WHAT WE DO

Tread Lightly! is a non-profit organization that leads a national initiative to promote the responsible use of motorized vehicles when recreating outdoors. Our goal is to balance the off-road and off-highway vehicle (OHV) users’ need for adventure with the need to conserve the places where they ride and explore.

To support this, we offer a wide range of projects, programs, trainings, and educational materials to promote a responsible outdoor recreation message. Our work includes educating off-road and OHV users on responsible riding practices, reducing the impact on the environment and protecting natural and cultural resources.

As a member-based organization, we rely on the support of our members and industry partners to deliver programs and complete trail maintenance and restoration projects that make a meaningful impact on the environment, the off-road community and the neighboring communities where they live and play. Thank you for being a part of our mission to promote responsible off-road and OHV use and for doing your part to “protect the adventure” for future generations.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Tread Lightly! is the nation’s only source for a full line of motorized and even non-motorized outdoor ethics training and education materials. Tread Lightly!’s educational materials include: quick-tip brochures, online awareness courses, how-to videos, teaching materials, and a line of children’s materials featuring Tread Lightly!’s mascot, named Lightfoot®.

In 2003, Tread Lightly! launched its Tread Trainer™ program. Tread Trainer is a train-the-trainer program designed to develop a nationwide community of volunteers promoting Tread Lightly!’s ethic of responsible, motorized vehicles use.

COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH

Tread Lightly!’s positive message of balancing outdoor ethics with motorized recreation has reached more than 200 million people through strategically-designed public service announcements for print, radio, television and the web. More than $1 million in advertising space is donated each year to expose Tread Lightly!’s important issue-related messages. News coverage highlighting Tread Lightly! and its message reaches millions of people every year.

TRAIL PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS

The Tread Lightly! trail maintenance projects and programs, some times called “stewardship projects”, are designed to keep motorized recreation trails and riding areas open and accessible by providing much needed resources for backlogged maintenance and trail restoration projects. Importantly, funding for these initiatives comes heavily from contributions from our members and industry partners.

Through the support of multiple industry partners, Tread Lightly! facilitates over 100 trail restoration and maintenance projects every year. Tread Lightly! recognizes that one of the best ways to promote responsible motorized recreation is to get off-road and off-highway vehicle (OHV) users involved in the care of their favorite recreational areas. Tread Lightly! can help individuals and clubs organize clean-ups, trail maintenance work days, or conduct ethics education and outreach in their local communities.