Outdoor Recreation Roundtable

Emmy-nominated speaker and host Baratunde Thurston delivered the keynote for our National Leadership Forum on Rural Development and elevated the power of nature to unite us all and shared stories of his many travels to recreation communities across the country. The audience is energized and inspired here in Pittsburgh! #OutdoorRecreationEconomy #RuralDevelopment

It's National Public Lands Day! All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone in celebration of all that America's public lands and waters have to offer. “This National Public Lands Day it’s inspiring to see the ongoing commitment of our nation’s resource management agencies and volunteers from across the nation to restoring and preserving the public lands and waters that are the backbone of America’s outdoor recreation," said Jessica (Wahl) Turner, President of Outdoor Recreation Roundtable. "As we celebrate our outdoor heritage by getting outside, enjoying these special places, and hopefully giving back through volunteer efforts, it is a great time to remember that passing the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act as soon as possible will improve our access to these public lands we celebrate and ensure even more Americans have access to the physical, mental, and community benefits of outdoor experiences – all with no additional cost to taxpayers.” 

We’re ending the week on a high note after being joined by an inspiring group of leaders for an evening of lively discussion on sustainability innovations across the recreation industry as we came together during Climate Week in one of the most unique settings in NYC. Grateful for Peter Mack for partnering with us to host this truly memorable gathering at Collective Retreats and to everyone who attended.

New policy recommendations for developing recreation economies: today, the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of the Interior, and USDA released a groundbreaking inter-agency report providing recommendations for regional economic development through outdoor recreation in the United States. These recommendations are a testament to the central role of the $1.1 trillion outdoor recreation economy in communities across the country and are an outcome of President Biden’s executive order in April 2022 that directed the Secretaries of these departments to collaborate on this report. The report recommends: – Continuing to work with communities to identify and address barriers to growth through the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation (FICOR) and other initiatives. – Implementing provisions of the MAPLand Act and 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act to inventory assets and improve public access to Federal lands. – Utilizing available authorities to support the maintenance and adaptation of recreation facilities through long-term planning that incorporates evaluations of climate risk and corresponding adaptation strategies. – Reauthorizing the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act and the Great American Outdoors Act. – Coordinating across the Federal Government to utilize programs like the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities Program to support economic development for underserved communities and resilient infrastructure. – Investing in collection and management of data on recreation, in consultation with communities and the public, to help inform agency and community understanding of current demand, emerging needs, patterns, and trends. – Investing in research and development for outdoor recreation, such as the Economic Development Administration’s program evaluation of the Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Program, and disseminate lessons learned to help the sector grow.

WOW—$254.7 million to outdoor recreation marks the biggest-ever investment in local parks and access for all in the history of the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program at the U.S. Department of the Interior. This year's projects, spanning coast to coast and 24 states, ensure that disadvantaged urban communities that lack access to close-by outdoor recreation can connect to our great outdoors. Read more about the announcement here: https://lnkd.in/gjWmgQ4h

🎉 Jeff McCabe has been named the new Director of the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation (MOOR).   McCabe replaces the inimitable Carolann Ouellette, who assumed leadership of the Maine Office of Tourism and its subsidiary offices as Director of Tourism, Outdoor Recreation, and Film in June. McCabe has served as Deputy Director under Ouellette since November 2023.              “I am pleased that Jeff will be able to seamlessly continue and build upon the important work being done in outdoor recreation to contribute to Maine’s economy,” said Heather Finnemore Johnson, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. “He is a strong voice for outdoor recreation in our state, an industry that is helping to advance our statewide goals of talent attraction, innovation, manufacturing, and rural economic development.” “Maine’s Outdoor Recreation economy is strong and growing,” said McCabe. “It has been an honor to work with and to hear from those in the industry from across the state and I look forward to the work ahead.” Please join us in welcoming Jeff to his new role! Confluence of States Maine Outdoor Brands

Outdoor recreation participation is reaching record levels, yet our growth is threatened by ongoing trade disruptions and the expiration of essential trade programs, such as the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). Yesterday, we hosted a briefing on how to stabilize trade environments to ensure the continued growth of the uniquely American $1.1 trillion outdoor recreation industry. “Without immediate action to address current trade policy challenges, we risk stalling one of the strongest economic sectors that has experienced significant growth in recent years," said Outdoor Recreation Roundtable President Jessica (Wahl) Turner. "Congress has a unique opportunity to act at the end of the year to protect outdoor recreation jobs, rural economies, quality of life, and the experiences cherished by millions of Americans.” 

ORR Senior Program Director Ambreen F. Tariq is in today's Baltimore Sun to highlight a new partnership between ORR's Together Outdoors and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to launch the first Maryland Outdoor Equity Grant Fund. "The Maryland Outdoor Equity Grant Fund is a perfect example of how public-private partnerships can drive meaningful change. By leveraging resources from both sectors, we can support small, underfunded organizations that are already doing incredible work on the ground," said Tariq. "This strategic approach not only helps bridge the “Adventure Gap” — the disparity in outdoor recreation participation among different demographic groups — but also ensures that the benefits of outdoor recreation are more equitably distributed across Maryland."

If you're in the business of outdoor recreation, you know that U.S. trade policy in recent years has had uneven and often challenging impacts on our distinctly American industry. On September 17 at 12 PM EST, we'll hold a virtual briefing about the most impactful trade policy opportunities across all sectors of the $1.1 trillion outdoor recreation economy. To continue to thrive and support the millions of Americans who recreate outside each year, and the 5 million American jobs our industry creates, our panelists will discuss the trade landscape and important legislation like the retroactive extension of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). Featuring: Jessica (Wahl) Turner, President, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable  Marc Berejka, Divisional Vice President, Community Advocacy & Impact, REI Callie Hoyt, Vice President of Government Relations, National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) Glenn Hughes, President, American Sportfishing Association Jennifer Naeger, Vice President & General Counsel, Trek Bicycle Corporation Samantha Rocci, Director of Federal Affairs, RV Industry Association Charles Cooper, Founder and Managing Partner, Brumidi Group Join us: https://lnkd.in/gduirSet

NEW EQUITY GRANT PROGRAM: We're so proud to connect Together Outdoors with Maryland Department of Natural Resources to announce the recipients of the first-ever Maryland Outdoor Equity Grant Fund.   The recipients are:   - Defensores de la Cuenca, to contribute to a gear bank that increases access to outdoor recreation activities by Latine communities who are underrepresented in that field.    - Live Water Foundation, who will facilitate connections between veterans and paddleboarding and kayaking through the purchase of materials, and lay the foundation for vast community connections, increase knowledge around this recreational activity and provide learning opportunities around stewardship and sustainability.    - Mentoring Our Rising Entrepreneurs (MORE), to help 50–75 kids from Baltimore City and other neighborhoods receive the education and experience they need to set out on excursions, explore new things, and enjoy nature by purchasing new camping materials.   - Young Successful Leaders (YSL), to contribute to community garden initiatives to increase overall cleanliness and aesthetics, be a space for shared use and enjoyment, promote local agriculture and food self-sufficiency, and foster community engagement and a sense of ownership among residents.   “We are thrilled to collaborate with the Maryland DNR to launch this important initiative and excited to watch the grantees’ efforts to help more people get access to the outdoors and flourish,” said Ambreen F. Tariq, Senior Program Director at Outdoor Recreation Roundtable and Together Outdoors Coalition Lead. “This fund will not only support underrepresented communities in accessing and enjoying the outdoors but also create lasting connections to nature and foster stewardship among these groups.”