OGDEN, Utah (September 10, 2009) – Tread Lightly! has received $40,000 from the Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., to continue its dedicated effort promoting responsible recreation, especially activities involving the use of off highway vehicles (OHVs). The sizeable GRANT (Guaranteeing Responsible Access to our Nation’s Trails) came in the form of cash and equipment through Yamaha’s OHV Access Initiative.
“As a leader in the OHV industry and a long time supporter of Tread Lightly!, Yamaha has reaffirmed the importance of responsible riding to protect recreational opportunities for the outdoor recreation community,” said Lori McCullough, executive director of the nonprofit Tread Lightly!. “This grant will assist Tread Lightly! in launching two exciting new projects.”
The funds will support two priorities for Tread Lightly! in 2009 and 2010, the Respected Access campaign and the development of a travel map template for federal properties.
The Respected Access movement, initially created at the request of the Federal Lands Hunting and Shooting Sports Roundtable, is an education and outreach campaign designed to promote outdoor ethics in the hunting and shooting community through a multi-faceted marketing campaign. Yamaha has dedicated $10,000 toward the development of the respectedaccess.org website. The website is a central component of the campaign and will include recreation tips, public service announcements and other downloadable resources. The 2009 GRANT complements an initial $10,000 provided in 2008 by Yamaha to design and develop the Respected Access education and outreach partnership. Data from the internationally renowned research group, Responsive Management Institute, was used in development.
“The mission of the Yamaha OHV Access Initiative aligns closely with the nationally-recognized work of Tread Lightly!, creating a mandate for our alliance,” said Mike Martinez, Yamaha’s general manager of ATV and Side-by-Side Operations. “Responsible OHV riders demonstrate a strong commitment to land stewardship. Tread Lightly!’s programs support the OHV community’s ability to enjoy the outdoors with respect on a national level.”
The Respected Access website will be available to the public in October, 2009.
Yamaha funds will support the design of a template for a new travel map that will simplify information from the U.S. Forest Visitor’s Use Map by incorporating both motorized and non-motorized travel information, as well as Tread Lightly!’s outdoor ethic. Initially, this user-friendly public traveler map will be customized and printed for the four districts on the Eldorado National Forest in California.
An important tool in promoting responsible recreation, the maps will educate recreationists to trail designations, area restrictions, and information about local natural resources. Developed with national application in mind, the traveler map design will be a blueprint for other Forests to utilize.
“When people have high quality information they make better choices,” said Ms. McCullough. “Yamaha’s involvement in creating these easy-to-follow maps is a natural fit with their efforts to further educate the OHV community about responsible practices while recreating.”
Yamaha also contributed a Grizzly utility ATV in support of Tread Lightly!’s annual fundraising auction on eBay. By donating the popular ATV, Yamaha increased attention and contributions Tread Lightly! relies upon for its education and stewardship programs.
Yamaha has been a long-time Official Partner of Tread Lightly!, giving annual contributions toward sustaining the nonprofit organization in its mission of promoting responsible outdoor recreation through ethics education and stewardship.
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