Yamaha’s Outdoor Access Initiative (Yamaha OAI) arm will be the exclusive motorized recreation sponsor of the outdoor recreation exhibit at the National Conservation Legacy Center (NCLC). The Center is part of the National Museum of Forest Service History (Museum), located in Missoula Montana. Yamaha OAI’s grant will help build a display highlighting the many ways we recreate outdoors. The key message of the display will be the importance of maintaining access to public lands via conservation and stewardship.
Yamaha OAI Support for Public Lands Access
Steve Nessl, marketing manager of Yamaha Motorsports noted that, “User education is fundamental to securing access to public land for outdoor and motorized recreation and this opportunity at the National Conservation Legacy Center is a compelling example of the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative mission.”
Public Lands, Motorized Recreation Education
The exhibit will educate the public about motorized recreation alongside the many other outdoor activities possible on public lands. Using personal storytelling the NCLC will arouse visitors’ curiosity and explain why responsible motorized recreation is key to land stewardship. The Museum’s goal is to inform visitors of America’s outdoor heritage and their connection with the great outdoors. Their approach will pair museum education science with the Museum’s artifact collection to spark interest in outdoor recreation.
Situated near thousands of acres of public lands, Missoula is a most appropriate setting for the Museum. Yamaha OAI’s grant makes Yamaha a major sponsor of the recreation exhibit for 10 years. Look for the NCLC to open in Fall of 2025. Museum Executive Director Lisa Tate said, “Our long-term goals for this partnership are to evolve and enhance the experience of our visitors with fresh and different perspectives from outdoor recreation to further our mission of education and appreciation of our country’s precious land.”
Founded in 1988, the Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and is independent of the US Forest Service. The organization counts more than 50,000 historical artifacts, including, books, photographs, and equipment in its collection. It is dedicated to using these to unfold the history and tell the story of America’s conservation legacy.
Yamaha Outdoor Access Funding
Yamaha’s OAI has contributed over $6 million since 2018 to support responsible access and use to public lands. In that time, it has contributed funds to over 470 projects throughout the country. These include motorized recreation trails, staging areas, OHV education, and building bridges over fish-bearing streams. Yamaha accepts applications from non-profit or tax-exempt organizations for used in improving, maintaining, or expanding responsible and sustainable use of public lands. The Yamaha OAI has guidelines, application forms, and news available for interested parties.
Read more: Yamaha Supports Public Lands
Photo credit: Yamaha, Steve Yates, author
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