America's Great Outdoors listening session in Charleston, SC

July 1, 2010 | Blue Trails, Protecting Rivers

Matt Rice
Director, Colorado Conservation

On Monday I attended a listening session for America’s Great Outdoors in Charleston, South Carolina.  The session was well attended and many participants were there to voice their support for rivers, river recreation, and river conservation as a centerpiece for the new national conservation and recreation program.

Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, and Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Will Shafroth, spoke of the importance of reconnecting people and especially kids to the outdoors and to America’s special treasured places.

• Learn more about the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Interior.

During a breakout session, where participants had an opportunity to weigh in on what should be included in this national initiative, Andy Grizzell, a park ranger who works for The City of Columbia, South Carolina told a story about one of their programs.  Every year, he takes a group of underprivileged kids on a multiple overnight camping trip down the Congaree River Blue Trail from Columbia to the Congaree National Park.  For many of these kids it is first time that they have spent any substantial time outdoors much less on a river.  The kids learn about the cultural and natural history of the area, they learn about outdoor and river safety, they learn about the importance of protecting our rivers, and most of all they learn how to have fun outside.

• Learn more about the City of Columbia and Congaree National Park.

This is what blue trails are all about; providing an opportunity for the public to safely enjoy rivers and to create a new generation of river stewards.  This is also why blue trails are a perfect fit for America’s Great Outdoors.  Rivers and trails like the Congaree River Blue Trail connect urban communities like Columbia to special public places like the Congaree National Park.  They are great places to enjoy safe, healthy, exciting and fun outdoor recreation (just ask the kids that Andy took down the river) .  They can be economic drivers for rural communities. They reconnect communities to their cultural heritage. They are cheap, requiring little capital investment (the trail already exists). The list goes on.

It is not too late to let the Obama Administration know that rivers must be a central component of America’s Great Outdoors and that a National Blue Trails Initiative would help the administration accomplish their goals of reconnecting kids to the outdoors and communities to treasured places.

Find out about upcoming listening sessions or submit comments on our America's Great Outdoors page. You can also send comments by email to ago@ios.doi.gov

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