Adirondack Mountain Club and Partners Receive Funds to Develop Adirondack Recreational Publication


For Release: May 29, 2007

Contact: John Million
518-523-3480 x14

Lake Placid, NY

Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) and its partners received $10,000 from Tourism Cares for Tomorrow to update and distribute a publication to provide information on how to recreate safely and in a manner that protects the natural resources of the Adirondacks.

“We are honored to be only one of seven organizations across the globe to be recognized and awarded funding by Tourism Cares,” said Jen Kretser, ADK Education Director. “Obviously, they share with us the importance of maintaining the natural beauty of the Adirondacks while enjoying its many and varied recreational opportunities.”

ADK, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Adirondack Chapter of the Nature Conservancy and the Adirondack Regional Tourism Council (ARTC) will provide additional funding and in kind service to produce both a paper and online version of the publication.

‘We are thrilled that Tourism Cares has recognized the Adirondacks as world class tourism destination that is worth protecting. The publication will help the Adirondacks maintain its natural quality while continuing to welcome millions of visitors annually”, said ARTC Executive Director, Ann Mellious.

Based on the High Peaks Footnotes, the new publication will advise outdoor enthusiasts on how to maintain the natural resources of the Adriondacks while ensuring their safety and avoiding conflicts with wildlife and other recreationist.

“The working partnership between the different organizations to create a consistent message promoting responsible recreation and stewardship, and an understanding of the Adirondack Forest Preserve is key to the success of the project,” said DEC spokesperson David Winchell.

The publication, to be distributed Summer 2008, will include information ranging from recognizing and avoiding harm to fragile alpine plants to planning and packing for a winter backpacking trip. Also where motorized recreation is allowed and where it is prohibited, how to minimize negative encounters with wildlife, and how to protect yourself against waterborne diseases.

“This publication will help protect the Adirondacks by preventing improper use of our trails, mountaintops, and waterways. All our partners see the connection between protecting our natural resources and maintaining local tourism-related businesses such as guides and outfitters, inns, outdoor retail shops, and others. We can’t have one without the other.” said WCS Adirondack Communities and Conservation Program Coordinator Zoe Smith.

Tourism Cares for Tomorrow is a Massachusetts based public charity that brings people together to give back through grants to natural, cultural and historic sites around the world, through scholarships and educational programs that nurture tourism’s future workforce and through volunteering to help preserve and restore tourism-related sites in need of care and rejuvenation. For more information on Tourism Cares for Tomorrow, visit www.tourismcares.org.

For more information contact John Million, ADK Deputy Executive Director at 518-523-3480 x14 or visit our website at www.adk.org