| Contacts: | Rose Bayless, 719-539-7289, rose.bayless@state.co.us |
Arkansas Headwaters Offers Youth Hangin’ Out – Outdoors Program (06-18-10)
SALIDA, Colo. – The Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA), in cooperation with Colorado State Parks and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), is inviting kids, ages 11-16, to get outdoors this summer! The Hangin’ Out – Outdoors program is the perfect change for kids to beat summer boredom. Unique activities are scheduled each Friday starting June 25th and throughout the summer, and will give youth the chance to experience and enjoy a sample of the fantastic outdoor recreation opportunities in Colorado. Summer activities will include: learning how to orienteer in the wilds using a map and compass and then hunting for “geocaches” hidden in the 4-Mile area above Buena Vista; mountain biking the new Arkansas Hills Trail System in Salida; and rock climbing, rafting, fishing, and hiking expeditions.
The June 25th inauguration will begin with the orienteering/geocache program. Participants will meet at 9:00 a.m. at the AHRA Visitor Center located in Salida at 307 W. Sackett Ave. (on the corner of G and Sackett Streets across from the Salida SteamPlant). Transportation to the 4-Mile area will be provided; and this program is at no cost to participants.
Weekly outdoor activities will provide something new and exciting for boys and girls alike. Dates, times, and locations will vary, and there may be a fee for participants for some commercial activities such as rafting. There is a limit of 15 participants per program, so early registration is encouraged. Please contact the AHRA directly at 719-539-7289 or email leda.baca@state.co.us to register or for more information. Specific program details can also be checked on the Colorado State Parks calendar at www.colorado.gov/parks. Click on the “More/Calendar of Events” link to view a list of Arkansas Headwaters and all State Parks activities, or click on the Parks tab then select the Arkansas Headwaters from the choose-a-park drop down menu and current and upcoming events will be listed.
The Colorado State Parks and the BLM are actively engaged in creating programs that excite youth about activities in the great outdoors: making this partnership between the two agencies an ideal fit!
The BLM kicked off Secretary Ken Salazar’s Youth in the Great Outdoors Initiative earlier this year which targets youth between the ages of 15-25. The Youth Initiative is committed to engage, educate, and inspire youth through a variety of programs that may one day lead into long-term engagement and stewardship, as well as the pursuit of natural resource careers. To learn more about BLM Youth Initiatives visit the Web site at www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/blms__youth_initiatives.html.
Attracting nearly 12 million visitors per year, Colorado's 42 State Parks are a vital cornerstone of Colorado's economy and quality of life. Colorado State Parks encompass 224,531 land and water acres, offering some of the best outdoor recreation destinations in the state. Colorado State Parks is a leader in providing opportunities for outdoor recreation, protecting the state’s favorite landscapes, teaching generations about nature and partnering with communities.
Colorado State Parks also manage more than 4,000 campsites, and 57 cabins and yurts. For more information on Colorado State Parks or to purchase an annual pass online, visit www.colorado.gov/parks.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.