America’s Great Outdoors Report Released

Ten months ago, NOLS Executive Director John Gans attended the White House America’s Great Outdoors Conference in Washington, DC. That event was followed by a flurry of activity lasting through the summer, as federal agencies and grassroots groups hosted numerous listening sessions across the country, providing insight and guidance into the President’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative.

NOLS supported this effort by hosting a Central Wyoming forum, gaining valuable insight on how to best conserve and restore our open spaces, and how to reconnect people, especially children, with the outdoors. A final report by the Center for Envionrmental Quality, outlining a clear path forward with insight from the national conversation, was due on the president’s desk.

On Wednesday, February 16, that report was presented to the public. It presents details of several action items that the administration will focus on as it moves forward, including the following:

• The creation of a 21st Century Conservation Service Corps to engage and employ young people in the outdoors.

• The full funding of Land and Water Conservation Fund programs (the Outdoor Industry Association considers this fund to be the single best source for development and enhancement of local and federal protected areas and recreational amenities)

• The establishment of a Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation to improve community access, to leverage successful programs, and to enhance partnerships.

• The expansion of the www.recreation.gov website to be an everything-recreation portal to reach and educate new and wider audiences.

• The intent to enhance partnership with the First Lady’s Let’s Move campaign, especially the Let’s Move Outside component.

• The creation of a Partnership for America’s Great Outdoors – a coalition of philanthropists, companies, non-profits, and others that can work directly with the America’s Great Outdoors Council, which is an interagency effort to achieve more cooperation and collaboration among federal agencies engaged in conservation and recreation.

There are numerous other recommendations in the complete America’s Great Outdoors Report. NOLS will be looking for opportunities to help implement the recommendations where our school can make a meaningful contribution. We encourage you to do the same. To view the America’s Great Outdoors Report, visit http://americasgreatoutdoors.gov/report/