FALL 2010 A NEWSLETTER OF THE LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL Tracing the courses of the Missouri From the Superintendent and Columbia Rivers, the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail stretches FUNDING MADE AVAILABLE TO CONDUCT EASTERN LEGACY STUDY through 11 states. The Trail winds over mountains, along rivers, through plains •What are the methods for protecting and and high deserts, and extends to the wave-lapped Pacific coast. In this diversity interpreting this portion of the trail? of landscapes, visitors to the Trail create their own journeys of discovery. •What is the route or routes of the Eastern Legacy that should be part of the Trail extension? Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail •What would it cost to administer the Eastern 601 Riverfront Drive Legacy ? Omaha, Nebraska 68102 •What are the potential impacts of this action? Phone 402 661-1804 - visitor center The staff at Lewis and Clark National 402 661-1814 - administration Historic Trail is working hard on many Once the study is completed, Congress will determine what, if any, action it will projects, including the evaluation of the E-mail take. Even if resources are found to be wide array of comments received during [email protected] the public comment period for the significant, suitable, and feasible, there may be other alternatives besides NPS Comprehensive Management Plan. Internet management of the route or a formal www.nps.gov/lecl Another important effort currently designation. Ultimately, Congress may underway is the special resource study elect to take no action. The task at Visitor Center for the Eastern Legacy segments of the hand is to work with the public so that at Trail Headquarters expedition (preparation and return the National Park Service can provide phases) proposed to be included in the Congress with the best information and Summer Hours Trail. In 2008, an act was signed into law to recommendations possible. Memorial Day through Labor Day undertake this study, however the funding • Monday - Friday, 8 am to 5 pm was not provided until this year. Now that Now that the special resource study is • Saturday - Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm the study has been funded the planning underway, I encourage you to visit the team is required to complete this study in National Park Service planning site, Winter Hours three years. Unlike the CMP, much of the http://parkplanning.nps.gov/eastern- Labor Day through Memorial Day work for this study will be done by National legacy, to offer your comments. • Monday - Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm • Saturday - Sunday, Closed Park Service staff from our Midwest Once the planning team has gathered Regional Planning office. Promote Your Events preliminary input from the public, and We want to help promote activities along One of the reasons this study is being made a determination if the Eastern the Trail such as celebrations, festivals and conducted in this manner is to insure Legacy segment is suitable and feasible to encampments. that Congress is provided a balanced and administer, alternatives will be developed. unbiased report. First and foremost the In turn, these alternatives will be made available for public comment and adjusted If you would like to be included in our study will determine if the resource is website Schedule of Events, send a detailed as appropriate. The next step is to of national significance. The study will summary one month in advance to: carefully analyze the potential impacts of also seek to determine if the resources [email protected] each alternative. Finally we will select a are suitable and feasible additions to the Subject line: Schedule of Events National Park System as well as to answer preferred alternative that will become part such questions as: of the report to Congress. Throughout Cover Photo this process the public will have From left, Leah Conner, Brett Heusties opportunities to provide suggestions and •Should the Lewis and Clark NHT be extended to and Frank Janzen discussing options and give comments. We sincerely encourage brainstorming during an Elders Greeting include the Eastern Legacy or not? your input. Your ideas will be given Card Event at Crow’s Shadow Institue of thoughtful consideration. Please help us the Arts near Pendleton, Oregon. •What are the advantages or disadvantages of prepare a study that reflects your wishes extending the Lewis and Clark NHT to include the for the Eastern Legacy of the Corps of Go to Page 9 for more photos and Eastern Legacy? Discovery. information. Visit their website at: •How should the Eastern Legacy be managed? Mark Weekley, Superintendent www.crowsshadow.org for more information and to subscribe to their e-mail newsletter and blog. 2 Partners in Focus Volunteers in Action Pictured from left to right: Kate Mendell, Luke Thallas (Eagle Scout), Nate Thallas (Eagle Scout), Judi Thallas, and Bob Pawloski during the Vernturing kick-off event in July 2010. Venturing on the Lewis and Clark Trail What is Venturing? It