News & Press Coverage
Venture Outdoors Fest Climbs New Heights
Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City), July 26, 2007, by J. Ann Helms
Outdoor instruction and adventure abounded at the recent Venture Outdoors Festival in Canyon Rim Park.
Hosted by the Millcreek Township's community councils, the festival at 3100 S. 3100 East featured more than 100 vendors and attracted more than 6,000 people. Many came from nearby neighborhoods, and others from as far away as Alpine in Utah County and Park City in Summit County.
There were plenty of reasons to attend the festival. Chief among them was the instruction offered by professionals, who provided information on everything from health for senior citizens to canyoneering and assessing fitness levels and mountainboarding.
There also was a guided wildflower walk on Millcreek Canyon Trail, where people could learn about the state's indigenous plants. Others with disabilities gathered at the National Ability Center to learn about adaptations they could use to help them venture out and better enjoy outdoor recreation.
Nine-year-old Hanna Emery of Alpine didn't shy away from picking up some archery pointers from state wildlife officials. Other booths at the festival stressed the importance of enjoying the outdoors while keeping it clean and safe for enjoyment.
Jeff Salt, executive director of Great Salt Lakekeeper, offered free canoe lessons to festivalgoers in exchange for the opportunity to educate them about the need to maintain clean waterways throughout the state.
"A healthy environment is an integral part of a sound economy," Salt said. "If there isn't any natural beauty to enjoy, people aren't going there...for recreation. We need to protect those natural resources to sustain our recreation economy."
Salt and his staff set up shop to share his clean-water philosophy with people at the festival. He said the age-old philosophy that dissolution is the solution for pollution" doesn't work for keeping rivers and lakes clean.
Aimee McConkie, a festival chairwoman, said the event was a huge success. "We hope that we gave people resources and things to take...with them," she said. Lara Hardman of Millcreek enjoyed watching her two sons explore a camping site set up by state wildlife officials, who also offered instruction about what people should do when they encounter black bears and other wildlife.
Millcreek Township residents there were encouraged to get involved in making important community decisions.
"It's important for people to have a sense of community," said Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon. "People do take citizen advocacy seriously" in Millcreek Township.
-Peter Carroon, Mayor
Salt Lake County, Utah
