WE BELIEVE
OUTDOOR RECREATION
Matters.
WELCOME TO THE BIG TENT
The Umbrella Organization for the voice of Outdoor Recreation in Washington State.

The mission  of the Big Tent  is to promote sustainable, diverse, equitable, and inclusive outdoor experiences in Washington state through advocacy and education.

What we do:  The Big Tent advocates for sustainable state funding for recreation and conservation lands as well as sustainable and equitable development and human interaction with those lands.

Vision:  The Big Tent envisions a Washington where elected leaders, businesses, nonprofits, and residents are working together to create a more inclusive and equitable outdoor experience for all. We want to find ways to use outdoor recreation to fuel economic activity and sustain healthy outcomes in our communities.

#RecreateResponsibly to Protect Yourself, Others, and the Outdoors

During this public health crisis, spending time in outdoor spaces has become even more important for many Americans. Yet these unusual circumstances mean that all of us, from seasoned outdoor enthusiasts to families heading out to their local park for the first time, could use a little guidance about how to stay safe. The Recreate Responsibly guidelines offer a starting point for getting outside to keep yourself healthy and to maintain access to our parks, trails, and beaches. [ LEARN MORE ]


 

SPONSORS

We Represent Outdoor Recreation

State Renews Tourism Marketing Efforts with Launch of New Board

From the office of the Governor

Congrats to Rob Sendak of WWRC for earning a spot on the new Washington Tourism Authority Board established by the state to kick-start tourism promotion efforts in WA.  Gov. Jay Inslee today announced the appointment of nine members to the Washington Tourism Marketing Authority Board. The members, from a diversity of backgrounds and regions throughout the state, will oversee a new fund to promote tourism in Washington state.

Outdoor School

Oregon State University

This is an exciting time for Oregon and for Oregon’s 5th and 6th grade students as OSU Extension works in collaboration with schools, partners, and communities to launch the statewide Outdoor School program, building on a legacy that began in 1966.

Washington State Tourism Marketing Plan

Tourism is Washington's fourth largest industry.  It provides more than 177,000 jobs, brings in more than $21 billion to our economy annually, and returns $2.50 to $20 in tax revenue for every $1 spent on tourism marketing.  The big-picture achievements we are trying to accomplish have been outlined by the Washington State Tourism Marketing Committee, composed of members of the WTA, state DMOs, the Washington State Department of Commerce, and the WSDMO and other interested stakehoders.  View the recently produced marketing plan designed to attract domestic and international visitors to our wonderful state of Washington.

Big Tent Gathering in June

Wenatchee

Outdoor recreation gathers: The Big Tent Outdoor Recreation Coalition will have two upcoming festive gatherings that are scheduled for Wednesday, June 27 and Thursday June 28 in Wenatchee. We will will be holding our board retreat on June 28, and to maximize our time together we plan to meet for some fun the evening before as well as post retreat. Please join us if your schedule allows. These two events will be relaxed, no-host, and allow for us to spend some time together as we think about the future of outdoor recreation in Washington State. Please R.S.V.P. or for further info - or to say hello at info@bigtentcoalition.info.

Draft Environmental Assessment - San Joaquin Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon hatchery program

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is making available for public review its draft Environmental Assessment (EA) analyzing effects of our proposed approval of the San Joaquin River Salmon Conservation and Research hatchery program currently in operation within the San Joaquin River Basin, California. The program is described in a Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan (HGMP) prepared by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

Local high tech executives advocate for public lands, outdoor recreation

Chronicle

As discussions heat up over land use issues both locally and nationally, a panel of area high tech industry executives met in Bozeman on Thursday to discuss the importance of outdoor access, recreation and public lands to their businesses. Hosted by advocacy group Business for Montana’s Outdoors, the public meeting amounted to a celebration of the positive impacts the outdoors has on an industry typically more associated with cubicles than cutthroat trout.

Recreational Immunity Statute Stands

Good News

Good news for the operation of facilities used by the public for outdoor recreation. A Washington court has unanimously found in favor of Pierce County in the Lockner vs. Pierce County case regarding whether Pierce County was covered by the state’s recreational immunity statute when a cyclist was injured on the Foothills Trails. View the opinion

Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account

Bureau of Economic Analysis

BEA has developed its first statistics showing how outdoor pursuits like snowboarding, biking and boating ripple through the U.S. economy. These prototype statistics published Feb. 14, 2018, mark a milestone in BEA's work to measure the size and growth of the outdoor recreation economy.
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Washington State's Outdoor Recreation Economy Generates

View the 2020 Economic Analysis of Outdoor Recreation in Washington State for details