensure we leave the next generation with the same quality facilities and natural resources our own generation has been enjoying.”

 

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Video of the Week

Jay Cooke State Park in Minnesota may need some work on its infrastructure, but if you really enjoy the outdoors,  that won’t be much of a problem.  This week’s video features the park.  Enjoy!

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