2015 Active Trails Grant

Date: June 4, 2015
Contact: Lisa Wilkolak, 530-595-6102

MINERAL, CA– Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of 37 national parks selected to receive a 2015 Active Trails grant from the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks. Now in its seventh year, the Active Trails program supports healthy living by getting people out and active in national parks through projects that help restore, protect, and/or create land and water trails across the country.In partnership with Latino Outreach of Tehama County (LOTC) and Latino Outdoors, Lassen Volcanic National Park invites all visitors to participate in the Reach Higher Trail Challenge, which encourages visitors to hike a greater number and variety of the park’s more than 150 miles of trails, develop an awareness of the health benefits of hiking, and connect fitness with food choices.

The Reach Higher Trail Challenge kicks-off onSaturday, June 13and is open to all individuals. Participants can pick up a brochure at any visitor station and complete at least three hikes to earn a free commemorative bandana. “The Reach Higher Trail Challenge is a great opportunity for both novice and experienced hikers to get outside and enjoy Lassen Volcanic National Park’s spectacular volcanic landscape,” stated Superintendent Steve Gibbons.  

Since 2008, the National Park Foundation has granted more than $2.8 million through its Active Trails program. As of 2014, Active Trails has engaged more than 11,000 volunteers and 579 project partners who combined have contributed more than 60,000 hours to help promote, refurbish or build national park trails.

“Through our Active Trails program, people are discovering that parks are great places to have fun, give back, and exercise,” said Susan Newton, senior vice president of grants & programs at the National Park Foundation. “As we move into the second century of the National Park Service and look to connect all people to America’s treasured places through our Find Your Park movement, programs like Active Trails are engaging people across the country and helping them find their own unique connections to parks.”

“Trails are literal pathways to better health," said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “These National Park Foundation grants will help protect, restore, and create trails in national parks, both urban and rural, that are essential to our physical and mental health as places of recreation, inspiration, and reflection."

The entire list of the 2015 Active Trails recipients can be found here.

The National Park Foundation wishes to thank The Coca-Cola Company and Subaru of America for their generous support of the Active Trails program.

For campground openings, trail statuses, current conditions or to plan your trip, please visit the park website at www.nps.gov/lavo or contact the visitor center at 530-595-4480 or e-mail us.

Visit us atwww.nps.gov/lavo,on Facebookwww.facebook.com/LassenNPS, Twitterwww.twitter.com/LassenNPS, and YouTubewww.youtube.com/LassenNPS.

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ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 407 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more atwww.nps.gov.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION
The National Park Foundation is the official charity of America’s national parks and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds to help PROTECT more than 84 million acres of national parks through critical conservation and preservation efforts, CONNECT all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture and rich history, and INSPIRE the next generation of park stewards. Find out more and become a part of the national park community at www.nationalparks.org