Sally Jewell, the U.S. secretary of the Interior, issued an order on Friday to decrease barriers for disadvantaged youth so they can experience public lands.
The order is in honor of Doug Walker, a Seattle conservationist and philanthropist who died recently while snowshoeing near Granite Mountain. Walker was known for his support of educational and environmental organizations.
”His tireless advocacy raised awareness with federal public land management agencies of the barriers and opportunities that exist to better serve this important segment of our population,” said a press release for the secretary’s office.
“Doug Walker taught us that many at-risk young people stand at a crossroads where a connection to our public lands can literally change the direction of their lives,” Jewell said. “I can’t think of a more fitting way to honor his life and legacy than making it easier to welcome young people to the great outdoors.”
At the time, I was saddened to hear of Walker’s death. He was well-known and respected in the outdoors community. Not long before his death, I heard him moderate a Seattle Town Hall talk with world-famous climber Alex Honnold. He was gracious and articulate and a perfect complement to Honnold who, while a brilliant rock climber and clearly a good guy, is a bit awkward in front of a huge audience. Walker, however, was charming and charismatic and clearly an enthusiastic supporter of outdoor adventures.
Jewell’s order is exciting. I was lucky — I grew up with parents who took me outdoors at every available opportunity.
Not all kids have that chance.
Jewell has directed the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation to take steps to facilitate outdoor experiences for groups of disadvantaged, disabled or at-risk youth by making it easier for organizers of such groups to obtain permits. The Forest Service, which is under the Department of Agriculture, is also making an effort to streamline its process.
Groups and organizations that take disadvantaged and under-resourced youth onto public lands have said they face challenges in obtaining permits, particularly for multi-day outdoor excursions in backcountry areas. They could be subject to significant fees or need to obtain commercial use authorizations when attempting to access public lands. Other concerns include delays in permit processing, group-size limits and inconsistent permit requirements across the bureaus, according to Interior’s press release.
Earlier, President Barack Obama launched the “Every Kid in a Park” initiative, which offers free access to every fourth grader and their family to national parks and other public lands.
“We should do everything we can to introduce newcomers to public lands that belong to all Americans,” said Jewell. “By streamlining the permitting process, we can knock down barriers that stand in the way of welcoming young people to enjoy, explore and experience nature.”
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