Outdoor Resources

Importance  Gaining an understanding of the resources available for outdoor education cannot be more important.  If you want to go somewhere, whether alone or with a group, you should know what’s available, where to get more information, and what regulations exist that might affect your program.

LOCAL RESOURCES Knowing how your local area set-up will help you find answers to questions. (Ex: Authority to use areas, what the resources are, etc.)

County - Usually governed by one of three forms of government. The commission form: (The most common). Elected officials preside over public business. The supervisor form: Differs from a commission, in that the elected were voted as township supervisors. The executive form: Revolves around a county manager who reports to a county board which serves as the policy-making body.

City - Also typically governed by one of three forms of government. Mayor-council: Voters elect mayor and by wards for councilpersons. Commission: Each commissioner oversees a department or two. Council-manager: The city manager has the executive power, while the council has the legislative power.

Typical resources: Playgrounds Parks (may have a wide variety of resources within its borders) Ball fields Fairgrounds Water resources (lakes, ponds, creeks, rivers) Local environment may have specialized resources (beaches, bayous, etc.) Natural Science Museums/Aquariums (can also be state, or private)

STATE RESOURCES  SCORP’s: Statewide Outdoor Recreation Plans  The Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) effort is a result of the 1965 act of Congress creating the Land and Water Conservation Fund that sets aside revenues from offshore oil and gas leases to purchase land for public outdoor recreation and upgrade existing facilities.

 Typical Resources:  State Forests – Better developed in the eastern, southern, and Midwestern U.S.  Nature preserves – Consists of land purchased by the Nature Conservancy, then turned over to other agencies to manage.  Mississippi Nature preserves = Grand Bay Savanna, Charles M. Deaton Nature Preserve, Mississippi Gulf Coast Program, Coonewah Creek Chalk Bluffs PreserveGrand Bay SavannaCharles M. Deaton Nature PreserveMississippi Gulf Coast Program Coonewah Creek Chalk Bluffs Preserve  Grand Bay Savanna Grand Bay Savanna

The Conservancy's Grand Bay Savanna project extends from the Bangs Lake area of eastern Jackson County, Mississippi to Mobile Bay, Alabama, including some 150,000 acres and is jointly managed by the Mississippi and Alabama Chapters of the Conservancy. Charles M. Deaton Nature Preserve Charles M. Deaton Nature Preserve The 3,300-acre Charles M. Deaton Nature Preserve is one of the finest natural areas remaining in Mississippi and contains a large contiguous block of bottomland hardwood forest. Mississippi Gulf Coast Program Mississippi Gulf Coast Program The Mississippi Gulf Coast Program is a "community-based conservation program," that is strategically involved with the community - through education and outreach to look for solutions that promote compatible land use. Grand Bay Savanna

Coonewah Creek Chalk Bluffs Preserve Coonewah Creek Chalk Bluffs Preserve This site protects one of our state's rarest plants-the Price's potato-bean Apios priceana. The Price's potato-bean was listed as threatened due to the small number of populations and threats to its habitat. There are only 25 known sites in the four states of Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee.

FEDERAL RESOURCES  Federal- 782 million acres of land, almost one-third of the nation This land is managed by several different agencies and for differing purposes. Seven agencies manage the bulk of this land.

Federal Land Management Agencies The Big 4 U.S. Forest ServiceU.S. Forest Service Acreage: million acres located in 44 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Management goal: To permit a variety of uses, including recreation, timber harvesting, fish and wildlife habitat and livestock grazing, under the multiple use and sustained yield standards. Number of units: 156 individual forests; 20 grassland units. Activities permitted: Virtually all non- consumptive and economic uses. Logging is the chief economic use; recreation is far and away the largest dollar-valued output.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (F&WS) Acreage: 87.4 million acres, 76 million of which are in Alaska. 65 percent of the refuges outside of Alaska (476) are west of the Mississippi River. Management goal: To conserve and protect fish and wildlife. Number of units: 504 refuges. Activities permitted: Hunting, fishing and other recreational activities along with economic uses that are compatible with the purposes for which particular refuges were established. Oil & gas development and livestock grazing are among the economic uses allowed on lands in the refuge system. Millions visit refuges every year.

National Park Service (NPS) Acreage: About 77 million acres in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, Samoa and the Northern Marianas. Management goal: To protect parks from significant degradation so that future as well as current generations can enjoy them. Number of units: 368, including the newest park, Death Valley National Park in California. Activities permitted: Hiking, camping and other recreational activities. Millions of visitors enjoy them each year.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Acreage: About 268 million acres located chiefly in 11 contiguous western states and Alaska. Alaskan lands total 88.9 million acres. Odd lots are located in other states, like 589 acres in Wisconsin and 3962 acres in Louisiana. Acreage excludes Outer Continental Shelf lands as well as federal mineral resources where the surface is owned by state, local or private parties. Management goal: To permit a variety of uses, including recreation, livestock grazing, fish and wildlife habitat, mineral production and timber harvesting under the multiple use and sustained yield standard.

Number of units: 59 districts, subdivided into 137 resource areas. Activities permitted:: Virtually all non-consumptive and economic uses under the multiple use and sustained yield standard. The most extensive economic activity is livestock grazing; millions of visitors enjoy recreational opportunities annually.

Other federal agencies  TVA, ACE, BIA, BOR  Tennessee Valley authority  Army Corps of Engineers  Bureau of Indian Affairs a2.cfm  Bureau of Reclamation

Issues facing public agencies: Limited Access (Private land/right of way issues) Total Acreage available – Not distributed evenly across the country (much more land avail in the west) Alaska has the most, and is the least accessible. Types of use allowed – Varies by agency Management practices - Varies by agency Wilderness managed by several different agencies, causing management of these areas to be dealt with inconsistently.

Private resources: Personal resources homes, cottages, RV’s and trailers, time-shares, houseboats, hunting grounds. Private organization ownership social and athletic clubs, hiking and mountaineering groups, travel associations. Semipublic organizations Youth organizations, etc.

Industry resources: (corporate lands sometimes used by employees or public) Wood using industries Utility companies (the southern company) Land-holding companies Others (mining companies, etc.) Commercial recreation lands: campgrounds, amusement parks, marinas, farms, ranches, resorts, golf courses.

Ranches and farms (becoming open to more Outdoor activities to augment income) Museums/Aquariums (Natural Science)

Assignment  From the internet or other media:  Find the following 4 resources for outdoor education found near your hometown 1 federal, 1 state, 1 local, 1 private Provide location information and a detailed description of each  Print list for everyone and deliver to all in class next time.