"Great Outdoors" Meeting in KC

Photo: Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, by Chris Oberholtz/The Kansas City Star

It didn't realize the irony in traveling from DC to KC for a conference until I talked to someone in KC who said, "Oh, you're from DC? I just attended a conference there last week!"

I gladly traveled to KC this week for the Wildlife Management Institute conference, where I spoke about all things FLTFA, hung out with a bunch of sportsmen, and highly enjoyed reminiscing around Crown Center, a kids' paradise where I spent my youth dazzled by the fountains, theaters, Crayola store, visitor's center and everything Hallmark.

On Wednesday, another DC-ite came to KC, the Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, who spoke about the importance of protecting the "great outdoors," even in a time of economic downturn and war.

He provided the examples that during the Civil War, Lincoln signed the first declaration to set land aside for recreational use, which led to the establishment of America's first national park, Yellowstone.


During the industrial revolution, Theodore Roosevelt orchestrated one of the greatest conservation movements to protect the nation's forests, rivers, and treasured lands from industry decimation, including establishing Grand Canyon National Monument, Mesa Verde, Petrified Forest and Devils Tower.

During his first visit to the Grand Canyon in 1903, TDR famously stated:

"Leave it as it is.You cannot improve upon it. The ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it. What you can do it to keep it for your children, your children's children, and for all who come after you, as the one great sight which every American...should see."

In the 1930s during the times of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps, creating jobs that built many park facilities, reservoirs and other recreational sites. New parks and monuments during Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency included Great Smoky Mountains, Joshua Tree, and Olympic National Park.
To read more about the Secretary's new "America's Great Outdoors" plan, see this site.

The Secretary also announced a new website to encourage youth employment and activity in America's great outdoors. See www.YouthGO.gov