Contact Your Senator to Save Transportation Enhancement Money!

from American Trails and other sources

Although the North Country Trail seeks to be mostly single-track woods trail, there are many places where our uses overlap with trails which are aided by these funds. One critical area is adding pedestrian walkways to bridges.

If you care about the NCT, please contact your Senator today! Voting could occur as early as Monday.

Last week, the House of Representatives dealt non-motorized transportation a serious blow by passing a bill that would eliminate Transportation Enhancements. This funding helps pay for things like multi-use trails, and the Safe Routes to School program.

Highway proponents have always complained about the requirement to cover other forms of transportation, other than powered vehicles. Media coverage of projects that seem frivolous hasn't helped.

Now, it's the Senate's turn. If you care about getting around for transportation and/or recreation without burning gas, please send an email today! Links below should make it as easy as possible.

The Senate's version of the transportation bill (MAP-21) does NOT include dedicated funding for the Recreational Trails Program. However, Senator Klobuchar (D-MN) will present an amendment to restore dedicated funding to RTP at the appropriate time. (The amendment could be offered as early as next week.) This would restore RTP authorization as a stand-alone program, as well as fund it at 2009 levels.

ACTION NEEDED: PLEASE CALL and ask your Senators to support Senator Klobuchar's amendment to restore dedicated funding for the Recreational Trails Program in the Senate transportation bill (MAP-21).

"ASK" FOR SENATORS:

As a user-pay/user-benefit program, dedicated funding for the RTP should be included in the Senate transportation bill (MAP-21). Will you support the Klobuchar amendment to MAP-21, which restores dedicated funding for the Recreational Trails Program? This amendment makes the Senate bill consistent with language that is already in the House bill.

There is a similar campaign to support an amendment to protect Enhancements and Safe Routes to School sponsored by Senator Cardin (D-MD) and Senator Cochran (R-MS) in the Senate transportation bill


See Talking Points
See Find Your Senator
See read more at American Hiking

Transportation Enhancements Still Under Fire

a news release of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Transportation Enhancement Funds are meant to be applied to other forms of transportation than highways. These funds have benefited the North Country Trail in certain places where we follow urban pathways, or to provide pedestrian walkways on bridges. Although TE funds will never be a big portion of North Country Trail funding, this source of cash had been critical in building the country's multi-use trail system.

In his Senate Amendment 821, Senator Rand Paul (Ky.) is trying to force us to choose between safe bridges and safe places to walk and bike in our communities.

See RTC Vice President of Program Kevin Mills discussing in the video why we need your support:

Choosing between bridges and safe walking and bicycling is a false choice.

In truth, most states already have funds that they could use for bridge repair, but that instead go for new roadways. Further, last year, states sent back $530 million in unspent bridge funds.

It’s shameful and disingenuous to claim to be promoting safety by pushing to cut funds for trails, walking and bicycling when 47,000 cyclists and pedestrians have died during the past decade.

Sen. Paul’s is the third attack on TE in a single month.

In late September, Senator Tom Coburn (Okla.) attempted to eliminate dedicated funding for this crucial program. Working through a broad coalition, supported of trails joined together to send more than 50,000 messages to your senators, asking them to support TE.

Unfortunately, some in Congress believe that if they keep hammering away at a wildly popular, low-cost, highly efficient program, we’ll finally get tired and let them destroy a 20-year legacy of building a balanced transportation system.



See Rails to Trails

Minnesota is Humming Along

Jerry Trout on the North Country Trail in Paul Bunyan State Forest, Minnesota (photo by JHY)

submitted by Jerry Trout

Charlie Maguire was at the Walker, MN library Nov 18 and gave a rousing rendition of the ballad of the North County Trail, which he wrote for the Trail in 2007. Itasca Moraine members were there in their volunteer vests and NPS/NCT scarves. Beth Trout traded Charlie a scarf for his latest album, "Wilderness Road." Charlie's appearance was funded by the Legacy Amendment and the regional library system. Also, today marks the 1st anniversary of completing the North Country National Scenic Trail between the Chippewa National Forest and Itasca State Park.

