July 11, 2008
Contact:
Vanessa Vaughan, The Conservation Fund, 703.908.5809
Arlington, VA – Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) today awarded $10,000 to The Conservation Fund to establish the Collegiate Outdoor and Paddlesport Leadership Program for college students and college outing clubs. The program will equip students from across the country with the skills needed to spark new waterway conservation and stewardship projects in their communities. The American Canoe Association (ACA) will run the program with help from the Student Conservation Association and The Conservation Fund.
“REI is committed to increasing access to outdoor recreation and volunteer opportunities through our work with local non-profit partners,” said Janet Hopkins, retail regional vice president for REI. “We are proud to support The Conservation Fund in their efforts to introduce more youth to the wonders of the outdoors, while teaching the importance of protecting our natural spaces for future generations.”
A unique aspect of the curriculum will address water trail creation and operation. Other aspects include outdoor safety, stewardship and the basics of land and water protection. The initial two week summer residential program will be run on ACA’s Sugar Island in Ontario’s St. Lawrence River. Longer term, the host organizations plan to replicate the program in the Chesapeake Bay region and eventually in Texas on the Neches River.
“We’re truly grateful to REI for its support of our new Paddlesport Leadership Program,” said Martin A. Bartels, executive director of the American Canoe Association. “This funding represents a tremendous milestone in ACA’s efforts to engage youth in outdoor recreation, and particularly in waterway stewardship. We’re excited to launch the program in conjunction with our stellar partners, building relevant curriculum and an experience that will have a lasting impact.”
Upon completion of the program, students will have the tools to engage volunteers, establish water trails and create conservation easements within their university or hometown communities.
“This is a great partnership, and this program has the potential to spark the creation of world-class water trails – like the Captain John Smith Trail in the Chesapeake Bay – all around the country,” said Erik Meyers, The Conservation Fund’s vice president for sustainable programs. “REI is a natural fit for this program, and we’re thrilled to have their support.”
For more information, contact The Conservation Fund at (703) 525-6300 or American Canoe Association at (540) 907-4460.
Note: This release has been updated since its original publication.
The American Canoe Association (ACA) is a member-based nonprofit organization that promotes fun and responsible canoeing, kayaking, and rafting. Founded in 1880, the ACA actively advocates recreational access to, and stewardship of, America’s blue trails. Additionally, the ACA ensures safe paddlesport recreation through its certification of thousands of expert instructors. For more information and to join, visit www.americancanoe.org.
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