This award recognizes innovative and successful trail sharing efforts, programs, and systems.
The OHV Education trailer for Stay the Trail programs
Since 2002, the Stay The Trail OHV Education program has been focused on the encouragement of responsible recreation on public lands within the State of Colorado.
The program has maintained three major forms of outreach over these past years; one being educational trailers that are towed around the state to staff a number of various outreach events, the second being the www.staythetrail.org website, and the last being advertising. Whether it is a booth set up at a smaller event or one of the full educational trailers and assorted other outreach tools, they have made a huge effort towards providing resources and information to enthusiasts where they recreate.
The Responsible Recreation Foundation (Foundation), in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and other members from various environmental organizations and user groups, have developed the Stay the Trail educational campaign to address irresponsible off-highway vehicle (OHV) use and damage mitigation on public lands. Stay The Trail’s mission is to reinforce and highlight responsible OHV use, and to modify and mitigate irresponsible use in an effort to reduce resource damage on public lands. The goal is to create a statewide culture of responsible OHV use that will continue beyond the life of the project, effectively creating a stewardship ethic among all Colorado OHV recreationists.
STT was created by a collaboration of land management agencies, motorized enthusiasts and environmental organizations formed a Historic coalition where the rhetoric was turned down. The Coalition had to overcome inherent mistrust that was constantly walking a fine line between encouraging responsible riding ... yet stopping short of hyping off highway vehicle recreation.
STT has developed partnerships with numerous OHV businesses. They have been a great help getting involved in encouraging responsible recreation on public lands. Their efforts range from providing brochures, maps, and stickers to hosting open houses that include our staff and/or trailers. STT is a statewide resource for land managers.
In addition to providing support service through the education trailer, website and other educational programs, STT provides direct involvement with local land managers and recreation staff, providing helpful solutions to on‐the‐ground issues and concerns. By assessing these in the field, STT is able to work through questions and have a hard look at ways to prevent unauthorized route creation or resource damage.
The intent is to look at pro‐active solutions for sustainable routes and clear route identification that matches the route designation through the agency. “Stay the Trail” program is a model for the entire nation as well as other countries. Many of the website and outreach materials have been utilized by other states and national organizations, including Montana, Arizona, New Mexico and organizations like Tread Lightly. STT was even contacted by the Iceland Department of Natural Resources for permission to use STT graphics and messages. They were incorporated into an Iceland National Brochure.
2015: Northumberland County Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area
2010: Ride With Respect
2008: Bill Manning
2006: Ann Hill, BLM Training Center, Phoenix
2006: Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, Missouri & Illinois
2004: Jefferson County Open Space, Colorado
632 views • posted 01/29/2018
