CamelBak, the global hydration specialist, announced a $100,000 commitment to support Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell’s initiative to engage and employ the next generation through the outdoors.
The funding comes after Jewell recently outlined her goal to raise $20 million by 2017 from private partners to support the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC), a reincarnation of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps started in 1933.
At OIA’s Industry Breakfast before the start of the recent Outdoor Retailer Winter Market trade show, Jewell, the former CEO of REI, said the effort will partner the agency with 50 cities across the country so that young people can find instruction and inspiration in the “greatest classrooms – the ones without walls.”
CamelBak’s contribution will directly support non-profit programs that provide work and training experience to young people and veterans on public lands.
“President Obama believes we have a moral obligation to the next generation to leave our land, water, and wildlife better than we found it, and I applaud CamelBak for being the first of what we hope will be many companies in the outdoor industry to make an investment in the 21CSC,” said Jewell in a statement. “This funding will be directed to youth and veterans conservation corps to provide needed support to our public lands, while creating job opportunities for the next generation and instilling in them a love of the great outdoors that will last a lifetime.”
The goal of the program over the next four years, according to the Department of Interior website, includes the development or enhancement of outdoor recreation partnerships across the U.S. to create more opportunities for outdoor entertainment, provide learning opportunities to 10 million or more K-12 students each year, engage public lands volunteers and triple current numbers, and “develop the next generation of lifelong conservation stewards by providing 100,000 work and training opportunities to young people.”
Through partner organizations, such as the Student Conservation Association, the 21CSC will provide work opportunities on supervised crews or small teams throughout the nation.
CamelBak appears to mark the first donation coming from the outdoor industry. In early January, American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. stepped up with a $1 million commitment, marking the first pledge toward Jewell’s goal to raise $20 million by 2017 to support the 21CSC and develop the next generation of outdoor stewards.
“This initiative is perfectly aligned with the core values and Got Your Bak spirit exhibited by our 300 employees each and every day,” said Sally McCoy, CamelBak’s CEO. “We are proud to support 21 CSC and we share the mission of encouraging the next generation of outdoor leaders to be active and passionate stewards of our precious outdoor resources.”
