OUR IMPACT
Americans love recreating on the water, and when they do – it’s most likely on a lake or waterway managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the largest provider of water-based recreation in the country! The Corps Foundation is the only nationwide nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to supporting our nation’s lakes, rivers and the lands surrounding them. The Corps Foundation works to connect contributors, businesses, communities and “Friends” organizations to benefit visitors and help ensure healthy lakes and waterways for current and future generations.
Watch and learn more about the Corps Foundation’s work.
BREAKING NEWS
The LAKES Act
We Need Your Support! Corps Foundation Announces LAKES Act Legislation!
The Corps Foundation is thrilled to announce the proposed LAKES Act with bipartisan support! Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) introduced the Lakes Access Keeping Economies Strong legislation that’s building support everyday.
This bipartisan bill would improve outdoor recreation facilities in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)-managed areas, provide new opportunities for public-private investments, and give local districts more flexibility to reinvest their resources.
Specifically, the LAKES Act will include authority for the US Army Corps of Engineers to retain up to 80% of recreation use fees to be reinvested directly to the Corps project where the fees were collected. This gives local managers the flexibility to repair infrastructure and complete maintenance with funds already paid by the visiting public. This long awaited authority will allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to join other Federal land management agencies such as the National Park Service, Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management in retaining recreation fees.
HOW WE ARE HELPING
Supporting Recreation
Did you know that USACE operates and manages over 430 recreation sites and 12 million acres of land and waters in 42 states? Over 270 million visitors annually enjoy the recreation activities at these sites, and their tourism dollars support local, mostly rural, gateway communities. Federal funding for boating and fishing facilities and management has declined in spite of increased public demand. LEARN MORE…
Donations and memberships to the Corps Foundation provide financial support to improve programs and facilities that directly benefit the public.
Stewarding Public Lands
We partner with agencies, organizations and local community efforts to sustain operations, improve recreational facilities, preserve natural and cultural resources and enhance the visitor experience. The Corps Foundation pursues a variety of fundraising, and grant opportunities to help keep USACE public lands open to the public, support the outdoor recreation economy and leverage public-private resources.
Education and Advocacy
Visitor safety is a #1 priority for USACE. The Corps Foundation supports USACE and the efforts of their employees and volunteers to educate the visiting public in ways that promote safe and sustainable use of lands and waters managed by USACE. The Corps Foundation has secured over $1 million in funds to help promote the award-winning Life Jackets Worn…Nobody Mourns campaign. Free campaign materials are available for at PleaseWearIt.com and by following Please Wear It on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The Corps Foundation educates and supports the visiting public and volunteers to promote safe and sustainable use of Corps lands and waters. Visitor safety is the #1 goal when using lakes and waterways managed by USACE. The Corps Foundation secured $1 million in funding for the award-winning “Life Jackets Worn…Nobody Mourns” campaign for water safety. Read about our success at PleaseWearIt.com.
The Corps Foundation advocates for increased funding to address operational needs, unfunded maintenance and infrastructure restoration. We advocate for policy changes to increase opportunities for partnering, and leverage public-private resources. We work to build a case for stakeholder support by communicating the limitations of Federal Funding and the importance of partnerships to help meet public demand.
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR WORK
Why Join
People join the Corps Foundation to help keep access available to their favorite lake or waterway. Your financial support benefits the parks, and the volunteers who dedicate their service to maintaining water recreation for everyone. JOIN US…
HOW YOU CAN HELP
The Corps Foundation uses 100% of your membership and donation funds to directly support education programs, stewardship projects and contribute toward partnership opportunities. Americans are enjoying their public lands more than ever before. In fact, outdoor recreation now comprises over 2% of the American economy. Despite this demand, public lands agencies, including the US Army Corps of Engineers, continue to face reduced Federal funding that could impact your access to lands and waters of the US.
Your financial support helps Corps projects and their friends groups connect, grow, and increase their capacity to fulfill the Corps’ natural resource education mission on lakes and waterways across America.
Advocate for America’s Waterways!
Advocacy Toolkit PDF
Advocacy Toolkit XLSX
See our latest advocacy efforts here.
Water Water Everywhere
Thanks to the Corps, there are countless parks at the many lakes and waterways. Click on the map to find your favorite.
THE LATEST FROM OUR FACEBOOK PAGE
Corps Foundation Seeking New Board Members!
