SPEC has been involved in Yamaha’s Outdoor Access Initiative (OAI) [hyperlink: https://yamahaoai.com] since its inception more than 15 years ago, and one of the highlights is the annual Yamaha employee volunteer project that we’re fortunate to help organize host each year.
This September 27, on National Public Lands Day, our team gathered with more than 60 Yamaha employees, in conjunction with the Southern California Mountains Foundation [hyperlink: https://mountainsfoundation.org] and San Bernardino National Forest Service [hyperlink: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/sanbernardino].
Our own Lisa Spicer [link to bio: https://www.specpr.com/lisa-spicer/] who is the Yamaha OAI program administrator, welcomed the group and helped kick off a day of work projects and demo rides. Families enjoyed the trails, kids learned how to ride ATVs, and lots of work was done. We even brought out our Cardo units [https://cardosystems.com/products/packtalk-edge-orv] so demo instructores could talk to the kids who were learning to ride and friends and family could communicate on the trails on the RMAX rides.
Other highlights included:
Planted 90 native grasses and 30 cacti to restore natural habitat and prevent erosion
Mulched and irrigated to help establish the new plantings
Revitalized recreation facilities through painting restroom facilities and trash receptacles
Repaired fencing to protect sensitive areas and maintain trail boundaries
Cleared trails of encroaching vegetation and fallen tree limbs
Tackled trail surface rehabilitation and erosion control
Performed maintenance and repair on trail signs to improve wayfinding and safety
“Partnerships like the one we have with Yamaha through the Outdoor Access Initiative are essential to maintaining our National Forest trail systems,” said Stacy Gorin, executive officer of the Southern California Mountains Foundation. “Their hands-on approach to trail stewardship, combined with their ongoing grant support, makes a real difference in keeping these lands accessible for all Americans to enjoy.”
“The Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative has invested more than $8 million in over 550 projects over the past 18 years, but our commitment goes beyond funding,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha Motorsports marketing director. “Our National Public Lands Day volunteer efforts demonstrate how Yamaha employees are personally invested in protecting access and promoting responsible recreation across America’s public lands.”
For our part, we were proud to be there alongside friends and partners to do our part, and excited to share the stories through social media content captured onsite and putting out the story through the endemic media.
National Public Lands Day, celebrated annually on the fourth Saturday in September, aligns with the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative’s mission to protect, improve, expand, and maintain access for safe, responsible, and sustainable public land use. Since 2008, the OAI has directly and indirectly supported thousands of miles of motorized recreation trails nationwide.
The Yamaha employee volunteer efforts complement the OAI’s quarterly grant program, which accepts applications year-round from nonprofit organizations, OHV riding clubs, public land agencies, and conservation groups. These grants have supported trail maintenance, safety improvements, staging area enhancements, and OHV safety education programs across the country.
“Every project supported through our grants or volunteer efforts strengthens opportunities for future generations to enjoy safe, sustainable outdoor adventures,” added Nessl. “Our employees’ enthusiasm for this hands-on trail work reflects Yamaha’s broader commitment to responsible stewardship of the lands where we recreate.”