Outdoor News: Announcing the TOGA Awards

According to a recent study sponsored by the Nature Conservancy, outdoor recreation worldwide has declined sharply since the 1980s. While they may have the widespread, long-term research to support this statement, we know there’s good stuff going on out there—and we are on the hunt to find it.

National Geographic Maps, in collaboration with ADVENTURE magazine, has just introduced the first annual Outdoor Geographic Awareness (TOGA) Awards to celebrate the people, gear retailers, manufacturers, and NGOs who are finding new and creative ways to promote geographic awareness and build outdoor participation. The TOGA Awards reflect National Geographic’s mission to inspire people to care about the planet and to encourage people of all ages to explore their world.

Applications and nominations will be accepted online at www.natgeomaps.com/toga through Friday, June 27, 2008. The awards will be presented on Friday, August 8, 2008, at 4 p.m., at Outdoor Retailer in Salt Lake City.