Support your favorite Washington small businesses and their employees during the COVID-19 crisis by purchasing a gift certificate online or over the phone.

Maple Valley will receive a burst of business and exposure on Sept. 20 when it’s scheduled to host an Ironman triathlon that is expected to draw 2,700 athletes plus about 8,100 spectators who travel with the competitors. Assuming the coronavirus is no longer an issue by then.

Outdoor Research has pledged to start producing masks for medical workers at a substantial clip—200,000 a day by June, according to an announcement the company made Monday. To do so, the gear and apparel brand will convert its Seattle factory to comply with FDA Class II guidelines, meaning it will be able to produce surgical masks and the much-needed N95 masks, in short supply across the nation, for workers on the front lines of the pandemic.

It took less than a week for Superfeet employee-owners to mobilize their product development and operations departments to pivot from insole production to making life-saving equipment using their Ferndale 3D printing and manufacturing facilities. Approximately 30,000 of these PPE masks will be produced and distributed to hospitals in the Pacific Northwest immediately.

Dear Recreation, Conservation and Salmon Recovery Partners: First and foremost, we hope you and your family and friends are safe and doing well in these uncertain times.  At RCO, staff made the transition to working from home and are fully operational and ready to continue our role as an exemplary partner, helping to recover salmon and protect habitats and develop special places to play. Grant Project Applications: We are operating in difficult times and we realize that our potential grant applicants may need more time and understanding in completing our grant application process. I would like to take a moment to update you on how we are preparing for, and changing, our grants cycle in light of COVID-19.

OLYMPIA – March 24, 2020 – Today, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) and the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced the temporary closure of all state-managed parks, wildlife areas and water access areas for at least two weeks starting Wednesday, March 25. The closure is in response to Gov. Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order issued yesterday. Entrance gates and facilities will be closed, and on-site public services will be suspended. Essential staff will be present to preserve and protect resources. Camping and other overnight accommodations on state-managed recreation lands will remain closed through April 30. The public can find the latest information about State Parks and WDFW operations at: Parks: parks.state.wa.us/COVID19. WDFW: wdfw.wa.gov/about/covid-19-updates. State land officials and staff appreciate the public’s understanding and cooperation in this unprecedented time.

The lakes, mountains, and forests in the Pacific Northwest don’t just make it a beautiful place to live, they also encourage Washingtonians to spend an average of 56 days per year engaged in outdoor activities. This directly leads to: $26.6 billion in annual spending in the state’s outdoor recreation industry; 201,000 direct jobs; $2.3 billion in state and local tax revenue. The industry is changing nationally as age demographics shift, people move into more urban areas, and technology continues to change the way we live and track our health.  Retailers must consider sustainability, inclusivity, and gear rental as consumer needs continue to shift. Join our panel of local executives and experts as they discuss how their business is keeping up in a changing market and what opportunities they see ahead for the outdoor recreation industry.

OLYMPIA, WA – As part of No Child Left Inside Day, organized by the No Child Left Inside Coalition, more than 25 young people who benefited from outdoor education experiences under Washington’s No Child Left Inside (NCLI) grant program will join state officials and legislators at the State Capitol in Olympia on Monday, February 17 to share their stories and educate policymakers about the impact of the state’s signature outdoor education grant program.