Join National Trails Day!

Wednesday March 19, 2008


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Residents encouraged to join National Trails Day

By Raquel C. Bagnol
Variety News Staff



BEAUTIFY CNMI!’s parks and trails committee is planning to join National Trails Day, an annual event hosted by the American Hiking Society on June 7.

Kenneth E. Kramer, Marianas Resource Conservation and Development Council coordinator and chairman of the committee, yesterday said joining the event is one way to put Saipan on the global map.

“Just for joining, we can get free advertising on their Web site, and people all over the world will know where Saipan is when they visit the American Hiking Society Web site,” Kramer said.

He said in addition to the free advertising on the Web site, they can also avail of banners and posters.

“It would be very nice to have each island come up with its own trail and people can go out to hike on different trails during that day,” Kramer said.

He added that this will be the first time for the CNMI to join National Trails Day.

He said in the past, they have worked closely with the Boys Scout in their hiking activities.

Information from the Beautify CNMI! Web site disclosed that this year, its parks and trails committee will continue to push for the creation of a commonwealth parks system.

The goal is to create a system of hiking trails that links the different parks and conservation areas on Saipan and will stretch from Suicide Cliff to Susupe Lake.

Kramer said the first day of June is designated as National Trails Day in the United States.

This is an event which draws millions of hikers and bikers go out to the different trails in the United States.

It is organized nationwide by the American Hiking Society, a national nonprofit trail advocacy group based in Washington, D.C. Currently, it has more than 3,000 events organized in each locality.

Kramer is also inviting community members to join Beautify CNMI!’s ongoing campaigns.

The group, he said, is involved in all kinds of activities to keep the islands clean and attractive — picking up trash from the roadsides and beaches and planting trees.

Beautify CNMI! works closely the Coral Reef Management Office, the Public School System, the Department of Public Works, the Marianas Resource Conservation & Development Council, the Mariana Islands Nature Alliance, Isa CNMI, Marianas Dive, and Pet Assistance and Welfare Services