In 2008 the citizens of Minnesota voted for the Legacy Amendment. This provided that the sales tax be raised 3/8 of 1% and these monies would be distributed to Outdoor Heritage (hunting, fishing) 33%; clean waters 33%; Parks and Trails 14.25% and Arts and Cultural Heritage 19.75%. This amendment received more yes votes than did the president of the US in Minnesota. Governor Tim Pawlenty remained silent on the issue. His mantra was and continues to be no new taxes. This has resulted in millions of dollars for the groups listed above. The NCT hopes to benefit from the Parks and Trail money that is now available.

The Kitchigami Regional Library System received a grant from the Arts and Cultural Heritage group to promote music in the library system. This is what made it possible for Charlie to do his thing. He was also at Park Rapids and Longville and other places. Charlie wove a lot of history into his program plus his music, approximately 1.5 hours. He made the point that his program was designed to advance history (arts) and the outdoors with his music, thus speaking to the entire Legacy spectrum.

The North Country Trail song is on his new album, Wilderness Road, Melo-Jamin Music, 18 folk songs, 60 minutes about Minnnesota State Parks. Gordon Johnson played bass on the North Country Trail and Split Rock Light Station songs.

This segment is on NCTA maps MN-09, MN-10

See Itasca-Moraine Chapter of the NCTA

Will the NCT Finally Be Funded at $1 Million?

if you like this article, click the Blip chiclet!
by Joan H. Young with materials from the North Country Trail Associaton

You might wonder how National Trails get their money. National Trails receive federal dollars. But not all trails are created equal. Although the North Country Trail is the longest of the trails, its current funding level of $928,000 is the highest it has ever been. On this budget the National Park Service supports 3.5 employees and shares the balance with the North Country Trail Association. The NCTA (with membership and grant monies added) has 5 full-time and 3 part-time staff.

You might indeed wonder how they manage to accomplish as much as they do! Whenever I hear of a million dollars wasted on this or lost on that it just makes my blood boil.

But there is some good news this week. Our trail champion in Congress, Senator Carl Levin, is circulating a Dear Colleague letter with a request to increase the base funding for the NCT to $1.323 million!

Part of this money would be used to establish a National Park Service office for the NCT in Michigan. Currently the NCT shares a Superintendant and an office with the Ice Age Trail, in Madison, Wisconsin.

Another portion of the money would help to implement the Willing Seller Authority which was granted last year after more than a decade of legislative meandering.

MI Senator, Debbie Stabenow, has already signed on. Please encourage your Senators to do likewise.

See the Dear Colleague Letter

Superior Days Presents Issues to Madison, WI

NCT in Brule State Forest (photo by JHY)

if you like this article, click the Blip chiclet!
based on a news article in the Superior Telegram

Superior Days is an event when representatives from northern Wisconsin take issues important to them to the state legislators in Madison. This is a 25-year tradition. Issues this year include funding the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve, the Superior Research Institute, and tax reciprocity between Wisconsin and Minnesota.

But also on the list of topics this year is non-motorized trails. A bill already in the legislature would provide nearly $10 million for footpaths.

Peter Nordgren, of the Brule-St. Croix chapter of the North Country Trail Association, says that the group hopes the current bill will move through the legislature and pass. Trails that could benefit include Superior Municipal Forest trails, hiking trails at Pattison and Amnicon state parks, ski trails in the Brule River State Forest and the North Country National Trail.

In 2008, a legislative study committee found a lack of consistent funding and maintenance for non-motorized trails, with many being poorly maintained. The bill was introduced as a result of that report.

Nordgren continues, "Foot-powered recreation is popular, with surveys pointing out that it is one of the most popular ways of getting outdoors for exercise." He also hopes to emphasize to the legislators that infrastructure such as bridges and signs must be maintained, and new trails added to connect pathways.

