[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 86 (Wednesday, June 20, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1167]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


              TRIBUTE TO JAMES P. BECKWOURTH MOUNTAIN CLUB

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                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 20, 2001

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
the men and women of the James P. Beckwourth Mountain Club. The James 
P. Beckwourth Mountain Club is a Denver-based outdoor organization that 
works with and exposes urban youth to the outdoors through a number of 
education programs. The group takes inner city children to national 
parks and wilderness areas to allow them to experience first hand the 
joys and the challenges of nature. This experience teachers them an 
appreciation for the natural world that they might not otherwise ever 
gain.
  Those of us fortunate enough to grow up experiencing the outdoors 
know the invaluable education that can be obtained through these 
adventures. As director of the Colorado Outward Bound School, I have 
been fortunate enough to see directly the benefits that young people 
can take away from their outdoor experiences. The challenges that they 
face in these types of programs can provide them with the self-respect 
and sense of accomplishment that are antidotes for much of the anger 
and frustration that all too often erupts in violence. Groups like the 
Beckwourth Mountain Club are instrumental in ensuring that our urban 
youth are exposed to more positive, character-building experiences.
  The James P. Beckwourth Mountain Club is part of the Rocky Mountain 
National Park's Corps of Discovery Program. This program has allowed 
the group to develop a close, working relationship with the park where 
numerous youths have participated in hikes, snowshoe walks, and camping 
trips. As a result of their outstanding work and their on-going 
partnership with the national park, the James P. Beckwourth Mountain 
Club recently was awarded the ``Shoulder-to-Shoulder Award'' by the 
National Park Service.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask today that my colleagues join me in applauding the 
efforts of the James P. Beckwourth Mountain Club. At a time when our 
children are bombarded with images of violence, the James P. Beckwourth 
Mountain Club strives to replace those images with traits that will 
allow our children to peacefully coexist with one another. Mr. Speaker, 
I am attaching a copy of the National Park Service's press materials 
about this award and the Club.

 National Park Service Presents ``Shoulder-to-Shoulder Award'' to the 
                   James P. Beckwourth Mountain Club

       Denver. On May 16, 2001, Ms. Cheryl Armstrong, Executive 
     Director, and Mr. Michael Richardson, Program Director with 
     The James P. Beckwourth Mountain Club, were presented a 
     ``Shoulder-to-Shoulder Award'' in recognition for their 
     valued partnership with the National Park Service.
       The James P. Beckwourth Mountain Club is a Denver-based 
     outdoor organization named in honor of famed 19th century 
     trapper and trader, James P. Beckwourth. Born in 1798 in 
     Virginia, the son of a slavewoman in the early 1800's, 
     Beckwourth was unwilling to accept the confines of slavery. 
     Instead he set out to make a small place in history for 
     himself. Beckwourth went west into the wilderness of the 
     Rocky Mountains and joined a western expedition led by 
     General William H. Ashley. This was the beginning of his 
     fantastic career as an explorer, Indian scout, fur trapper, 
     prospector, and War Chief of the Crow Indian Nation. His name 
     is memorialized in California where he pioneered a trail in 
     the Sierra Nevada range known as Beckwourth Pass.
       The James P. Beckwourth Mountain Club works with and 
     exposes urban youth to the outdoors through a number of 
     programs including educational opportunities and field trips. 
     The Club opened The James P. Beckwourth Outdoor Education 
     Center in 1998. As part of Rocky Mountain National Park's 
     Corps of Discovery Program, The James P. Beckwourth Mountain 
     Club has developed and maintained a close working 
     relationship with Rocky Mountain National Park, where a 
     number of youth and adults have participated in numerous 
     field trips, hikes, snowshoe walks, and camping trips in the 
     park. As a result of this program, children of Denver's 
     African American neighborhoods have had the opportunity to 
     enjoy our national parks, and have gained a good 
     understanding of life and history of James P. Beckwourth.
       ``I am proud to recognize The James P. Beckwourth Mountain 
     Club as a valued partner of the National Park Service as well 
     as for their hard work in breaking new trails for our 
     children and helping us keep national parks meaningful and 
     relevant to a new generation of Americans,'' stated Regional 
     Director Karen Wade.
       The ``Shoulder-to-Shoulder Award'' was presented to Ms. 
     Cheryl Armstrong and Mr. Michael Richardson, on behalf of The 
     James P. Beckwourth Mountain Club in Keystone, Colorado, 
     where leaders and managers of the National Park Service met 
     with partners, tribal representatives, sister agencies of the 
     federal and state government, cooperating associations, 
     foundation and university representatives, and private 
     citizens during the Intermountain Region's General Conference 
     entitled ``Stewardships: The Art of Collaboration.'' Awards 
     were presented to a number of individuals and partners who 
     have worked long and hard with the National Park Service 
     towards accomplishing the common goals of preservation and 
     protection of natural and cultural resources within our 
     national parks.

     

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