Cooperative Agreement L23AC00469

ALASKA TRAILS MISSION IS: BUILDING TRAILS FOR ALASKAS PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES, AND ECONOMY. WE ACHIEVE THAT MISSION THROUGH A VARIETY OF EXCITING VENTURES. ON A SMALLER SCALE, WE HAVE PAID CREWS AND VOLUNTEERS WORKING ON INDIVIDUAL TRAILS AND TRAIL PROJECTS. ON A BROADER LEVEL, OUR TRAILS INITIATIVE PROGRAM WORKS TO CREATE MORE AND BETTER TRAILS IN ALASKA, TO HELP BUILD A STRONGER ALASKA ECONOMY, AND TO EXPAND YEAR-ROUND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE TO BE ACTIVE, HEALTHY, AND HAPPY OUTSIDE. THE ALASKA LONG TRAIL IS THE SIGNATURE PROJECT OF OUR TRAILS INITIATIVE.ALASKA TRAILS TECHNICAL APPROACH FOR THE ALASKA LONG TRAIL PROJECT WILL ENCOMPASS MANY TYPES OF EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE OUTCOMES OUTLINED IN THIS PROPOSAL. THIS WILL INCLUDE IN-PERSON MEETINGS, E-MAIL AND ON-LINE OUTREACH AND COOPERATION WITH OTHER GROUPS AND ENTITIES TO ENGAGE THEIR MEMBERS IN THE LONG TRAIL DIALOGUE. THIS PROJECT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE FEASIBILITY STUDY TO DETERMINE SUITABILITY OF THE TRAIL FOR NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL DESIGNATION. THIS PROCESS WILL REQUIRE MORE PUBLIC OUTREACH, AND THAT WILL FORM THE BASIS OF THE WORK. ENGAGING WITH THE PUBLIC HAS MANY BENEFITS, AND ALASKA TRAILS WILL WORK WITH COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO EDUCATE THEM ABOUT THE TRAIL AND SEEK THEIR INPUT ON HOW BEST TO ROUTE, PLAN, BUILD, AND PUBLICIZE THIS AMAZING ASSET.ALASKA TRAILS, IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR PARTNERS, WILL HOST COMMUNITY MEETINGS, AS WELL AS CONDUCT ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS, LAND MANAGERS, AND USER GROUPS TO ENCOURAGE A DIALOGUE AND OPEN FEEDBACK ON THE LONG TRAIL. ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL PRESENT AT SCHEDULED COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES. ALASKA TRAILS WILL USE SOCIAL MEDIA AND EMAIL CAMPAIGNS TO REACH A WIDE ARRAY OF PEOPLE. LONG TRAIL EDUCATION AND OUTREACH WILL ALSO BE ACHIEVED THROUGH TABLING AT COMMUNITY EVENTS AND HOSTING OUR OWN EVENTS THAT RAISE AWARENESS, INCREASE INVOLVEMENT, AND PROMOTE LAND AND TRAIL STEWARDSHIP.