These segments are on NCTA map WI-01, 02, and 03

See Brule St. Croix Chapter of the NCTA

Workshop for Rural Design Opportunity

if you like this article, click the Blip chiclet!
from Nancy Krupiarz, Executive Director, Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance

The National Endowment for the Arts is funding four Design Workshops for rural areas (population of 50,000 or less). The funding would allow a non-profit organization to bring design professionals to your community to tackle regional planning and design issues. The grant provides up to $22,000 for each workshop.

The submittal is due on Friday, January 8th for the 2010 calendar year. You can learn more by visiting the website and clicking on the Request for Proposals link.

See Your Town Design

Wednesday May Be The Day For Willing Seller Success - Please Call Your Representative!

from the American Hiking Society

American Hiking Society constantly monitors Congress to influence legislation that impacts hikers, and provides Action Alerts as a service to our members, who support our mission to protect trails and the hiking experience. Tomorrow, Congress will consider two bills that will significantly benefit trails and the hiking experience.

Most important to the North Country Trail is H.R. 146 the "Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009." Tomorrow afternoon the House will consider this bill. It has been considered in several forms over the past year, and contains more beneficial language for conservation, recreation and historic preservation than any other legislation in many years. It contains provisions that will recognize the National Landscape Conservation System, benefit the National Trails System, add millions of acres to the wilderness preservation system, diversify the economies of small communities and enhance opportunities to get outside.

At 10 AM EST, the House will hear H.R. 1404, the Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement (FLAME) Act. For years the Forest Service has "robbed from Peter to pay Paul," failing to budget adequate sums to fight increasingly severe fire seasons, and then transferring money from vital agency programs (like recreation management and trail construction) to fund the increasing cost of fire suppression. The FLAME Act will address this problem by creating a separate fund for suppressing large-scale wildfires, enabling the Forest Service to use appropriated funds to maintain trails and the hiking experience on our National Forests. The Forest Service is the largest landowner along the length of the NCT.

Please CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE and ask him or her to support these bills.

Suggestions for making a successful call:
1. Identify yourself as a hiker and outdoor enthusiast.
2. Ask them to support H.R. 1404, the FLAME Act, to give wild-land firefighters the resources they need, and protect funding for other vital Forest Service Programs that benefit ordinary Americans, like hiking trails.
3. Ask them to support H.R. 146, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act, to protect recreational opportunities, diversify the economies of small communities and help Americans get outside and healthy.
4. Thank them for their time and leadership.

Go to Congress.org to find your Representative.
Go to C-SPAN to watch these votes, live.
See Omnibus Public Lands Bill Fails in House by 2 Votes

Hike the Hill 2009 Advocated for the Big Three

Hike the Hill attendees 2008 (photo from the American Hiking Society)

from the North Country Trail Association and the American Hiking Society

Each year in February the American Hiking Society hosts a week in Washington, DC called "Hike the Hill." This year the Partnership for the National Trails System co-hosted the Trails Advocacy Week.

Trail advocates from the four corners of the country meet to pool their experiences, learn strategies for lobbying and then to advocate with legislators for increased funding, promotion and protection of trails.

Specific issues that were important to the North Country Trail delegation this year include the Arrowhead Reroute, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and Willing Seller. These are all topics that just don't seem to go away, but we keep pressing for action.

The priority for NCTA's advocacy has for some time been focused on obtaining the Congressional approval required for the North Country Trail re-route in northeastern Minnesota. The re-route proposes to substitute the original 80 miles of bog walk from Remer to Jay Cook State Park with 500 miles of premier hiking and backpacking through the Boundary Waters and along the north shore of Lake Superior, using the existing Border Route, Kekekabic and Superior Hiking Trails. Congressman Oberstar has reintroduced his bill to re-route the NCNST in his district as HR 481. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar introduced the Senate companion bill as S.553. Critical right now is obtaining as many co-sponsors for these bills as possible. Without this demonstration of broader interest these bills will stagnate in committee. As of this date there are no co-sponsors. Please contact your legislators!

