River Etiquette
The wild and scenic Kern River in the Sequoia National Forest and Southern Sierras is an ideal location and holds a special beauty. For this very reason, the Kern River attracts a wide variety of people including: fisherman, hikers, retired citizens, swimmers, sight-seers, mountain bikers, climbers, sun bathers, campers, and white water boaters. In order for all of these diverse recreation seekers to share the river in harmony, it is essential that everyone communicate and be considerate to others and adopt a cooperative friendly attitude. The principles for river etiquette are:

• Keep the noise down.
• Respect other peoples space.
• Be courteous to everyone on the river.
• Respect private property.
• Park in designated areas only.
• Drive slowly and cautiously
  

MRA Recycles
Caring for our forest, community and our environment are important concepts to all the staff at MRA.  We are in the process of establishing a company-wide policy on how much trash we create, in an attempt to reduce our footprint in our own community. 

In 2008 MRA moved one step closer to reducing our carbon footprint. We now have a company-wide recycling program that encompasses both our Kernville and Campground check-in centers, and our 15-acre campground facility. Our Guide Managers have been the major backbone of this effort and deserve big "props" for making the MRA recycling effort so comprehensive within the MRA culture. Next time you visit, please observe and use the recycling station in front of both check-in centers, plus all of the blue recycling containers throughout the campground. Please help us in our efforts to recycle glass, aluminum cans and plastic bottles.

Care-for-it! Please Help Us Protect our Watershed
The Kern River watershed is a mighty one, and with so much impact it needs our ongoing help in maintaining its pristine beauty and health.  Much of the land adjacent to our water corridors along the Upper Kern, Lower Kern and around Lake Isabella are used as "day use" areas. These recreation areas are often unmonitored and thus unprotected. Two major problems in our watershed are (1) trash left behind and (2) improper disposal of human waste. Want to help? Ask about our river clean up trip options.

When visitors leave behind trash, even if bagged, it creates a big problem. Birds, squirrels, raccoons and other furry creatures begin rummaging for food and before long the bagged trash is now scattered along our river, lake and roadways creating further problems. Please use our forest and watershed respectfully by always maintaining your trash, packing out what you pack in, and leaving the area in better shape than you find it. In other words, "leave no trace".

The concept of "packing out what you pack in" is especially necessary for human waste. Did you know that the Kern River Valley's water source is Mt. Whitney, and our river run-off ends up as drinking water in Bakersfield and Los Angeles? Using our river or lake corridors as a restroom, means what you leave behind eventually flows south!

Another way to help protect our watershed is by donating one dollar (look for donation boxes at our check-in centers) or more to the Stewardship Fund of the Kern River Valley when making your reservation or after you’ve enjoyed the area.  It’s simple.  If everyone who enjoys the watershed leaves behind one dollar to help care for it, the money will be available for grants for people who have projects that will help restore it and promote stewardship of the area.  Thanks for reading this, and thanks for being a Guest-that-Cares!

Outdoor Etiquette
We hope to see you on your next adventure with Mountain & River Adventures, or enjoying the Sequoia National Forest on your own. Before you set out on your adventure, there are a few important things we would like to share with you and ask for your help. Everyone enjoys going to the mountains and exploring the great outdoors, but it is up to all of us to protect and to care for it. Read on to learn more about how to camp responsibly, how to protect our wilderness areas, and how to use our trails responsibly.

Leave No Trace
This depends more on attitude and awareness than rules and regulations. Your actions can make the difference in protecting the wilderness environment. MRA practices and encourages others to utilize the principles of Leave No Trace:

• Plan ahead and prepare.
• Concentrate use on established sites.
• Avoid places where impact is just beginning.
• Pack it in, pack it out.
• Properly dispose of human waste and water waste.
• Use fire responsibility
• Be considerate to others.
• Leave what you find.

IMBA Membership
As member of the International Mountain Bike Association, or IMBA, and a mountain bike tour provider, we believe the following IMBA principles should be followed on the trail.

• Ride on open trail only.
• Leave No Trace.
• Control your bicycle.
• Always yield the trail
• Never spook animals
• Plan ahead.

Be cordial, patient and have fun in what ever you do on the forest. Treat others with the respect you wish to receive. Thank you for caring, be safe and enjoy!

Our Stewardship Vision
People are aware and connected to themselves, each other and nature.  People are able to derive positive energy from their work and play.  People can escape to a healthy world of adventure, fun and great memories.  Through utilizing opportunities to experience ourselves in nature, our memories and skills become tools which we can depend and reflect on, helping us make good decisions in our day-to-day lives.  Our communities, both locally and globally, respect the outdoors. 

As local residents and business owners in the Kern River Valley we have a strong philosophy about the Stewardship of our forest and community.  We wish to encourage sensible use of the Forest and seek to encourage other responsible, like-minded individuals to come share in our vision for our community.  It is such a necessary part of our business and our lives that we invite each of our customers and business partners to share in and be part of our Stewardship Vision; where the world is in balance.  Please join us!
John, Rhonda and Sebastian Stallone and Team MRA