|
Quoted from John Borowski's Op-Ed
>>Who would ever think, that Michael Sanera, avowed enemy of environmental education, would be given a forum for his "snake-oil" diatribe, by self-proclaimed friends of children? Yes, the wonderful world of Disney, power brokers for ABC news and their industry puppet, John Stoessel, have environmental education in their "cross-hairs."
Scott Replies:
Who better to give a forum for such snake oil than the Walt Disney Company???
Pasted below is a web page from the site of the American Recreation Coalition. It describes Disney's WOW program ... an education program which introduces underprivileged kids to the great outdoors. Sounds great -- doesn't it?
But consider -- ARC is a hard-core, wise-use, organization in which Disney plays a leading management role (being a sustaining member and represented both on ARC's Board and upon its Recreation Roundtable). Is it possible that there is a hidden agenda behind the WOW program???
I would suggest that there are a great many commercial interests promoting WOW that are looking upon these children as potential customers and political advocates for high impact wreckreation. If properly conditioned/ brainwashed /educated to want/ demand/ expect particular consumer goods/ services and forms of recreation, these kids will make life-long customers and political allies. (It's analogous to Whittle's Channel One, Project Learning Tree and to so many similar efforts to co-opt children's education!)
Pasted below the ARC page is some more information about the commercial interests behind the WOW program. And below that is something from the National Marine Manufacturers Association which clearly reveals the Wise-Use, Motorized Wreckreation Hook embedded within the WOW program!
There's absolutely nothing surprising about "Disney Co Corrupting Our Children's Education." Heck, it's what they do best. It's what they've done for 50 years!
Scott
---begin quoted---
WOW -- Wonderful Outdoor World -- Is Teaching Urban Kids About The Great Outdoors
Washington, DC, June 9, 1997 -- For many inner-city kids, the fun and
excitement of pitching a tent, casting a fishing line, and camping
under the stars are, unfortunately, unknown experiences. But now,
thanks to WOW - Wonderful Outdoor World - the joys of outdoor
recreation are being brought home to the very urban neighborhoods where
these children live.
The inspiration for WOW came from research conducted by The Recreation
Roundtable that showed a substantial drop in the number of children
participating in traditional outdoor recreation activities. That
research also showed that children who are not exposed to enjoyable
outdoor experiences are far less content as adults with their family,
career, health and life in general.
The WOW program was initiated to address these problems and awaken an
awareness in America's urban youth of our outdoor legacy and its
availability to them. In addition, WOW is teaching these young outdoor
pioneers about their responsibility to be stewards and champions of the
outdoors as well as its beneficiaries.
"WOW provides a unique solution to a growing urban problem by giving
city kids an opportunity to experience outdoor recreation not far from
their own backyards. It is our hope that these youngsters will repeat
these pleasurable outdoor adventures as they grow older, become adults,
and eventually encourage their own children to get into the Great
Outdoors," said Derrick Crandall, president of the nonprofit American
Recreation Coalition (ARC), which coordinated the WOW program's launch
in 1995 as a partnership effort between the private and public sectors.
From that innovative public-private partnership effort in Los Angeles
in 1995, WOW has expanded into four other cities and is continuing to
reach out to establish WOW programs in other urban areas. The WOW
program is now serving kids in Tucson, Phoenix, Chicago, and is
expanding into Philadelphia this year.
While other local programs take kids out of the city for a day of
hiking or other fun activities, WOW brings the Great Outdoors to urban
neighborhoods. WOW works by introducing inner-city youth, ages 9 to 12,
to a first-hand experience of outdoor recreation and environmental
education during an overnight camping trip within the heart of the
youngsters' own community. The campers learn:
Basic camping skills Outdoor recreation activities Camp food
preparation Environmental education Community service awareness Teamwork
During these campouts, the youngsters set up tents, cook on a
campstove, learn to fish, and receive basic environmental education
training. At night, the campsite becomes a great place for making
s'mores, telling ghost stories and learning about the stars.
"Graduates" of the overnight adventure receive a sleeping bag,
flashlight, emergency-preparedness kit and information on how they
could enjoy additional adventures in the Great Outdoors.
Public sector assistance for WOW, including wildlife and conservation
instruction for the young campers, is provided by officials from the
National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, USDA Forest Service
and state and city parks and recreation departments. Corporate partners
in WOW include the Coleman Company, the Walt Disney Company, Ralph's
Grocery Company, Wells Cargo Trailers and the Los Angeles Times.
A WOW exhibit is on display on Capitol Hill in the Partners Outdoors
Fair, which is part of Great Outdoors Week, June 9-13. Great Outdoors
Week is made possible through sponsorship by more than 30 recreation
companies and associations.
