Outdoor Recreation Roundtable

NEW RESOURCE: As part of this week's launch of the '25 in 2025' campaign, we worked with Confluence of States to showcase 5 steps to help you create an office of outdoor recreation in your state. "How to Create an Office of Outdoor Recreation" highlights strategies, messaging, and tactics utilized by states nationwide to create new outdoor recreation offices. As we work collectively to create the 25th office across the country, we hope this resource plays a contributing role in your state's success! The resource can be found in the comments below. Maribel Castañeda, MPA

Outdoor recreation and the Governor in the New Mexico Roundhouse! New Mexico Economic Development Department's New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division hosted Outdoor Recreation Day at the State Capitol, bringing together Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham with outdoor businesses, organizations, and youth program participants to showcase New Mexico’s thriving $3.2 billion outdoor recreation economy. Congratulations to ORD Director Ana Karina Armijo and team for this outstanding showcase of New Mexico's outdoor recreation economy. Confluence of States #25in2025

ENSHRINED IN LAW! The Arkansas Office of Outdoor Recreation is now enshrined in state law after Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed HB1607 yesterday. Established via Executive Order in 2021, the Arkansas Office of Outdoor Recreation has been spectacular in delivering on its vision to make the Natural State a national outdoor recreation leader. Director Katherine Andrews and team have worked tirelessly to integrate outdoor recreation as a tool for state competitiveness, public health, and community benefit. ORR applauds Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, First Gentleman Bryan Sanders, state legislators, and the countless outdoor recreation advocates within and outside state government who have made this historic day possible, coinciding perfectly with the launch of ORR's '25 in 2025' campaign launched yesterday. Confluence of States

WHICH STATE WILL CREATE THE 25TH OFFICE OF OUTDOOR RECREATION? Today, we're launching a national challenge to create the 25th office of outdoor recreation in partnership with the Confluence of States, leading outdoor recreation businesses and associations, and conservation groups from across the country.   We're also releasing a new resource called "How to Create a State Office of Outdoor Recreation" to support your state's effort, full of strategies that recreation advocates have employed to create offices of their own.   Throughout the year, we'll highlight the extraordinary impact of current state offices of outdoor recreation, and this fall we'll celebrate the 25th office (and ideally many more) in person.   Join the campaign here: https://lnkd.in/gukmQEBj

Along with so many in the outdoor recreation and conservation communities, ORR mourns the passing of Representative Raúl Grijalva.   Throughout his career, Representative Grijalva was a tireless advocate for public lands and waters, and his leadership in helping pass the EXPLORE Act leaves a legacy where all Americans have better opportunities to connect with the nation's most treasured outdoor places. Thank you, Representative Grijalva.

ORR is proud to release our 2024 Annual Report on the heels of convening the first-ever national cross-sector CEO Forum and national rural development forum on recreation, passing the EXPLORE Act, and the highest recreation economy numbers in history. But much work remains. We look forward to harnessing our impact and focusing on our members and their needs in 2025. Read about 2024's accomplishments: https://lnkd.in/gi4MFzbj

NEW WORKFORCE CONSORTIUM: Today we're launching a new Outdoor Recreation Workforce Consortium to bring the most forward-thinking outdoor recreation higher ed programs with outdoor recreation leaders to help solve the biggest workforce challenges of our time. Read about the Consortium here: https://lnkd.in/gQ2WEZbP In partnership with the West Virginia University Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative, the Consortium will generate new initiatives, research, and policy priorities to address opportunities in skill development, marketing, access to the workforce, and quality of life for outdoor workers to ensure a robust outdoor workforce for years to come. We're grateful to OSU Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy for their years of work in stewarding this initiative before today's launch. In addition to Oregon State and West Virginia, the Consortium is led by: - University of Arkansas Outdoor Products and Services Program - University of New Hampshire Recreation Management and Policy - The Jay Kemmerer Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism, and Hospitality (WORTH) Institute at University of Wyoming - University of Denver - Daniels College of Business Leadership in the Outdoor Recreation Industry

The best resource on creating and elevating state offices of outdoor recreation just got better: we’re proud to support this second edition of the Confluence of States Guidebook for Developing Offices of Outdoor Recreation. The Guidebook, painstakingly crafted by Confluence Manager Maribel Castañeda, MPA, contains a wealth of knowledge, best practices, and advice from existing offices of outdoor recreation to help advance and sustain offices across the country. And the timing couldn’t be better as we prepare to launch a new campaign on the unbelievable state office of outdoor recreation movement next week. Stay tuned!

The atmosphere in Austin was warm, reflective, and forward-thinking as ORR Senior Program Director Ambreen F. Tariq convened some of the brightest minds on the future of technology in outdoor recreation at this year's SXSW to a standing-room-only audience. Many thanks to panelists Molly Morgan (Plummer), Camilo Barcenas, Kai Twanmoh, Toby Kraus, and Molly Stoecklein, who dug into the opportunities presented by technology to improve access for all, to Baratunde Thurston who made a guest appearance to underscore the deep importance of our connection to the natural world, and to Midwest House and Michigan Outdoor Recreation Industry Office for being gracious hosts. Trust for Public Land GOES Health, AllTrails, Lightship, onXmaps, Inc.

Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II braved the ice and heights last month at Michigan Ice Fest with Brad Garmon, Executive Director of the Michigan Outdoor Recreation Industry Office. Gilchrist's visit showcased the spirit and outdoor recreation economy of the Upper Peninsula as he also witnessed the UP200, a 12-dog mid-distance race that covers 228 miles of challenging terrain. We love seeing elected officials experience the joy of the great outdoors firsthand and greatly appreciate Lt. Governor Gilchrist's support of Michigan's $13.9 billion outdoor recreation economy.