Tread Lightly!, a leading national non-profit empowering people to connect with nature and enjoy outdoor recreation, has partnered with Noble Energy, Inc. to support multiple-use access, sustainability, education and stewardship of America’s natural resources.
The initial focus of this new and innovative partnership is on the Pawnee National Grassland, near the community of Greeley, Colorado, where the groups held a kickoff event last Friday at the Main Draw Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Area near Greeley, Colo.
The multifaceted “Nurturing with Nature” partnership is highlighted by the development of a unique educational program to connect Greeley students with the outdoors. By integrating outdoor ethics and skills education into local schools, Tread Lightly! and Noble Energy are providing GreeleyÂ’s youth with direct exposure to nature. This type of exposure has proven essential for healthy childhood development and nurturing a society of good citizens and environmental stewards.
Last Friday, in partnership with the U.S. Forest ServiceÂ’s Pawnee National Grassland office, Noble Energy employees alongside volunteers from a local Boy Scouts troop completed the first of three important projects installing new fencing and a new information kiosk that will serve local and visiting OHV enthusiasts.
“Tread Lightly! needs important community partners like Noble Energy to help accomplish critical work supporting outdoor recreation on our public lands,” said Lori McCullough, executive director for Tread Lightly!. “Through programs like these – by leveraging financial and intellectual resources through a public-private partnership – we are educating, inspiring and nurturing future stewards, and helping to connect people of all ages and abilities to our natural environment through participation in outdoor recreation.”
The recent project – made possible by the “Nurturing with Nature” partnership among Tread Lightly!, Noble Energy and the U.S. Forest Service – is intended to protect long-term access to this popular OHV area, sustain opportunities to enjoy outdoor recreation, and protect valuable natural resources.
“Noble Energy is proud to be working with Tread Lightly! and the U.S. Forest Service in making Colorado’s great outdoors more accessible, while at the same time promoting environmental stewardship to sustain our unique surroundings for future generations,” said Chip Rimer, Noble Energy Senior Vice President of U.S. Onshore. “Providing Tread Lightly! with resources and volunteers for these important projects is important to the people of Noble Energy, who believe strongly in our commitment to work in true partnership with our many communities.”
Noble’s Nurturing with Nature partnership with Tread Lightly! involves two other hands-on Restoration for Recreation projects scheduled for completion by the end of September 2015 at the popular recreational sites – the Baker Draw area (Monday, August 24) and Pawnee Buttes Trailhead (Friday, September 25).
“We are pleased this partnership could come together to accomplish some great work on the Pawnee National Grassland and help connect the public to their natural Grassland,” Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland Supervisor Glenn Casamassa said.
More information about Nurturing with Nature and Tread Lightly!’s Restoration for Recreation program can be found at treadlightly.org.
