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I was shocked to read that Wilderness Watch is trying to ban a running camp for teens from Oregon's Steens Mountain wilderness area. Read the entire story at www.registerguard.com/news/20020506/1a.steens.0506.html. Due to lots of stakeholder and environmental concerns, the community worked hard to create an alternative designation to Wilderness that, at the time, everyone could live with including ranchers and environmentalists. The intent was to get rid of cows, not kids, according to the camp director.
Now Wilderness Watch argues that Wilderness rules prohibit running camps, endurance races and similar events. I thought Wilderness was supposed to preserve our lands for future generations, i.e. kids? These kids come from urban areas (much like our visitors), running on one trail one day a year where they learn invaluable lessons about the environment, team work and perseverance. All good lessons for becoming responsible adults. Where are kids supposed to learn about Wilderness if they can't run and play in it?
Faced with our own emotional wilderness debate over Meiss and Caples, running, hiking, biking and horsing around in the woods done responsibly teaches all of us to have a deep respect for nature which is essential to guarantee continued stewardship of our public lands. As adults, let us teach our future generation tolerance and how to share and protect our lands for everyone's enjoyment.
Becky Bell
South Lake Tahoe
Now Wilderness Watch argues that Wilderness rules prohibit running camps, endurance races and similar events. I thought Wilderness was supposed to preserve our lands for future generations, i.e. kids? These kids come from urban areas (much like our visitors), running on one trail one day a year where they learn invaluable lessons about the environment, team work and perseverance. All good lessons for becoming responsible adults. Where are kids supposed to learn about Wilderness if they can't run and play in it?
Faced with our own emotional wilderness debate over Meiss and Caples, running, hiking, biking and horsing around in the woods done responsibly teaches all of us to have a deep respect for nature which is essential to guarantee continued stewardship of our public lands. As adults, let us teach our future generation tolerance and how to share and protect our lands for everyone's enjoyment.
Becky Bell
South Lake Tahoe
