Our world has changed so dramatically since our meeting in February 2020, and for many of us, priorities have shifted from long-term visions and goals to short-term survival and safety. Trails have taken on a new role in the lives of Arizonans, providing all of us with a welcome escape from quarantine and a safe haven for needed recreation we cannot find inside. However, this shift has placed a sudden and unanticipated pressure upon many outdoor facilities - particularly popular trails and trailheads near population centers. Due to our own forced isolation, many trail planners, managers and non-profits feel like they are struggling alone to find the right approaches and messages to control the impact and maintain public safety.
We want to activate the Network for Arizona Trails to help. Leveraging the strength and passion of our Arizona trails community, we can share information across jurisdictional and use boundaries to explore successful strategies, share timely updates and develop guidance for users and managers to keep our trails safe and open.
Links to materials mentioned in our meeting of 4/21:
American Hiking Society Hike The Hill materials and handouts from Elizabeth Stewart
To make a contribution to the Sun Corridor Trail Alliance: "Please write a check to the Maricopa Trail and Park Foundation, with a check memo note "Sun Corridor Trail Alliance” on the face of the check. The check can be mailed to the Maricopa Trail and Park Foundation c/o Jan Hancock, Executive Director, 805 N. 4th Avenue, Suite 703, Phoenix, AZ 85003-1306. We appreciate your support!" Remember - the SCTA is a 502c3 organization and contributions are tax deductible!
Listen and Share Topics:
Introductions and Orientation to Zoom
Round Robin Updates
Land Managers - local, state, federal
Network for Arizona Trails Steering Committee
AZ State Parks Grants - Jeff Schmidt & Mickey Rogers, AZ State Parks
Concurrent Resolution: Get Outdoors Arizona Update - Kirk Astroth, Network for AZ Trails
2021 Zoom Calls Brainstorm - What do YOU want to talk about?
Adjourn and after-meeting networking opportunity
Listen and Share Topics:
Introductions and Orientation to Zoom
Round Robin Updates
Land Managers - local, state, federal
Network for Arizona Trails Steering Committee
Research Library request
Get Outdoors AZ - Nikki Julien, Arizona Wildlife Federation
Concurrent Resolution: Get Outdoors Arizona - Kirk Astroth, Network for AZ Trails
2021 Summit Planning
Adjourn and after-meeting networking opportunity
Listen and Share Topics:
Introductions and Orientation to Zoom
Round Robin Updates
Land Managers - local, state, federal
Network for Arizona Trails Steering Committee
Perceptions of Conflict Surrounding Future E-Bike Use on the Arizona Trail - Matthew Nelson, Arizona Trail Association
2021 Summit Planning
After meeting chat opportunity (15 min)
Listen and Share Topics:
Introductions and Orientation to Zoom
Round Robin Updates
Land Managers - local, state, federal
Network for Arizona Trails Steering Committee
Next Steps for the Network - Topical Breakout Discussions
Volunteerism
Statewide political advocacy for access, policy and funding
Statewide collaboration around outdoor recreation
Trails and Environmental Considerations
Diversity and Inclusion
After meeting chat opportunity (15 min)
Listen and Share Topics:
Introductions and Orientation to Zoom
Round Robin Updates
Land Managers - local, state, federal
Network for Arizona Trails Steering Committee
Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps- Shandiin Nez, Program Coordinator
Great American Outdoors Act - Laura White, National Forest Service
After meeting chat opportunity (15 min)
Listen and Share Topics:
Introductions and Orientation to Zoom
Round Robin Updates
Land Managers - local, state, federal
Network for Arizona Trails Steering Committee
Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps- Shandiin Nez, Program Coordinator
Great American Outdoors Act - Laura White, National Forest Service
After meeting chat opportunity (15 min)
Listen and Share Topics:
Introductions and Orientation to Zoom
Round Robin Updates
Land Managers - local, state, federal
4th of July, current fires, etc.
#RecreateResponsibly
Network for Arizona Trails steering committee
Topic of interest sign-ups: https://mailchi.mp/354e849fb1ee/what-is-your-interest
Arizona Office of Tourism - New Leave No Trace Partnership - Presentation and Q&A with Kari Roberg
Project Highlights
Call for Project Successes - We want to highlight what YOU'RE doing!
Project Highlight #1: Babbitt Ranch Reroute Arizona National Scenic Trail
Project Highlight #2: TBD
After meeting chat opportunity (15 min)
Listen and Share Topics:
Introductions and Orientation to Zoom
Round Robin Updates (20 min)
Land Managers - local, state, federal
4th of July, current fires, etc.
Network for Arizona Trails steering committee
Grant funding
Topic sign-ups
Other Updates?
Learning from our Neighbor - New Mexico Office of Outdoor Recreation
Presentation and Q&A with Axie Navas, Director
Wrap up and next meeting (shift to monthly - July 13th)
1:00pm After meeting chat opportunity (15 min)
Listen and Share Topics:
Round-Robin Updates:
New Messaging Source #RecreateResponsibly
Summit for Arizona Trails announces the Network for Arizona Trails
The latest from Land Managers - Local and Federal
Learning from our neighbor: Presentation by Tara McKee, Program Manager Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation
How outdoor recreation and trail access has been affected by CV-19 in Utah
Challenges and successes
How the Office of Outdoor Rec has been involved
Sharing back and plans for next meeting
After meeting chat opportunity - 15 minutes
Listen and Share Topics:
Updates on most recent guidance - USFS, NPS, Americorps, Local Jurisdictions
Who has the best messaging and can we adapt/adopt it for ourselves?
Breakout Working Groups:
Consistent messaging for summer use season - top 5 messages
How do we deliver these messages
Engaging new users in the long term - where do we start
After meeting chat opportunity - 15 minutes
Listen and Share Topics:
Keeping new users engaged in the long term
The “New Normal” and the future of management strategies developed for the crisis
How can we continue to engage volunteers, and leverage future opportunities?
Exploring the trails/outdoor recreation related economic development opportunities presented by COVID-19 relief
Listen and Share Topics:
Changes to statewide guidance(?) and discussion
Managing Sustained Challenges
Distributing people across the landscape
Heat season - Messaging and education for Heat Season (introduce Claire here)
Fire season - statewide fire ban, strategies, etc. (introduce FS here)
Other issues related to increased use and new users
Share strategies for how to still have a good experience even with restrictions
Creating a statewide Volunteer Coordination Working Group
Listen and Share Topics:
How the "Stay At Home" order and jurisdictional closures are affecting trails, trailheads and trail users
Managing social distancing on trails: what's working, what's not
Sharing successful messaging for distancing, limitations and closures
Shifting user behavior to less busy places and times