14 Jan Tread Lightly! Receives New Open Country Award From Outdoor Life

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (January 14, 2014) – Outdoor Life recognized the national nonprofit Tread Lightly! as a winner of its prestigious new Open Country Award today in a ceremony in Las Vegas.  The award honors individuals and groups working to help sportsmen address their number one challenge: a lack of access to places to hunt, fish and recreationally shoot.

Lori McCullough accepting the Open Country Award

Specifically, Tread Lightly! received the award for its development of a pilot program implementing the Respected Access is Open Access campaign on the Sonoran Desert National Monument in Arizona.

“This has the potential to preserve millions of acres for recreational shooters,” said Andrew McKean, editor of Outdoor Life.  “The program is a great example of shooters working with various groups to find areas of mutual respect and come up with access solutions that work for everyone.  We look forward to seeing the program implemented in more areas in the future.”

Tread Lightly! and Respected Access were highlighted in the December/January issue of Outdoor Life, on newsstands now.

“Our focus is to heighten individuals’ sense of good stewardship—which is a crucial factor in protecting access as well as maintaining the health of our nation’s natural resources,” said Lori McCullough, Tread Lightly!’s executive director.  “An award like this energizes our whole cause and we are deeply honored to receive it.”

The Open Country Awards included one winner in each of three categories—state agency, individual, and nonprofit.

“Access is a big, complex issue but there are solutions, and the three winners we’ve selected are perfect examples,” said McKean.  “Rather than just complaining, they’re actively working to improve the situation for all sportsmen.”

Respected Access is a multi-dimensional education and outreach campaign originally created at the request of the Federal Lands Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Sports Roundtable. This public/private initiative was designed to maintain and enhance access to public and private lands for expanded opportunities to enjoy all types of outdoor recreation.  Initial campaign materials focused on recreational shooting and hunting, but the campaign is constantly being expanded to resonate with a broader recreation community.

Outdoor Life’s Open Country Awards are the culmination of a year-long program highlighting volunteer-driven efforts to improve access and habitat to make existing public lands even better places to hunt and fish.  Each issue of Outdoor Life features Open Country coverage complimented online by the magazines’ Open Country blog.

The goal of the Open Country Program is to substantially increase sportsmen’s access by promoting people and programs that are making a difference.  Sponsors of Outdoor Life’s Open Country Program include Yamaha and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

For more on Outdoor Life’s Open Country Program, visit outdoorlife.com.  For more information on Tread Lightly!’s programs and resources, visit treadlightly.org.

Tread Lightly! is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to promote responsible recreation through ethics education and stewardship programs. Tread Lightly!’s educational message, along with its unique training and restoration initiatives are strategically designed to instill an ethic of responsibility in outdoor enthusiasts and the industries that serve them.  The program is long-term in scope with a goal to balance the needs of the people who enjoy outdoor recreation with our need to maintain a healthy environment.  Tread Lightly!’s award-winning materials, programs and services are solutions to some of the nation’s most pressing recreation issues. Individuals and businesses can commit to Tread Lightly! and protect outdoor access by becoming a member at www.treadlightly.org.

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