Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office

Applications are now open for #outdoorindustry companies to participate in the Outdoor Industry Funding Summit!

The OREC Rural Technical Assistance Program is now accepting applications for communities to participate in the 2025 cohort! This innovative partnership with CU Boulder Masters of the Environment (MENV) Graduate Program and the Colorado State University Office of Engagement and Extension (CSU OEE) brings free community planning efforts to rural areas focused on developing their economies through outdoor recreation. Three communities will be selected to participate in the 2025 program, which will involve planning calls beginning in Fall 2024, an in-person workshop in March 2025, and culminating in a Community Action Plan to be released in May 2025. There is no cost for participation, although communities will be expected to cover the cost of a workshop venue and food. Community points of contact will be responsible for convening a local steering committee, which will be expected to meet virtually on a monthly basis and attend the in-person workshop. Additional thanks to Outdoor Recreation Roundtable and the U.S. EPA Office of Community Revitalization for supporting the development of this program. Interested communities may submit their application using the form linked below. 👇 https://lnkd.in/g4VZWX4v

Our friends at Holland & Hart LLP are hosting a Fitness & Outdoor Recreation Industry Bike Day on August 8th! Join Holland & Hart's Fitness & Outdoor Recreation team for an afternoon of mountain biking and networking! The ride will start at Feedback Sports in Golden and will explore nearby trails before ending back in Golden for a happy hour and snacks. If you plan to attend, please RSVP using the link below by July 31st. https://lnkd.in/gkk_sHsV

Colorado Parks and Wildlife recently announced the expansion of Aira to State Parks! Aira is a digital tool to help Coloradans and visitors who are blind or have low vision access state services in real time. The Aira Explorer mobile app provides access to visual interpreters when navigating state-operated locations and digital services, including state parks. Through the Colorado Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT) and the Technology Accessibility Program (TAP), Aira provides free 30-minute sessions and users can connect for additional sessions if needed. This partnership began in 2023 and has now expanded to each of Colorado's 42 State Parks. Learn more about how the State of Colorado is increasing accessibility in the outdoors through this innovative partnership 👇 https://lnkd.in/ga6SfHUU

The deadline to submit a session proposal for the Colorado Outdoor Industry Leadership Summit (COILS) is this Friday, July 19! Submit your proposal using the link below, and please contact us with any questions. https://lnkd.in/gztu97-3 For more information about COILS, please visit our website and sign up for our newsletter using the link below! https://lnkd.in/g782QRVp

July is National Parks & Recreation Month! Celebrate with us by getting outside, visiting a State Park, and enjoying all that Colorado's great outdoors has to offer.

The public now has a chance to provide feedback on the future of outdoor recreation in Colorado with the release of the draft 2024 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). Developed with broad input from public and outdoor recreation and conservation interests, including The Colorado Outdoor Partnership (CO-OP), the draft SCORP lays out a five-year strategy to ensure that Colorado’s outdoor recreation opportunities remain outstanding into the future while addressing challenges, including population growth, climate change, and habitat loss. The public has until August 6 to review the draft 2024 SCORP and provide feedback to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. For more information visit: EngageCPW.org.

After one full year of Colorado drivers opting into the Keep Colorado Wild Pass with their vehicle registrations, the numbers show that the program has been a success for Colorado Parks and Wildlife! With nearly $41 million in revenue generated from the pass over the past fiscal year, Colorado's State Parks, search and rescue organizations, and the Colorado Avalanche Information Center have all benefitted from the program. As more Coloradans opt in to the $29 annual vehicle registration fee which provides a pass for State Parks, we look forward to supporting these partners as they increase access and safety in Colorado's great outdoors! https://lnkd.in/gbwTjZ7A

"Companies and their employees are naturally synergistic with Boulder’s culture and landscape. Businesses have the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge outdoor gear research in their facilities, then step outside to test their products on local trails and climbing routes." Joseph Hovancak, Vice President of Economic Vitality with the Boulder Chamber, shares a thoughtful reflection on the outdoor industry in Boulder County. We are proud to see companies such as Kelty, La Sportiva, Nite Ize, Inc., and Skratch Labs thrive in Boulder's vibrant economy. The University of Colorado Boulder has leveraged these partners to build the next generation of the OREC workforce, as well. Thank you to our local businesses, educational institutions, and economic development partners that make Colorado's outdoor recreation industry so robust! https://lnkd.in/gREDCxGh

The Outdoor Industry Association has released their 2024 Outdoor Participation Trends Report to provide insights and narratives around who’s doing what, when, and how outdoors. The full report is available to OIA members, but you can view the Executive Summary via the link below. Some key takeaways: • Outdoor participation grew 4.1% in 2023 to a record 175.8 million participants nationwide • For the first time ever, more than half of American women are participating in outdoor recreation • Members of the LGBTQ community continue to be the most active adult cohort https://lnkd.in/gfHhJPe7