The NCNST is one of only 9 trails in the National Trails System lacking the authority for its managing agency (National Park Service in NCNST's case) to purchase private lands from willing sellers. Legislation to correct this was introduced in both House and Senate in this 111th Congress. It passed the Senate, but was defeated (as reported earlier) in the House under a suspension of the rules. It may yet be brought to a vote in the House a second time

Since 1965 the Land and Water Conservation Fund has enabled federal and state governments to acquire lands for recreation and conserve critical habitats and wild areas. Funding comes from offshore oil and gas leases. The LWCF has had a huge impact on conservation and recreation in the U.S. But it is not reaching its potential, either for the North Country Trail or in general. Current law only permits the National Park Service to use LWCF funds, channeled through the state, in Wisconsin, to acquire ownership or easement of lands for the North Country Trail. We've asked Congress to include language in the Department of the Interior appropriations that expands this authority to all 7 of the NCNST's states. And we've asked for an allocation of $2 million for that purpose.

Of course, an increase in general funding for the trail is always an issue. In these days of millions here and there for all kinds of projects, this 4600 mile national trail continues to limp along with under $750,000 a year in federal funding.

See American Hiking Society Hike the Hill 2009
See Willing Seller Fact Sheet
See LWCF Fact Sheet
See Arrowhead Reroute Info

Stimulus Money for Wisconsin

based on a news article in the Superior Telegram, "Federal dollars head to northern Wisconsin," by Shelley Nelson, Mar 11, 2009

$18 million of federal money is headed for northern Wisconsin. The announcement was made by both Representative Dave Obey (D) and Governor Jim Doyle.

Numerous initiatives are included to help stimulate economic opportunity in the northern counties. “In tough economic times these provisions will be important to local communities all over Northern Wisconsin,” Obey said. Two of the listed projects will indirectly benefit the North Country Trail.

Wisconsin’s Wild Waterways will receive $2 million to help protect sensitive lands and acquire new land to improve forest management on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. 63 miles of NCT are located in the Chequamegon.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Department will receive three-quarters of a million dollars to upgrade the its Communications Center. It will install digital, interoperable communications equipment to replace a communications system that is more than 25-years-old. Douglas County Forests will eventually be host to dozens of miles of NCT. This section is currently under construction.

See Douglas County Wisconsin Welcomes the NCT

Will Stimulus Money Benefit the North Country Trail?

a news release of Outdoor Industry Association, with additional comments

The Forest Service, National Park Service (NPS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are working overtime to meet tight deadlines in identifying projects eligible for funding in the economic stimulus bill. The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, signed by President Obama last week, directs $3 billion to the Department of Interior and $1 billion to the Forest Service to fund road and trail projects, building and campground maintenance, abandoned mine restoration and to fire mitigation projects.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has asked the NPS and BLM to identify their highest priority projects in time to submit a list to the White House by March 3 and plans to hire a "stimulus czar" to oversee the dollars. The Interior Department will also launch a website listing each project, its cost, a chronicle of its progress and the number of jobs created.

The Forest Service is operating under similarly tight deadlines. Each regional forest submitted its priority projects to the headquarters office last week and will submit its proposed list to the White House the first week of March.

Agencies have been told they should submit a mix of projects including trail and campground restoration and that the highest priority will be placed on projects that will create the most private sector jobs.

The National Park Service is the federal agency that oversees the North Country Trail. And the Forest Service is the largest single landowner along the length of the trail. Yet, it is unclear just how much, if any, of this money will benefit the NCT. Agencies have been scrambling to provide projects which can be funded.

The agencies will put private sector contracts out for a bid in the next few months and plan to open regional offices around the country to facilitate the bidding process. Congress has said all the stimulus money must be obligated by September 2010.

