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OHV Ambassadors

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis for future Ambassador trainings.

• Do you like to ride Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs) in Arizona?
• Do you want to help promote a POSITIVE image of OHV recreation in Arizona and help protect the future of OHV recreation on public lands in Arizona?
  
• Are you concerned with irresponsible uses taking place at OHV areas that give motorized recreation a bad name?
  
• Do you want to get to know your land managers better and work with them to help conserve the future of your activity?
  
• Do you want to receive FREE vehicle, communications, and first aid/CPR training?

If you answered yes to these questions, then you are just who we're looking for in an OHV Ambassador!

Program Overview

The Arizona OHV Ambassador program is a newly developed volunteer program that provides a means for private citizens to work with a variety of federal, state, and local land managers and public safety officials in Arizona to promote responsible off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation on public, state, and private lands. These volunteers contribute their time, experience, and local knowledge of OHV areas in Arizona by monitoring public lands in groups of two or more on motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), utility vehicles (UTVs), or 4x4 vehicles. Through these monitoring efforts volunteers provide a positive image of their recreation activity; identify and record road, trail, and other resource issues; and educate OHV users on responsible OHV use. OHV Ambassadors also participate in special projects to enhance OHV areas in Arizona. OHV Ambassadors receive extensive training from professional training representatives and serve as a point of contact for other OHV users to obtain helpful and informative information about the trails they ride.

Current OHV Ambassador Locations

• Lake Pleasant Area: includes the Boulders OHV Area, the Bradshaw Foothills area and Table Mesa road, west of the I-17 freeway.
• Cave Creek/North Scottsdale Area: and southwestern portions of the Tonto National Forest Cave Creek Ranger District (Desert Vista).
• Florence Junction Area: includes the BLM portion of the Middle Gila Canyons area.
• Prescott National Forest (all ranger district): includes Hayfield Draw, Alto Pit, Sheridan Mountain, and Copper Canyon Trailhead areas.
• Coconino National Forest (all ranger district): includes Cinder Hills and Stoneman Lake areas.
• Kaibab National Forest (Williams and Tusayan Ranger District): includes all high use areas.

2011 Ambassador Program Accomplishments

The OHV Ambassador Program was created as a result of the identified need from land agencies and OHV stakeholders to increase on-the-ground OHV management presence. The Program provides volunteers with the highest level of multi- agency training for OHV volunteers to:

1. Conduct small projects such as fence repair and sign installation.
2. Monitor trails to document trail hazards and irresponsible OHV use, and
3. Provide responsible riding information to OHV users at high use OHV staging areas and special events.

Arizona State Parks coordinated the establishment of the OHV Ambassadors. The Arizona Game & Fish Department, U.S. Forest Service, Arizona State Land Department, Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, Arizona State Parks and Ambassadors work in partnership to conduct the 3-day OHV Ambassador Orientation training. Agency personnel provide on-site support to volunteers. Equipment such as a statewide education trailer and radios are used to assist with program activities.

The OHV Ambassador Program received national recognition in its pilot stages. It was recognized by Joel Holtrop, Deputy Chief, National Forest System, USDA Forest Service during a House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands hearing as an example travel management implementation strategy. The Program contributed to receiving the national American Recreation Coalition Beacon Award and is positively identified through multiple media outlets and publications including the USDI People, Land, and Water publication. The Program was presented at the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association Conference and National Trails Symposium in 2008.  

Accomplishments of the OHV Ambassador Program during FY2011 include:

OHVA Events

• 12 Meet/Greet/Trail Monitoring Patrols were held on Phoenix District BLM Lands
  
• 15 Work Days (Trail signing, trash clean up, kiosk install, ect) were held on Phoenix District BLM Lands
  
• 7 Meet and Greets were held on Cave Creek Ranger District
  
• 5 Work Days (Trail Signing, trash clean up, trail brushing, etc) were held on Cave Creek Ranger District
  
• 5 Meet/Greet/Trail Monitoring Patrols were held on the Prescott National Forest
  
• 2 OHV Ambassador Continuing Education Sessions were held
• 2 Quarterly Meetings were held
  
• 2 OHV Ambassador Lead Training Classes were held
  
• 1 OHV Guide power point was developed for OHVA , dealer and community group presentations.
  
• 1 Ambassador Training Class were held
  
• 6 special events were attended by the Ambassadors (Game and Fish Expo, trail openings, SDNM celebration, Prescott AZ Best Fest, etc)

Program expansion took place on the following resource areas:

• 3 Ranger Districts on the Prescott National Forest, which includes the entire forest, through a partnership with Community Forest Trust
• 3 Ranger Districts on the Coconino National Forest, which includes the entire forest, through a partnership with the Coconino County Environmental Corps.
• 2 Ranger Districts on the on the south Kaibab National Forest through a partnership with the Coconino County Environmental Corps.

Work Accomplishments from October 1, 2010 – September 30, 2011

• 49 damaged signs have been reported/replaced
  
• 1 new dump site was found and reported
  
• 2 Kiosks were repaired
  
• 4 Barriers were installed to close illegally created trails
  
• 773 miles of trail have been monitored for safety hazards
  
• 2,302 educational public contacts have been made
  
• 1,000 OHV Guides and 100 OHV Sticker posters where distributed to OHVA expansion grant sites
  
• 60 feet of wire fence was repaired at the Boulders Staging Area
  
• During this time period 1,200.6 man hours have been recorded with a total estimated value at $25,644.22. Volunteer donated vehicle miles is estimated at 18,258 

See 2008 Accomplishments

  

Experience

Anyone who has off-highway vehicle experience and is able to provide their own off-highway vehicle that is licensed/street legal can volunteer as an OHV Ambassador, provided they are willing to abide by the OHV Ambassador Code of Conduct. Ambassador must wear full-face helmets unless in a full-size vehicle and are not allowed to carry guns while on duty. OHV Ambassador volunteers will be recruited and selected without regard to race, creed, religion, age, sex, color, national origin or disability.

  

Partners

Arizona State Parks
Bureau of Land Management
USDA Forest Service
Arizona Game & Fish
Arizona Sheriffs
Arizona OHV Clubs

Off-Highway Vehicle Advisory Group: OHVAG

The OHVAG serves in an advisory capacity to the Arizona State Parks Board. OHVAG is a body of dedicated citizen volunteers who assure public involvement in the implementation of the Arizona State Parks administered portion of the State OHV Program. The seven-member group is appointed by the State Parks Board. This advisory group is instrumental in the development and implementation of the OHV Recreation Plan. The mission of OHVAG is to develop and enhance statewide off-highway vehicle opportunities, and to develop educational programs that promote resource protection, social responsibility, and interagency cooperation. Learn more about OHVAG

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