For further details on scheduled events, contact Michael Sheward at
202-298-8008 or the American Recreation Coalition at 202-682-9530.
---------------
next
---------------
http://www.blm.gov/ess/pubwow.htm
The national partnership formed for expanding the WOW program is
already diverse, including corporations, government agencies, and
non-profit organizations. Present participants include: the Walt Disney
Company, the Recreation Roundtable, USDA Forest Service, US Bureau of
Land Management, National Park Service, Wells Cargo Trailers, and the
Coleman Company. Operating under a 501© charter, which allows
charitable contributions by corporations and individuals alike, the
national WOW partnership is seeking support from the following
corporate sectors: . Manufacturers and distributors of nonalcoholic
beverages . National/regional restaurant chains . Athletic apparel
manufactures, especially in the footwear field . Major league sports,
including team alumni councils . Consumer electronics companies .
Health and personal care/appearance products . Airlines . Hotel and
Motel companies . Photographic businesses . Audio and video rental and
retailing companies . National apparel and consumer goods retailers .
Key industry associations. In addition, the WOW national partnership
has discussions underway with various national nonprofit organizations
with an interest in conservation, the environment and youth. Already,
WOW graduates are receiving gift subscriptions to Ranger Rick magazine,
courtesy of the National Wildlife Federation. WOW plans also include
the formation of a nationally- prominent advisory council, drawn from
sports, corporate, entertainment and government worlds.
---------------
next
---------------
Source: National Marine Manufactures Association
Boat Rides for Kids, Funding for Access Highlighted in Capitol
Washington, DC - - June 23, 2000 - NMMA [National Marine Manufactures
Association], MOAA and PWIA [Personal Watercraft Industry Association]
staff took approximately 100 Washington area children on their first
boat ride and fishing trip and helped publicize a new federal grant
program that will improve access in many urban areas across the U.S.,
including Washington. The affiliated groups joined forces in mid-June
to participate in activities of Great Outdoor Week's Wonderful Outdoor
World (WOW) event and were successful in gaining media coverage for
these events including a segment on the late news of a local television
station.
"Almost any day on the water is a good one, but when you add the
opportunity to introduce a group of young people to their first boating
experience, that 's a great day of boating," says NMMA president Thom
Dammrich. "Adding boating and fishing opportunities to the established
WOW events broadened the event for participants and gave us a chance to
incorporate their experiences into our Discover Boating efforts and to
attract a new group of adults and children to boating."
Free boat rides, sponsored by regional dealers of NMMA members Grady
White Boats, Yamaha, and Zodiac of North America, and a few gifts
including Discover Boating tee-shirts were part of a day filled with
outdoor events for inner city kids including lessons on how to fish and
pitch a tent, and instruction on environmental awareness and
conservation. "The whole day was great," said one of the kids whose
smile pinned his ears, "but the boat ride was my favorite part."
Held at Anacostia Park on the Anacostia River, representatives of the
Fish & Wildlife Service took the opportunity to announce the first
installment of $200,000 in funding that will be turned over to the
District of Columbia. This money will be used to build tie-up
facilities for cruising boaters so that they can more easily access an
area's attractions and natural resource opportunities.
Funds for the District are provided by a federal program called the
Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program, which was approved by
Congress in 1998 as an amendment to the Aquatic Resources
(Wallop-Breaux) Trust Fund. Wallop-Breaux monies are generated by
federal motorboat fuel and fishing taxes paid by recreational boat
owners and anglers. The $32 million BIG program is now in its final
stages of regulatory approval by the Fish & Wildlife Service.
"The Service is very enthusiastic over the opportunity to work with the
District to enhance opportunities for boaters to access the diverse
sites and attractions available from the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers,"
says Fish & Wildlife Service Acting Deputy Director, Marshall
Jones, who made the announcement on the DC funding.
"BIG program funding will provide the best opportunity for federal and
state governments to partner with the private sector to build transient
facilities. These funds will be used to attract boaters to areas of
cultural and historical significance as well as to add facilities to
areas that need additional access for the travelling boater," says
Derrick Crandall, president of the American Recreation Coalition and
host of Great Outdoors Week. "Working with groups like the NMMA, PWIA,
MOAA, States Organization for Boating Access (SOBA) and BoatU.S., the
industry hopes to foster grant requests that serve a broad base of
boaters needs."
WOW is a cooperative partnership of federal agencies including the
Bureau of Land Management, the National Forest Service and leading
recreational industry partners within the recreational community like
the Walt Disney Company and the Coleman Company.
Contact:
Mick Blackistone (202) 861-1180 (
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
)
Derrick Crandall at American Recreation Coalition (202)682-9530
Editors Note: Photos of this event are available electronically by
contacting Dan Green at (
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
).
|
- Various 
