We all have a responsibility to be good citizens as well as good land, water, and wildlife stewards. With the tremendous growth in Gallatin County, it is often hard to know what this means and how to implement it. A local nonprofit, One Montana (1MT), is connecting neighbors and communities and elevating our collective responsibility to conserve our resources.
Most community members enjoy the incredible array of outdoor activities within the Gallatin Valley; the tricky part is balancing our individual enjoyment of public lands with the impacts our increased recreation is having on these shared resources. As the population continues to grow, our community’s outdoor code of conduct and culture will be more and more important in order to protect the very things that make living here so special.
1MT is convening an alliance of nonprofits, the City of Bozeman, agencies, and others in Gallatin County under the banner of “Outside Kind.” Outside Kind is designed to protect our outdoor resources and enhance satisfaction by the public. The primary goal of Outside Kind is to share best practices, principles, and tips for enjoying the outdoors together. Whether you wish to encourage your friends and family or visiting guests to hike kind, hunt kind, ride kind, ski kind, wag kind, etc., Outside Kind offers the community consistent and clear guidelines around outdoor activities and positive local ethics.
Check out www.outsidekind.org for an amusing Outside Kind quiz, which lets locals and visitors alike test their knowledge about outdoor etiquette and ethics. Outdoor lovers can sign the Outside Kind Pledge and sign up to become an “OK Ambassador.” Learn more at outsidekind.org.
Outside Kind currently includes the following organizations:
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Bridger Ski Foundation
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City of Bozeman
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Friends of Hyalite
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Gallatin Valley Land Trust
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One Montana
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Queers & Camo
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Run Dog Run
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Southwest Montana Mountain Bike Association
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US Forest Service
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Winter Wildlands Alliance
1MT hopes the Outside Kind campaign will spread across the West and is excited to have communities like Whitefish, MT, and others already interested in replicating what's taking place in Gallatin County. This campaign is just launching and can use more support in the form of both donations and volunteers. If you want to get involved visit outsidekind.org or send a note to OutsideKind@onemontana.org.
Campaign Slogans
Be Kind--Happy trails start with you
Being kind is an easy, concept: sSsimply saying hello creates a friendly atmosphere and encourages others to engage in a similar manner.
Be Cool--Open space for every pace
Each trail user is a fellow outdoor enthusiast. Be cool and respectful when interacting with others and know that people come out to the trails for different reasons.
Be Aware--Understanding conditions is critical
Observe weather and trail conditions and be mindful of the guidelines for each trail system. Awareness helps create a positive trail experience for all and conserves resources.
One Montana works to create a robust and vibrant future for the people and communities of Montana. This nonprofit addresses challenges facing communities by developing creative programs that support private land stewardship, maintain agriculture and working lands and preserve our cultural heritage. One Montana bridges the gap between urban and rural experiences by connecting people to each other, and to resources and expertise to help ensure that everyone can continue to enjoy Montana’s culture, values, and traditions.
Quote from Executive Director -
“Montana is blessed with incredible natural resources that are enjoyed by all of us. With this enjoyment comes a responsibility to take care of these assets, and that’s where Outside Kind comes in. Outside Kind is… all of us, as outdoors users, doing the right thing for the right reasons.”
Sarah Tilt, Executive Director, One Montana