Visit Mountaineer Country CVB Youth Outdoor Steward Training Program

The Visit Mountaineer Country CVB Youth Outdoor Steward Training Program was named a Gold Standard Youth Program in 2024.

In 2023, the West Virginia Department of Tourism (WVDT) launched a pilot program in collaboration with Visit Mountaineer Country CVB that focuses on educating 5th graders across the Mountaineer Country region as Youth Outdoor Stewards. Through the pilot program, VMC has committed to training 5^th graders across the region for the foreseeable future.

“Receiving this designation is a testament to our commitment to tourism education,” said Susan Riddle, president and CEO of Visit Mountaineer Country. “Through the work of our Destination Development Coordinators, Kathryn Carter and Stella Hehnly, we’ve successfully introduced the Leave No Trace principles to more than 1,500 students in our region. We also won the West Virginia Governor’s Conference on Tourism’s “Future of Tourism” award in 2023 and 2024 for our Leave No Trace efforts. This designation is a huge step for us as we continue to build awareness around the tourism industry  – starting with our youth.”

About Visit Mountaineer Country

The Mountaineer Country tourism region in North Central West Virginia is made up of Monongalia, Preston, Taylor, Harrison, Marion, Barbour and Doddridge Counties. Visit Mountaineer Country CVB strives to increase the tourism economy by marketing and selling the destination to our guests by “wowing” them and encouraging them to stay one more night and spend one more dollar. Through Leave No Trace, Visit Mountaineer Country teaches children the importance of protecting outdoor spaces and responsible tourism practices. It also Introduces area youth to the diverse career opportunities available within the tourism industry. These efforts are aimed at nurturing local talent and securing a promising future workforce for the region.