Outdoor Recreation Council of Appalachia的动态

Great Pinery Heritage Water Trail In Wausau, WI, The Solid Ground and Connected Reality team is helping a community re-think what their river can mean to them.?Already a river with a world-class, competitive whitewater run, the river also boasts more than 100 miles of placid and nearly-wild recreational opportunities.?More than just a paddlers’ destination, community leaders envision a river corridor that includes hiking, biking, arts and culture, lodging and dining, and other extended visitor and local benefits.?The area also offers learning and engaging opportunities with the cultural heritage of Indigenous and settler communities.? ? Emerging from this and other projects completed by Solid Ground is a growing?database of best practices for community water trail and greenway projects.?Understanding the pathways taken by other successful community initiatives gives ideas and confidence to leaders seeking their own water trail opportunity. ? Growing the project will require growing the capacity of a community-based organization to be the water trail’s champion.?We’ve been helping them explore (along with other clients in Ohio and Oregon) how to?front-load organizational resources?to support a more robust major donor program down the road.?A capacity-building initiative is an innovative strategy to seek up-front investment from foundations and investment-minded individuals to pay for the fundraising staff that is required to sustain a high-level major donor and membership program.?Organizations with huge future potential can sometime spend years trying to build up the capacity to sustain capacity.?It can be a sisyphusian experience (that guy with the bolder and the mountain).? ? The capacity-building strategy can be a means to kick-start an organization to the next level.?Solid Ground has helped several groups envision, and then realize, that potential.

?? Yellowstone National Park: an iconic treasure and a vital part of our country's natural heritage. Did you know it was established way back in 1872, making it the nation's first national park? Explore the wonders that lie beneath its surface—a volcanic hot spot giving rise to geothermal features, hot springs, and geysers that form half of the world's geothermal attractions. ?? ??? Beyond its hydrologic marvels, Yellowstone boasts canyons, rivers, and pristine forests teeming with diverse wildlife like bears, wolves, and bison. It's truly a glimpse into a time before history was recorded. As we marvel at Old Faithful and other iconic spots, let's not forget the challenges the park faces ?? ?? With over $630 million in deferred maintenance, including road damages near Firehole River, the park's infrastructure needs attention. Behold the 142-mile Grand Loop Road, a narrow thoroughfare without shoulders, struggling to keep up with the traffic demands. Upgrading it requires substantial funding to ensure visitor safety and access to Yellowstone's natural wonders. ??? From the pump house museum to water and wastewater systems, significant repairs are needed to preserve Yellowstone's rich heritage and ensure a memorable experience for all visitors. Let's advocate for sustainable solutions to address these maintenance challenges and safeguard this national treasure for generations to come. ?? What are your thoughts on preserving Yellowstone National Park and similar natural treasures? Share your feelings and ideas below! ?? https://lnkd.in/gYk_VxZz

?? The federal government recently announced plans to expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. Advocacy from Indigenous community leaders, community activists, and environmentalists across Southern California led to this landmark decision to preserve public land and provide critical open space and equitable access to nature. ??♀?Expanding the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument will promote equitable access to nature, safeguard a vital water source for Los Angeles County, tackle climate and biodiversity challenges, support national 30x30 goals, and honor the landscape’s culture and historical significance. ?? Alongside the Monument’s expansion, over $1 million in corporate, philanthropic, and state government support to ensure equitable access and recreation within the Monument was announced, a commitment that includes support from EGA member, Resources Legacy Fund. Read more about the Monument’s expansion here: https://lnkd.in/dgM86uGh #Conservation

?? Doylestown Township Parks Improvement Project! ?? Join us on an exciting journey as we embark on a transformative mission to enhance our beloved Central Park! This video provides an look at the Doylestown Township Capital Campaign, a dedicated effort to improve Central Park for everyone to enjoy. ?? What's Included in the Project? - Community Recreation Center: Indoor Recreation and Gathering Spaces. - New Outdoor Sports Courts: Basketball, Bocce, Pickleball, and Tennis Courts. - Permanent & Accessible Restrooms near the Amphitheater and Kids Castle. ?? Why Your Support Matters: The success of this campaign relies on the support of our community. Your contributions will help us create a more vibrant and welcoming environment for everyone to enjoy. Every donation, big or small, brings us one step closer to making this vision a reality. ?? Play a Part at Central Park: Be a Donor, Be a Sponsor, Leave Your Legacy, Help Build the CRC - Donate: Learn how you can contribute to the campaign. - Volunteer: Discover volunteer opportunities and ways to get involved. - Spread the Word: Share this video with friends and family to raise awareness. ?? Thank You for Your Support! ?? Together, we can improve Central Park and continue its legacy for generations to come.