Engaging the public to support recreation, education, and stewardship at our nation's lakes, lands, and waterways administered by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
The Corps of Engineers Natural Resources Environmental Education Foundation a.k.a. the Corps Foundation is looking for diverse candidates to build our sustainability of our future and expand our outreach. Our success in building new partnerships, increasing support to the recreation program and advocacy means we need to expand our Board of Directors. The Foundation is seeking five new members to its National Board of Directors. Will you help us?
The Corps Foundation is a national not-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational foundation that was incorporated in 2007 and relies on its all-volunteer board to manage and accomplish most of its programs. Awarded the 2018 National Partnership Award from the Public Lands Alliance, our influence is growing. We are seeking energetic, passionate and talented individuals who value our mission and would like to volunteer their time and talents to improve our outreach, communication, and fundraising to support partners in their efforts to sustain and enhance the visitor experience.
What Do We Do?
Here is a few of our recent accomplishments
• Award winning water safety campaign.
• “Life Jackets Worn, Nobody Mourns”. Funded with over $1 million in grants from the US Coast Guard, this program supports water safety efforts at Corps managed lakes and waterways.
• Congressional Outreach and Advocacy.
• Established an annual legislative agenda with input from the agency and stakeholders to improve partnerships, authorities and encourage Congressional representatives to pass legislation favorable to the USACE NRM program. Coordinate efforts with partnerships developed for advocacy.
• Park Rangers Stories.
• Coordinated and published Park Ranger Stories from the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers: A Collection of Stories, Interviews, and Memories from Corps Park Rangers and Other Natural Resources Management Professionals. Awarded 2021 Best Publication from National Association of Interpretation.
• Support for NRM Program partnerships.
• Provides direct field assistance to USACE projects on grants, non-profit governance, and fiscal agent for partner contributions.
In the current climate of decreased federal funding, the Corps Foundationis uniquely positioned to encourage public stewardship and partnership for these important water resources.
Be Part of a Winning Successful Team for Americas Lakes and Waterways
We believe the work is never more important - than it is today. The Corps Foundation is the only nationwide nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to supporting these lakes, rivers and their many resources. In a time of decreasing federal funding, the lakes and waterways are at risk of reduced access, eliminated programs, and degradation of natural resources. The Corps Foundation is uniquely positioned to encourage public stewardship and partnerships for these important water resources.
If this proposal sounds interesting, we would be happy to have a phone conversation to discuss the opportunity in more detail and to learn more about you as a potential candidate.
Interested and want to learn more? Contact Greg Miller, CorpsFoundation Board Chair at millerga50@gmail.com
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Read this to see if your excuse for not wearing a life jacket while in, on, or near open water (i.e. lakes, rivers etc) is debunked!
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Foundation Board Members Spread the Word!
Pictured: Corps Foundation Board Member Avis Kennedy offered presentations for LRN and LRL rangers at their annual workshops. Here she is on March 19, 2024 in Richmond, Kentucky.
Members of the Board kicked off 2024 with a busy travel schedule to spread the good work of the Foundation. Park Ranger annual training and program updates are held every year throughout USACE Districts and Divisions, and the Foundation is grateful the organizers invited board members to present an update on Foundation activities. Over 470 contacts were made in January-March.
#spreadtheword #usarmycorps #usarmycorpsofengineers #USACE #CorpsofEngineers #corpsfoundation #corps
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Foundation Board Members Spread the Word!
Pictured: Nashville District Rangers and other participants in the 2024 Nashville District Ranger Workshop, held in Paducah, Kentucky. Ms. Avis Kennedy, member of the Corps Foundation Board of Directors, addressed the group on March 7, familiarizing them with the Foundation's goals, accomplishments, and advocacy in support of the Corps' Natural Resources Management program.
Members of the Board kicked off 2024 with a busy travel schedule to spread the good work of the Foundation. Park Ranger annual training and program updates are held every year throughout USACE Districts and Divisions, and the Foundation is grateful the organizers invited board members to present an update on Foundation activities. Over 470 contacts were made in January-March.
#spreadtheword #usarmycorps #usarmycorpsofengineers #USACE #CorpsofEngineers #corpsfoundation #corps
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Many rangers don't realize that they can help the Corps Foundation by becoming members and supporters. Their support, in turn, enables the Foundation to provide support for the partnerships that rangers use to improve facilities and services.