is a youth young ambassadors, hiking, trail cleaning, MOP provides adult leaders to mentor development and leadership program history crews, and many more. The result Venturing young adults on developing of the Boy Scouts of America for men provides exciting and meaningful activities leadership skills and serving on the Lewis and women ages 14 through 20 years that help young adults pursue their special and Clark Trail. MidMO provides the of age. The purpose of Venturing is to interests, grow, develop leadership skills, resources to support this effort and helps provide positive experiences to help and become good citizens. implement similar programs in other young people mature and to prepare them communities along the middle Missouri to become more responsible and caring Earlier this year, representatives from the River area. adults. Venturing is based on a unique Mouth of the Platte Chapter of the Lewis and dynamic relationship between youth, and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation If this sounds like a model that you would adult leaders, and organizations in their (MOP) and the Middle Missouri River like to replicate in your community, communities. Venturing along the Lewis Lewis and Clark Network (MidMO) met contact Bob Pawloski and Judy Thallus and Clark National Historic Trail could with the Boy Scouts of America. The by writing them at MOP, P O Box 3344, help recruit young, fresh, and enthusiastic purpose of the meeting was to lay the Omaha, NE 68102-0344. Those outside individuals who could become the future groundwork for a Venturing program the Council Bluffs-Omaha area may leaders of the Trail. in the Council Bluffs, Iowa and Omaha, contact Nichole McHenry at the Lewis Nebraska metropolitan area. As a result and Clark National Historic Trail, 601 What can we do to get involved? Local of those meetings, the Mouth of the Riverfront Drive, Omaha, NE 68102 or community organizations such as Platte Chapter and the Mid-America [email protected]. You can also professional organizations, visitor centers Council entered into a Memorandum contact your local Boy Scout of America and national parks establish specific of Understanding (MOU). The MOU Council, or visit www.scouting.org/ Venturing crews by matching their people provides for mutual efforts to promote scoutsource/Venturing.aspx and program resources to the interest of activities along the Lewis and Clark This could be the start of something new youth in the community. There can be all Trail that involve the Boy Scouts, and and exciting along the Lewis and Clark types of venturing crews; from kayaking, specifically the Venturing program. National Historic Trail. THE TRAIL COMPANION A Newsletter of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail 3 by Neal Bedlan The Trailhead Outdoor Recreation Planner In 1804, William Clark took time and The Mounds Heritage Trail will connect To date the Mounds Heritage Trail has explored the area near Cahokia Mounds many different sites in the bi-state St. been endorsed by 12 other agencies and prior to the start of the Corps of Louis region, including the Gateway organizations. The Mounds Heritage Trail Discovery Expedition. Today a coalition Arch/Jefferson National Expansion is just one of many projects endorsed of organizations would like residents Memorial and Cahokia Mounds, the largest by the Confluence Partnership which and visitors of the St.Louis area to also prehistoric Indian site north of Mexico and combines partnering agencies and take time out of their busy schedules and a World Heritage Site. The corridor will organizations with stakeholders. The explore the Mounds Heritage Trail. help the public have a better understanding implementation and development of the of the numerous historical, natural, Mounds Heritage Trail will occur over Trailnet is leading the way for the group cultural, sacred and recreational resources time and will be dependent on funding of partners to make the Mounds Heritage in the area. The trail will be motorist and sponsors willing to move forward on Trail a reality. Trailnet is a St. Louis based and bicycle-friendly that interweaves the various segments along the route. non-profit organization with a 20-year vibrant history of the American Indian history of promoting active living and is Nations, Lewis and Clark’s journey and the The Mounds Heritage Trail is a perfect the project leader for the Mounds Heritage Great Rivers-the Mississippi and Missouri. example how the public can actively Trail Project as part of the Confluence experience the Lewis and Clark National Partnership. The Mounds Heritage Trail Trailnet is collaborating with the Lewis and Historic trail through recreation. project is focused on creating a corridor to Clark National Historic Trail to develop increase opportunities for enjoyment of the a Mounds Heritage Trail Master Plan and For more information on the Mounds Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail for produce an interpretive trail brochure to Heritage Trail project visit: millions of tourists to the area.