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WASHINGTON — Two national forest programs in Utah designed to connect community children with the outdoors and promote land stewardship received money Tuesday from the U.S. Forest Service to continue those efforts.
More than $24,000 was given to the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache national forests for the Experience Your Abilities Program and $33,000 was given to the Dixie National Forest for the Color Country Outdoor Youth Initiative.
Both programs aim to provide local children with more opportunities to experience the outdoors, learn about nature and build on conservation and land stewardship ideals.
“The value of expanding our programs for children must not be underestimated,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “Young people are tomorrow’s stewards of our public lands, and we have a duty to help them develop a lasting connection and passion for conservation of America’s great outdoors.”
The Uinta program involves a wilderness camp for children ages 6 to 15 with or without disabilities.
Dr. John Librett, executive director of Splore, said the money will help increase physical activity among children, especially those with disabilities or special health needs.
Dixie's program in southwestern Utah targets middle-school children for involvement in a nature-based outdoor education program. Officials there believe the increased funding levels will allow greater participation.
The funding, which was already in the agency's budget this year, is distributed to More Kids in the Woods projects and Children's Forest programs. Nationally, the Forest Service has committed $1 million to these cost-sharing programs that draw on educational institutions and nonprofits as partners.
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