Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet
Planning for a Second Century National Park
Service
Last month we attended America's Summit on National Parks to participate in a discussion about the future of what Ken Burns has called, America's Best Idea – the National Parks. Getting outdoors is good for people and good for the planet. The "Call to Action: Preparing for a Second Century of Stewardship and Engagement" released last August, says the second-century National Park Service "connects people to parks and helps communities protect what is special to them, highlight their history, and retain or rebuild their economic and environmental sustainability." Read more about the summit. The Outdoors Just Might Be Good for You University of Michigan researchers at the School of Natural Resources and Environment will examine the effects of the outdoors on mental health through a study with veterans on outdoor trips. While scientific research increasingly shows a strong link between mental and health benefits and the natural environment, we wanted to know if outdoor programs specific to veterans and service members were producing the same results. As Stacy Bare, National Military Families and Veterans Representative for Sierra Club states, "securing quantitative data that reinforces these beliefs will support our efforts to make these types of experiences available on a larger scale." Wasatch Adaptive Sports in Utah is one of the partners in this study. Get Outside, Children of New Mexico! New Mexico took a major step forward in connecting children with outdoors with the establishment of the Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights. The Leave No New Mexico Child Outside Coalition, made up of over 50 organizations across the state, and Wild Friends, a civic engagement organization for children based out of the University of New Mexico, were actively involved in the Bill of Rights. Written by children all over the state, the rights include:
Many Happy Returns to Wilderness On September 3, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Wilderness Act. This historic bill established the National Wilderness Preservation System and set aside an initial 9.1 million acres of our public lands to remain wild and undeveloped forever, for the use and benefit of the American people. Over the past 50 years Congress has added nearly 100 million acres to this unique land preservation system. In 2014, we will celebrate wilderness by organizing local and national events designed to elevate the profile of wilderness all over the country and engage the public to appreciate the benefits and values of wilderness. Mission Outdoors' Local Outings groups will play a big role in planning these local events. If you are interested joining the Sierra Club Wilderness Team let us know! Atlanta's ICO Has It All Wrapped Up REI did their part to get kids outdoors in Atlanta this holiday season by donating gift wrapping fees Atlanta Inner City Outings (ICO). Thanks to dozens of dedicated volunteer gift wrappers and supportive REI staff, ICO raised a record $6,600 to take kids on trips. Daring volunteers found ways to wrap hiking poles, 7-foot oars, and large metal objects of unknown purpose (the volunteers met all challenges!). A key factor was REI's ability and willingness to create special cashier codes that allowed patrons to charge the cost of the gift wrap to their credit cards. One enterprising cashier asked all patrons who said they didn't want gifts wrapped if they wanted to donate $2 to Atlanta ICO - nearly everyone said Yes! |
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