Mission
TREAD LIGHTLY AND ITS PARTNERS LEAD A NATIONAL INITIATIVE TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE RECREATION ACCESS AND OPPPORTUNITIES BY PROMOTING OUTDOOR ETHICS TO HEIGHTEN INDIVIDUAL'S SENSE OF GOOD STEWARDSHIP. TREAD LIGHTLY'S GOAL IS TO BALANCE THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO ENJOY OUTDOOR RECREATION WITH OUR NEED TO MAINTAIN HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS AND THRIVING POPULATIONS OF FISH AND WILDLIFE. THE SCOPE OF OUR WORK INCLUDES BOTH LAND AND WATER AND IS REPRESENTATIVE OF NEARLY EVERY FORM OF OUTDOOR RECREATION INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO HUNTING, RECREATIONAL SHOOTING, FISHING AND BOATING. WE ALSO HAVE A NICHE IN PROMOTING SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE USE OF MOTORIZED AND MECHANIZED VEHICLES IN THE OUTDOORS. LAUNCHED AS A PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAM BY THE US FOREST SERVICE IN THE MID-1980'S, A GREAT NEED, NATIONALLY, FOR AN EITHICS EDUCATION CAMPAIGN COMBINED WITH A LACK OF ADEQUATE FUNDING PROPELLED THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PROGRAM INTO THE PRIVATE SECTOR. IN 1990, THROUGH THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU), A NON