Siskiyou Outdoor Recreation Alliance

TO CREATE, ENHANCE, AND PRESERVE OUTDOOR RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES.

POLICY, ADVOCACY, AND STEWARDSHIP - SISKIYOU OUTDOOR RECREATION ALLIANCE (SORA) REPRESENTATIVES ATTENDED A WIDE VARIETY OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS & CONDUCTED OUTREACH TO GOVERNMENTAL, NONPROFIT, AND BUSINESS GROUPS ACROSS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. THE ORGANIZATION DELIVERED PRESENTATIONS TO LOCAL AND REGIONAL AGENCIES HIGHLIGHTING ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF BUILDING SUSTAINABLE OUTDOOR RECREATION FOCUSED POLICIES, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND PROGRAMS. PRESENTATIONS WERE DELIVERED TO DIVERSE GROUPS INCLUDING CITY COUNCILS, COUNTY BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS, PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. SORA ALSO WORKED DIRECTLY WITH LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO RECOMMEND AND DRAFT POLICY IN SUPPORT OF OUR MISSION TO ADVOCATE FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL TO ACCESS OUTDOOR RECREATION. REPRESENTATIVES OF SORA ALSO TRAVELED TO SACRAMENTO TO ADVOCATE IN SUPPORT OF OUTDOOR RECREATION WITH STATE LEGISLATORS. IN SERVICE TO ITS MISSION, THE ORGANIZATION IS ENGAGED DIRECTLY IN THE PLANNING PROCESSES OF VARIOUS AGENCIES, AND IN PARTICULAR, THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE. SORA SUBMITTED COMMENTS AS PART OF OFFICIAL PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PERIODS FOR PROJECTS WITH SIGNIFICANT IMPLICATIONS FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION. SORA ALSO ADVOCATED ON BEHALF OF SMALL BUSINESSES IN SISKIYOU COUNTY AND SIGNED ON AS A PARTICIPANT IN THE COALITION FOR OUTDOOR ACCESS IN SUPPORT OF FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO ASSIST IN STREAMLINING THE FEDERAL LAND AGENCY PERMITTING PROCESS FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION GUIDES AND OUTFITTERS.

MT. SHASTA NORDIC CENTER - THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES THE MT. SHASTA NORDIC CENTER, A CROSS COUNTRY SKI FACILITY WITH 23.5 KM OF GROOMED NORDIC SKI TRAILS & 2 KM OF DEDICATED SNOWSHOE TRAILS. THE FACILITY IS THE ONLY OF ITS KIND WITHIN A 200 MILE RADIUS AND TYPICALLY OFFERS APPROXIMATELY 15 WEEKS OF SERVICES DURING THE WINTER SEASON, PROVIDING AN AVERAGE OF 5,000 USER- DAYS EACH WINTER. IN ADDITION TO THE TRAIL NETWORK, THE FACILITY OFFERS SKI & SNOWSHOE RENTAL GEAR AND SKI INSTRUCTION. TRAIL ACCESS IS FREE TO YOUTH AT ALL TIMES AND THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES A FREE 5-WEEK LEARN-TO-SKATE-SKI SERIES OPEN TO ALL AGES. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OFFERED THROUGH THE NORDIC CENTER INCLUDE AN ANNUAL YOUTH SKI PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROGRESSIVELY BUILD SKILLS FOR YOUTH AGES 6 AND OVER, PSIA CLINICS FOR SKIERS LOOKING TO REFINE THEIR CLASSIC AND SKATE TECHNIQUES, AND MULTIPLE WINTER ECOLOGY EVENTS FOCUSED ON LEARNING ABOUT PLANT & WILDLIFE STRATEGIES IN THE WINTER ENVIRONMENT. IN ADDITION TO ONGOING PARTNERSHIP WITH SHASTA DISABLED SPORTS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO ALL, THE NORDIC CENTER OFFERS EVENTS FREE OF CHARGE TO VETERANS AND SENIORS AND SUBSIDIZED ACCESS TO THOSE IN NEED. EACH WINTER, THE NORDIC CENTER PROVIDES PROGRAMS FOR REGIONAL SCHOOLS, INTRODUCING 900 STUDENTS ANNUALLY TO CROSS COUNTRY SKIING, SNOWSHOEING, AND WINTER ECOLOGY. TO ENSURE ACCESS, THE SCHOOL PROGRAM IS PROVIDED AT GREATLY REDUCED RATES, AND THE ORGANIZATION SUBSIDIZES SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION COSTS THROUGH GRANT FUNDING.