NATIONWIDE - Across the nation, outdoor equity funds are helping more people get outside bridging the “nature gap." The Wilderness Society's latest blog shares the significance of outdoor equity funds in promoting access to outdoor spaces for underrepresented and marginalized communities. Outdoor equity funds are state-based grant programs that provide financial resources to local organizations providing nature-based programming for communities that have historically been excluded or underserved. So far, five states have adopted statewide outdoor equity grant programs: California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Washington. These states recognize that access to nature is not universal and seek to dismantle the barriers that prevent marginalized communities from enjoying the many benefits of outdoor experiences. Maine and North Carolina have privately-funded grant programs.? See the full blog here: https://lnkd.in/espMM7wn

The feedback from my fall experiment of offering free habitat workshops was so positive I’ve decided to host seasonal habitat workshops this year to share actionable ways to create a more ecologically sustainably landscape - with the focus on the function of our yards as a wildlife habitat. The size of the workshops is intentionally limited to make them more interactive and encourage authentic connections. I’ve worked hard to offer hands-on and practical ideas geared towards anyone who is at the beginning of the process of restoring habitat where they live. I’m maintaining the low-key nature of the workshops by reaching out through my networks to folks who are open to making their yards more wildlife friendly. Feel free to share this information with anyone who you think "gets it" and might benefit. The Winter Habitat Yard Workshop is on Sunday, February 25 from 12:00-2:00pm. Before reserving a spot by e-mailing?[email protected], please read the blog post here (https://lnkd.in/dbps6NzX) plus the one I wrote last fall (https://lnkd.in/g3H9z_ij) detailing the reasons for the workshop and what to expect. Spring and summer dates are in the works! The workshops are for adults, but children of all ages are welcome – after all it’s their future we’re all trying to save! Be on the lookout for a special family workshop this summer. * I'm keeping the workshops free. My website is being updated and will have a donate button now that Nurture Native Nature is a non-profit organization. This will help offset the cost of offering free educational community outreach programs and activities throughout the year. #nativeplants?#naturelovers?#habitatyard?#coexistwithnature?#nurturenativenature

We've seen plenty of discussion about this article. Though National Parks Authorities are not charities themselves, all boards – regardless of legal setup – benefit from a diversity of skills, knowledge and experience, and inclusive practice. In addition, National Park Authorities work closely with many charities. A lack of #diversity on a #NationalPark board may have knock-on impacts on charities in partnership. Covering 10% of our country, we're hopeful that NPAs will make moves towards stronger #governance. https://lnkd.in/eMNEjnYv

CORAL RESTORATION FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Are you implementing nature-based solutions or community resilience solutions in your work? Coral reef restoration work is a perfect fit for this! The Chubb Charitable Foundation is currently accepting proposals from organizations that are implementing climate resilience solutions that have been tested and found effective in strengthening the resilience of the natural environment and/or vulnerable communities. In particular, the Chubb Charitable Foundation seeks to support time-bound projects with long-term sustainability in one of the following areas: - Nature-based solutions that are focused on land conservation or the protection, restoration, or expansion of systems including coastal wetlands, oyster reefs, mangroves, and/or coral reefs. - Agricultural resilience solutions that are focused on helping smallholder farmers outside of the United States transition to restorative practices and/or be better positioned to absorb and recover from climate-related impacts. - Community resilience solutions that are strengthening the climate resilience of community infrastructure and/or connecting community members to green jobs. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gkbs7Pm3 #coralreefs #coralrestoration #coralscience #coralfunding #funding #coral #fundingopportunity #reefrestoration #marineecology #marinebiology

Proud of how much we at TAKE A PART CIO lean into communities to set their own value frameworks, to tell us what they know quality is, to explore and challenge what is important and why and to centre hyper-local engagement in how they want to work and connect. Hyper-local work creates lasting and generative engagements in culture, environment and heritage because it is applied and it is relevant. Have a watch to see some real joy. #oceanengagement #climatejustice #oceanliteracy #oceanstewardship #communityvalue #hyperlocal #sustainable

Calling all bird nerds, plant nerds, and nature nerds! Homegrown National Park? is a grassroots call-to-action to regenerate biodiversity and ecosystem function by planting native plants and creating new ecological networks. THEIR MISSION To regenerate biodiversity and ecosystem function?because every human being on this planet needs diverse highly productive ecosystems to survive. CALL TO ACTION Catalyzing a collective effort of individual homeowners, property owners, land managers, farmers, and anyone with some soil to plant in…to start a new?HABITAT? by planting native plants and removing most invasive plants.??It is the largest cooperative conservation project ever conceived or attempted. THEIR GOAL Our initial goal is 20 million acres of native plantings in the U.S.?This represents approximately ? of the green lawns of privately-owned properties. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE We are at a critical point of losing so many species from local ecosystems that their ability to produce the oxygen, clean water, flood control, pollination, pest control, carbon storage, etc, that is, the ecosystem services that sustain us, will become seriously compromised.