WINNEMUCCA — Nevada Outdoor School is pleased to announce it has received $10,000 from the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative for their Ride Safe Ride Smart program.
This program provides targeted OHV safety education and outreach around the state for youth and adults. The grant was awarded as part of Yamaha’s Outdoor Access Initiative.
Funding from the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative ensures that Nevada Outdoor School can travel throughout the state to a variety of outreach events such as the Reno Motorsports Expo, the Nevada Outdoor Experience, and Get Outdoors Nevada Day, where they provide targeted ATV/OHV safety and responsible recreation education through informational materials, compelling displays and fun interactive games/activities.
Funds are also being used to print new youth ATV Safe Rider brochures and to purchase new outreach materials including branded tablecloths and displays.
“Nevada Outdoor School is proud to work with The Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative to ensure safe and responsible OHV use in Nevada,” said Executive Director, Melanie Erquiaga. “Nevada Outdoor School’s Ride Safe, Ride Smart Program challenges people to think critically about their recreation actions, impacts and choices and develop their own outdoor ethic. Our goal is to provide people with the motivation, knowledge and skills to get outside and ride responsibly. We appreciate the support of the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative and the funds to be able to print and distribute valuable educational materials and travel around the state reaching as many people as possible through our Ride Safe, Ride Smart program.”
In late April, funding from the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative, the Nevada OHV Commission and Nevada State Parks Recreational Trails Program was used to bring a unique way to teach rural Nevada youth how to be safe and smart on their OHVs in Tonopah.
In partnership with Tonopah Schools, University of Nevada Reno Extension – Northern Nye County, and the town of Tonopah, Nevada Outdoor School brought their Ride Safe, Ride Smart program to the Tonopah community and the Tonopah middle school and high school, reaching over 200 students in one day! Youth actively learned about the 5 principles of TREAD Lightly! and how to be safe while riding their OHVs. Thanks to funds from the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative, youth received cool #ridesaferidesmart stickers and printed educational materials to take home with them.
“Programs like the Nevada Outdoor School speak directly to the mission of the Outdoor Access Initiative by fostering the principles of land stewardship and responsible recreation among children,” said Steve Nessl, Motorsports Marketing Manager, Yamaha Motor Corporation. “Safety is an essential element of sustained access to public land and we are happy to support the Nevada Outdoor School in its efforts to make that important to kids in Nevada.”
For more information about Yamaha’s Outdoor Access Initiative, go to http://www.YamahaOAI.com
Nevada Outdoor School inspires exploration of the natural world, responsible stewardship of our habitat and dedication to community. The Nevada Outdoor School AmeriCorps program places National Service members at a variety of non-profits in rural Nevada. Nevada Outdoor School is all about getting people outside safely and responsibly!