Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73

§8521 Increasing youth recreation visits to Federal land

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 103— - EXPANDING PUBLIC LANDS OUTDOOR RECREATION EXPERIENCES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - ACCESS AMERICA › Part Part C— - Youth Access › § 8521

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretaries must work together to create and publish a plan to increase youth visits to Federal recreational lands and waters within 2 years after January 4, 2025. The plan must focus on reaching underserved youth, set clear goals and measurable targets for more youth visits, and show the expected costs to meet those goals. It must not favor similar recreation run by commercial over noncommercial groups. They must update and publish the plan within 5 years after it is first published and every 5 years after that. The Secretaries may use contracts or cost-share agreements, including to buy vehicles, to carry out the plan.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §8521

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Not later than 2 years after January 4, 2025, the Secretaries, acting jointly, shall develop and make public a strategy to increase the number of youth recreation visits to Federal recreational lands and waters.

(b)A strategy developed under subsection (a)—

(1)shall—

(A)emphasize increased recreation opportunities on Federal recreational lands and waters for underserved youth;

(B)establish objectives and quantifiable targets for increasing youth recreation visits; and

(C)provide the anticipated costs to achieve the objectives and meet the targets established under subparagraph (B); and

(2)shall not establish any preference between similar recreation facilitated by noncommercial or commercial entities.

(c)Not later than 5 years after the date of the publication of the strategy required under subsection (a), and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretaries shall update the strategy and make public the update.

(d)The Secretaries may enter into contracts or cost-share agreements (including contracts or agreements for the acquisition of vehicles) to carry out this section.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 8521

Title 16 — Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73