Due to the burdens of other federal laws, such as environmental policy, archeological assessments, laws which restrict land purchase, and more, it could be very difficult to create projects and obligate funds by the deadline. Many of the National Forests have been in the process of closing campgrounds, removing infrastructure and cutting back on staff due to budget shortfalls. Let's hope that some of this money can reverse this trend.

Transportation Enhancements Remain in Stimulus Package

from the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Transportation Enhancements have been used to benefit the North Country Trail in some specific instances. These funds can not be used for single-track backcountry trail. However they are often invaluable for solving some pedestrian problems. For example, they can be used to add a pedestrian lane to bridges, safe road crossings, urban routes which might also be used by school children or commuters, etc. -JHY

Last week, we asked you to speak up for active transportation in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. You took action, loudly asking our elected officials to protect Transportation Enhancements (TE), the nation's largest federal funding source for trails, walking and bicycling.

You spoke up, and Congress listened.

Our congressional representatives recognized the role walking and biking play in a balanced transportation system, and allocated $825 million to TE. While this is less than two percent of transportation funding in the recovery package, it represents a doubling of TE spending for communities in the next year.

These hundreds of millions of dollars for TE will allow communities across the country to create jobs by building trails and other infrastructure immediately, while simultaneously addressing congestion, environmental concerns, the obesity epidemic and economic challenges in the long-term.

TE is a long-standing program that has historically enjoyed bi-partisan support. Its place within the stimulus package, however, heralds the recognition among elected leaders that active transportation infrastructure is a smart way to create jobs in the short-term, while resulting in long-term economic and other benefits.

The victory of this TE funding represents more than just dollars-- it represents job creation, community connectivity and a step forward in recognizing the tremendous benefits of trails, walking and biking.

See Trails, walking and biking earn $825 million in stimulus To spark jobs, active transportation
See Some Transportation Enhancements Remain in Stimulus Package
See Transportation Enhancement Funding - Source and Eligible Uses

NCT Hopes to Benefit from Stimulus Package

comments from Bruce Matthews, NCTA Executive Director

As a quick update on the status of our efforts to provide Senator Levin (D-MI) with NCT projects for possible inclusion in the economic stimulus bill, here is a quote from Senator Levin's floor speech last Friday:

"Additionally, the conference committee legislation contains $750 million for the National Park Service (NPS). The NPS has a significant backlog of deferred maintenance projects that can be started within the next 18 months which will create jobs and help restore and enhance our national treasures. Michigan's four National Park units and the North Country National Scenic Trail have significant funding needs, and a number of projects have been delayed for years. I am hopeful that the NPS will direct a sizable portion of the $750 million included in the package to address the significant needs of Michigan's parks and trails."

In working with Senator Levin and his staff to include appropriate projects to help build/maintain the NCNST in Michigan I have been singularly impressed. He reached out to us, and his staff has followed through with us at every turn. I'm pretty darn impressed.

I sincerely hope, as the NCTA advocacy team ramps up for Hike the Hill (the week devoted to visiting congressional representatives and reporting on how the NCTA has used the money appropriated over the year) next week, that we can start to build this kind of relationship with the rest of the Congressional delegations representing the states and districts of the North Country Trail. Here's a great example of how it can work!

Read Senator Levin's full speech
Contact Bruce Matthews

Some Transportation Enhancements Remain in Stimulus Package

from Safe Routes to School

The U.S. House and Senate are expected to vote today or tomorrow on a $789 billion economic stimulus package that provides $27.5 billion to modernize roads and bridges, and includes a 3% set-aside of each state’s share of the $27.5 billion for the Transportation Enhancements program, which is a primarily source of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure funding, which can also be used for Safe Routes to School. At least half of funds must be obligated by states within 120 days and the remainder within one year, or the U.S. Secretary of Transportation can recall unobligated funds.

Also included is $8.4 billion to increase public transportation and improve transit facilities; $8 billion for investment in high-speed rail; and $1.5 billion for a discretionary surface transportation grant program to be awarded competitively by the Secretary of Transportation. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration have issued guidance to assist state and local agencies in preparing for implementation of the stimulus bill. The guidance includes Q&As and actions that can be taken to expedite economic recovery projects.

