Yamaha Volunteers Return to Rehabilitate San Bernardino National Forest

Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, employees returned to the San Bernardino National Forest this past weekend to volunteer their time in support of projects aiding the popular Summit OHV Staging Area. Working with members of the Southern California Mountains Foundation (SCMF) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the effort represented the eighth year of Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative volunteer projects in one of the nation’s busiest forests.

More than 60 volunteers including Yamaha employees, their friends and family members, along with members of local Girl and Cub Scout troops, contributed more than 200 hours of volunteer service throughout the weekend. Activities included installing signs and kiosks, watering and planting native seedlings, and helping general restoration and rehabilitation of the staging area and surrounding trails.

“Yamaha is proud to continue its longstanding working relationship with the Southern California Mountains Foundation and U.S. Forest Service as we create models for productive private-public collaboration with the shared goal of increasing safe, responsible access to popular public off-road riding areas,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s ATV/SxS group marketing manager. “The Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative is dedicated to those who work and play outdoors. This commitment includes financial investments through quarterly Yamaha OAI grants, as well as the hands-on loyalty from our passionate employees.”

Yamaha volunteers have participated in eight restoration projects within the San Bernardino National Forest. Past work includes projects in and around the Pinnacles, Cactus Flats, Big Pine Flats and Coxey Meadows areas, planting more than 4,000 native seedlings and restoring and maintaining the OHV trails and trailheads.

“Yamaha is a valued partner of the Southern California Mountains Foundation helping to support our OHV program and many of the 2.4 million visitors who come to enjoy the mountains each year,” said Stacy Gorin, Southern California Mountains Foundation executive officer. “In all their years of support for the program, Yamaha volunteers made a positive, significant impact on the San Bernardino National Forest, completing projects from the Big Bear area to across the mountains at the Summit Staging Area.”

For more information: www.yamahaoai.com.

The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame recently named Marilyn Stemp and Steve Piehl to its board of directors.

Stemp is a pioneering figure in the motorcycle industry, founding IronWorks Magazine with her late husband, Dennis, and becoming the first female editor of a nationally circulated, mainstream motorcycle magazine. She also revived their trade magazine, Iron Trader News; edits the monthly Kiwi Indian News; contributes to several powersports media outlets; and is the founding editor of Sturgis Rider Daily. Stemp is a noted editor and writer of several motorcycle-focused books. Her consistent support for charitable efforts in the industry include the annual Biker Belles Celebration, Las Vegas BikeFest and as campaign chair for the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum’s development plan in 2014. She co-founded the Flying Piston charity events taking place in Daytona and Sturgis each year and is a National Ambassador for All Kids Bike. Stemp was inducted into both the Las Vegas Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the Sturgis Museum's Hall of Fame in 2018, and in 2022 she was recognized as one of the Top 100 Women in Powersports by DealerNews.