Agencies, organizations promote responsible recreation

As more and more folks head into the outdoors this summer, a group of agencies and organizations across western Montana are working to spread a message of responsible recreation.

Glacier National Park, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Flathead National Forest, Montana Office of Tourism, Glacier Country Tourism, Discover Kalispell and Explore Whitefish have launched the “Recreate Responsibly” campaign asking those recreating to be good stewards of the state.

The campaign is intended to target visitors, residents and businesses, providing education and tools for best practices on how to minimize impact, leave no trace, know before you go, prevent wildland fires, stop aquatic invasive species, and travel safely.

“In the spring I reached out to a couple of our trusted tourism partners and state and federal agencies to discuss the upcoming season and challenges we experienced last season,” said Gina Kerzman, Public Affairs Officer at Glacier National Park. “Several partners volunteered to join our efforts, including the state of Montana, as it became apparent that we were all dealing with similar issues. I’m thrilled at what resulted in an action-based, statewide initiative and the positive impact this campaign could have not only on Glacier National Park, but the entire region and state.”

The campaign includes a website, airport signs, TV and radio advertising, billboards, videos, trailhead signage and social media advertising. It also includes a Recreate Responsibly pledge for both visitors and residents to sign.

Racene Friede, President and CEO of Glacier Country Tourism, the eight-county tourism region encompassing Western Montana, said as the tourism industry changes so must the organizations that promote visitation. A regional and state-wide collaboration just made sense, she notes.

“Our organization is no longer just a Destination Marketing Organization that simply markets western Montana as a tourism destination,” she said in a release. "Our role must also be one of destination management that assists in the preservation of the places and experiences that make our area so attractive to visitors in the first place. The Recreate Responsibly initiative is a fantastic step in that direction.”

Building upon messaging from Recreate Responsibly.org and Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, the campaign includes resources available to businesses throughout the state. Those resources include posters and flyers and website copy.

The Montana Office of Tourism created the toolkit of resources available to businesses statewide, and a mini grant program for Destination Management Organizations to help integrate and produce online and print materials.

Jan Stoddard of the Montana Office of Tourism said the grant program is designed to help level the playing field in small communities to share the messaging of the campaign.

“We recognize that not all communities across Montana have access to the same resources,” Stoddard said, “and yet we’re all dealing with the same issues.”

For more information, visit https://glaciermt.com/recreate-responsibly or www.friendofthefish.com.