In other sections of the bill, there are other possible funding sources for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.

• States will be receiving $53.6 billion in state fiscal stabilization funding. States must use 18.2% of their funding – or $9.7 billion – for public safety and government services. An eligible activity under this section is to provide funding to K-12 schools and institutions of higher education to make repairs, modernize, and renovate to meet green building standards. LEED’s green standards for schools include bicycle and pedestrian facilities and access to the school.
• $3.1 billion is provided for the Energy Efficiency and Block Grant Program, which provides formula funding to cities, counties, and states to undertake a range of energy efficiency activities. One eligible use of funding is for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.
• And a total of $1 billion is included for a Prevention and Wellness fund at the US Department of Health and Human Services. However, specific funding for the Healthy Communities program, which provides funding to local communities to pursue community wellness activities address critical problems like obesity, was not included.

See the text of the bill

Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar Endorses Funding for LWCF

from the National Recreation and Parks Association

The Land and Water Conservation Fund has been the source of funds for many projects that benefit the North Country Trail. JHY

In a departure from what NRPA has heard for a number of years from the Department of the Interior about the potential for increased funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, newly confirmed Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has indicated a willingness to look at ways to creatively fund LWCF. Salazar said at a press conference on January 28, that he would like to see more funding to the LWCF program, possibly from the proceeds of oil and gas leasing royalties in a program similar to one he started in Colorado when he was head of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources.

Ken Salazar has long been a champion of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. When he was a Senator from Colorado, he joined forces with Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) in a bi-partisan effort to ensure that new lease revenues from expanded drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico were dedicated to the LWCF state assistance program in the Energy Security Act of 2006, the first time such dedicated funding was ever applied to LWCF since its inception in 1965.

Secretary Salazar said at the press conference, “I would like to see, with programs like the Land and Water Conservation Fund, if we might be able to do a similar thing with oil royalty reform, to engage in a similar type of effort across the country. We are just putting out ideas now but we will look at what we can do.” He also said, “Maybe as we deal with the royalty reform issue we might be able to create a revenue stream for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and we can do for all states the kinds of things we did in Colorado with the Great Outdoors Colorado program.”

This is welcome news, indeed, from the new Secretary of the Interior, and NRPA will be looking for ways to engage him further in a dialogue of how the “royalty-relief” funds could be used for LWCF purposes.

NCT Regional Office Town Recipient of Preserve America Grant

Village of Shawnee, Ohio (photo by Lost in the Hills)

from a news release of the Department of the Interior
with additional comments

Preserve America Grants in 17 States Announced; First Preserve America Stewards Designees Announced

Mrs. Laura Bush, Deputy Secretary of the Interior Lynn Scarlett and Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) Chairman John L Nau, III, have announced the first round of Preserve America Grants for FY 2009 for a total of nearly $3 million.

Preserve America is a White House initiative that encourages and supports community efforts to preserve and enjoy our nation’s heritage. Scarlett and Nau co-chair Preserve America. Mrs. Bush has served as Honorary Chair of Preserve America since its inception in March 2003.

"The Preserve America Initiative was launched by President Bush to promote cultural and natural preservation and to encourage greater appreciation of our national heritage," Mrs. Bush said. "Thanks to each of these grant recipients for the work they are doing to preserve our nation's important historical landmarks."

The Preserve America Grant program is administered by the Department of the Interior’s National Park Service in partnership with the ACHP. The competitive matching grants fund Preserve America Communities, State Historic Preservation Offices, and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices to support their preservation efforts through heritage tourism, education and historic preservation planning.

“These Preserve America Grants help weave cultural and natural heritage into the economic, educational, and social well-being of communities by promoting heritage tourism,” Scarlett said.

