27 Oct Tread Lightly!, Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation, and BLM Announce ‘Forever Mighty’ Outdoor Recreation Summit Stewardship Project

CENTERVILLE, UT. (Oct. 27, 2021)— Tread Lightly!, a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting responsible outdoor recreation through stewardship and educational programs, today announced the ‘Forever Mighty’ Outdoor Recreation Summit stewardship project. This is a collaborative project with the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation, the Utah Office of Tourism, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) during the 2021 Utah Outdoor Recreation Summit in Kanab, Utah.

“We’re looking forward to bringing volunteers together to give back to public lands during the Utah Outdoor Recreation Summit,” said Pitt Grewe, Director of the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation. “As outdoor recreation continues to grow in popularity, it is more important than ever to improve access to Utah’s public lands and educate users on how to recreate responsibly.”

The project, set for October 28, 2021, will include volunteers brushing vegetation and installing safety and wayfinding signage in the vicinity of the Hog Canyon Trail #1 connector trail. 

The Outdoor Recreation Summit stewardship project is inspired by the Utah Office of Tourism’s Forever Mighty initiative, which encourages visitors and residents to explore Utah thoughtfully and take an active role in preserving Utah through advocacy, ambassadorship, and stewardship opportunities.

This work will help increase sight distance on the trail through vegetation trimming and enhance users’ awareness and consideration of other trail users through installation of trailside signage. Volunteers may also perform light trail maintenance tasks such as removing rocks from the trail surface, cleaning water bars/erosion control features, and maintaining existing trail signage, as needed.

“Thank you to Tread Lightly!, the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation, and those who volunteered for this project for giving back to public lands,” said Daniel Gunn, outdoor recreation planner for the Bureau of Land Management. “The vegetation clearing will improve trail delineation, and the signage will help educate future riders on how to use the trail responsibly.”

Volunteers from the 2021 Utah Outdoor Recreation Summit, Utah and Arizona ATV Club, and the High Desert Backcountry Horsemen will help complete the project during the event.

“It’s great to have multiple user groups giving back to their trails,” said Matt Caldwell, Tread Lightly! executive director. “Collaboration between recreationists is a great way to build a trail community and keep access open to these shared spaces.”To learn more about Tread Lightly!, visit www.treadlightly.org.

To learn about the Utah Outdoor Recreation Summit, visit www.utahoutdoorsummit.com/.

To learn about the Utah Office of Tourism’s Forever Mighty initiative, visit www.visitutah.com/forever.

About Tread Lightly!
Tread Lightly! is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to promote responsible recreation through stewardship programs and ethics education. 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.

About The Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation
Utah is home to the first Office of Outdoor Recreation in the country. The office helps ensure all Utah residents have access to public lands and wild spaces to pursue the recreation of their choice. At 75%, a majority of the state consists of public lands, and there are endless recreation opportunities, from winter sports to desert adventures.

The state is continuing its investment in outdoor infrastructure through the Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant. With these grant opportunities, more individuals can experience the outdoors. With these investments, Utah continues to drive the economy in many different sectors.

About the Utah Office of Tourism
The Utah Office of Tourism’s (UOT) mission is to elevate life in Utah through responsible tourism stewardship. We do this through marketing, stewardship, and development. Marketing: UOT curates messaging that inspires visitation, supports local businesses, and builds the Utah economy. Stewardship: UOT manages visitation statewide and supports the responsible discovery of Utah. Development: UOT partners with local communities to enhance and develop their visitor economies to benefit residents and visitors. Learn more at visitutah.com and travel.utah.gov.

For more information contact:
Jerrica Archibald
jerrica@treadlightly.org
801-627-0077