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SPECIAL USE PERMITS FOR OUTDOOR CLUBS
1995 FWOC
Resolution
No. 19:
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The U.S, Forest Service is
attempting to require that outdoor clubs that may be conducting
recreational and training activities in national forests and wilderness
areas obtain commercial outfitter/guide special use permits. This
requirement raises serious concerns for such outdoor clubs for the
following reasons.
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1. Any non-profit
outdoor club operating under a commercial special use permit could
bring the status of non-profit organizations into question with the
Internal Revenue Service.
2. Non-profit organizations may provide volunteer leadership for
that club's outdoor activities. These are "cooperative
adventures" with all the attendees sharing in the overall cost as well
as the risks inherent in the activity. Such club activities are
not a "guide service" by any definition. The clubs do not assume
the same level of responsibility for participants in the activities
that a commercial guide service would assume for their pay-for hire
clients. Note also that clubs operating under a special use
permit that is designed specifically for the organizations that provide
for-hire guide service for clients may mislead participants in
activities sponsored by non-profit outdoor organizations, and create
additional (and totally unnecessary) legal liabilities.
3. Several national forests and national parks have taken steps
to restrict the activities of organizations operating under such
outfitter/guide permits. For example: the Mount St. Helens
National Monument does not allow outfitter/guide organizations to
weekend lead climbs there.
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| The Federation of Western
Outdoor Clubs supports cooperative partnerships between federal land
managers to promote safe and environmentally-sound practices in
national forests and wilderness lands. |
| The Federation of Western
Outdoor Clubs opposes the requirement that non-profit outdoor clubs
must acquire commercial outfitter/guide permits in order to conduct
educational and other club activities on public lands. |
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FWOC members and member clubs have a vital
interest in this issue! They are urged to send a copy of the
Resolution together with comments of their own they may have on this
issue to the Chief, U.S.F.S., Chief, U.S. Park Service, and to
their state's congressional representatives.
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