Shawnee, Ohio will receive $100,000 for a Priority Property Asset Plan

The Village of Shawnee, which serves as a gateway to the Little Cities of Black Diamonds region and the Wayne National Forest, will identify the most vulnerable properties of its Main Street Historic district and plan for their restoration and reuse. Funds will also be used to design a streetscape for the downtown historic district in an effort to spur tourism-based economic development.

NCTA Regional office recently relocated to Shawnee

Andrew Bashaw, Regional Trail Coordinator for Ohio and Pennsylvania announced in November that the Harrop House in historic downtown Shawnee will be the new home to the regional office of the North Country Trail Association, the Little Cities of the Forest Collaborative, and the Ohio's Hill Country Heritage Area.

See New NCTA Ohio Regional Office

Something to Say About the Northeast Mountains?

a news release of the Waterman Fund

Enter the 2009 Alpine Essay Contest

The Waterman Fund seeks the submission of essays about the mountains of the northeastern U.S. for its second annual Waterman Fund Alpine Essay Contest.

Guy and Laura Waterman spent a lifetime reflecting and writing on the Northeast's mountains. The Waterman Fund seeks to further their legacy through essays and stories that celebrate the spirit of the Northeast's mountains. We encourage the submission of essays that explore the relationship between the human spirit and that environment. Specifically, we are seeking personal essays about stewardship of wild places, whether through a scientific lens or an encounter with wildness.

Essays must be original works ranging from 2500 to 4000 words. The submission deadline is May 1, 2009. The winning piece will be published in Appalachiajournal, and the winning essayist will be awarded $2,000. In addition, the Waterman Fund may recognize one or more essays with honorable mention, awarding those winners with signed copies of the Waterman's companion volumes, Backwoods Ethics and Wilderness Ethics.

Writers who have not published a book or have not been published in a national magazine on the topic of the contest are eligible for participation.

see the complete rules

USFS Wants More Kids in the Woods

photo from USFS

a news release of The USDA Forest Service

The loss of connection between children and nature is an issue that incites passion and shared commitment among Forest Service employees. Establishing and renewing a child’s affinity to nature is a shared responsibility that transcends all agency functional areas. In 2007, we initiated a funding opportunity “More Kids in the Woods” for cost share projects to emphasize our continuing commitment to children. The positive results from this effort underscore our leading role in reconnecting children to nature. By continuing to work with our partners, we can expand our potential for even greater success.

The US Forest Service is pleased to issue a call for proposals for Fiscal Year 2009 with $500,000 to be awarded. The program requires partnering with a Forest Service unit to submit an application. The primary objective of the More Kids in the Woods cost-share funding is to effectively engage children in meaningful and sustained outdoor experiences, thereby increasing awareness and understanding of the natural world and the benefits of forest and grassland ecosystems. This funding opportunity leverages our efforts, builds upon our existing partnerships, and will help build relationships with new partners. The requested Forest Service More Kids in the Woods funds must be matched by non-Forest Service contributions, cash or in-kind, in a ratio of at least 1:1. The maximum amount available for a single project is $50,000 while the minimum is $5,000. Reports on activities and project results will be required for funded projects.

Proposals should be prepared in close collaboration with partners and be submitted by Forest Service units. Please follow instructions in the attachment for preparing your proposals. An electronic form for submitting proposals is also provided. A receipt of confirmation will be returned. Integrated Region/Station/Area teams will review and rank the proposals submitted in each geographic area. An official memorandum with the R/S/A’s top rankings will be sent to the Washington Office. The Washington Office will use the top rankings to make the final selections.

We already have many well recognized programs and activities that align with the goal of connecting children to nature. Whether you submit a proposal for a cost share project or not, I encourage you to work toward ensuring that every child in America, along with their parents, has an opportunity to intimately explore the natural world. Thank you for your efforts in this meaningful endeavor.

For more information, contact Kristen Nelson, Interpretive Services Program Manager, at 202-205-1406, or Drew Burnett, Assistant Director, Conservation Education Program, at 202-205-1781.