Paddlers Encouraged To Offer Feds Advice

The Obama Administration and the federal land management agencies are asking for your help as part of the new "America's Great Outdoors" Initiative.  The basic goals of the AGO initiative is to help reconnect the American public with the outdoors, and effectively protect natural resources.  The President kicked off the initative with a summit in Washington, DC, which was attended by AW Executive Director, Mark Singleton.  Now, the Administration is hosting a series of listening sessions around the country.  American Whitewater, and our partner organizations in the Outdoor Alliance are encouraging outdoor recreationists to attend these sessions and share your experiences.

The listening sessions currently planned are:

Annapolis, MD:   June 25, 1-5pm

Charleston, SC:  June 28, 1-5pm

Seattle, WA:        July 1, 6:30-9pm

Los Angeles, CA:  July 8, 3-7pm

Asheville, NC:     July 15, 1-5pm

Grand Junction, CO:   July 16, 9-noon

Denver, CO:   July 16 2-5pm

You can learn more about the AGO Initative and the listening sessions at the Department of Interior's AGO Webpage.  We strongly encourage you to also check out the Outdoor Alliance AGO webpage, and some paddler specific advice that AW put together.  You may also want to watch the video put together by the administration.

This initiative is a great opportunity to share your first hand stories of what is working and not working with the way the federal government manages recreation, public lands, and conservation initiatives.  If you have criticism or ideas on how things could be done better, please consider going to the listening sessions.