These are the public lands stories I really love writing. Not doom and gloom or “Call your senators and representatives now!” The ones.
I do this so that we all know what is at stake if we do not do the right thing immediately, and there is a lot at stake right now. Rather, stories about people and companies actually doing the hard work of stewardship and giving back to the communities that support them are the fun ones.
Case in point: Polaris’s most recent donation to conservation, and its continuing partnership with National Forest Foundation.
Not only that, but Polaris’ Fund for Outdoor Recreation is now “fully endowed,” meaning the company has secured the funding needed to help sustain, fund, and preserve outdoor recreation for the long term. And, at a time when our public lands are under attack in six ways on Sunday, this is good news we can all celebrate.
Corporate partnerships with regular, everyday managers, as well as organizations like the National Forest Foundation, are absolutely essential tools in conservation. In the same way that private owners need to connect and work with public land managers. They bridge the gap between corporate and public interests, and show that corporations can and should be good stewards of our public lands, because their customers would be nowhere without them.
But more than that, it’s good for everyone. And this announcement, with a $200,000 grant for OHV recreation projects across the United States, reflects that essential partnership.
“Today, in partnership with the National Forest Foundation, Polaris announced the 2026 recipients of the Polaris Fund for Outdoor Recreation grants,” according to the release. “This announcement also marks a major milestone in the partnership – the Polaris Fund for Outdoor Recreation is now fully endowed, securing long-term support for outdoor recreation.” This achievement provides continued, sustainable funding to advance off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreational access, trail stewardship, responsible riding education and conservation efforts. “America’s National Forests and Adjacent Lands.”
Those grants include seven separate projects, including a speed limit sign pilot project in the Coconino National Forest in Arizona, snowmobile donations to the U.S. Forest Service in the White River National Forest in Colorado, trail maintenance in the White River National Forest aimed at “improving safety and long-term sustainability for motorized and non-motorized users,” trailhead improvements and maintenance along the Cadillac ORV Trail in the Huron-Maniste National Forest in Michigan, White The Mountain National Forest includes a trail surfacing and drainage project. Restoration and erosion control work following Hurricane Helene in the Nantahala National Forest in New Hampshire, Tennessee, and the relocation of a portion of the Sucker Pond Trail in the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont.
Overall, it seems like it’s a pretty cool job despite not having a lot of money. Imagine what we could do if Congress ever started listening to its constituents and started funding the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management, and not try to sell it off?
“Polaris has been a steadfast champion of our national forests,” says Dieter Fenkart Froschel, President and CEO of the National Forest Foundation. “By creating a source of sustainable annual support, Polaris empowers us to strengthen recreation opportunities and uplift the communities who find adventure and connection in these treasured places.”
Here, here.
