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

Big Tent Board Meeting

Monday, May 23, 2016 - REI Headquarters in Kent

Just a quick reminder that our next board meeting is scheduled for 10am-12noon on Monday May 23, 2016 at REI headquarters in Kent.  Board meetings are open to the membership, however, due to facility security protocol at REI, if you plan to attend this meeting we require your RSVP to Doug Levy at levy4@msn.com and Brit Kramer at info@bigtentcoalition.info by May 19, 2016 in order to ensure facility access for you.  The most up to date information about the Big Tent board and meeting schedule can be found on our website board page. 

U.S. Federal Government To Quantify Value Of Outdoors Economy

Secretary Jewell with Susan Goldberg of National Geographic; photo U.S. Dept. of the Interior

The Government’s comprehensive plan could pave the way for increased political leverage and funding for outdoor activities, brands, and destinations. In a speech to the National Geographic Society on Tuesday, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced that the federal government will fund a feasibility study by the Department of Commerce (DOC) and Federal Recreation Council to measure the economic value of outdoor recreation at both national and regional levels.

Wildlife & Recreation Coalition Appoints New Executive Director

WWRP

The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition, which brings together more than 280 nonprofit and corporate partners, announced the appointment of Andrea McNamara Doyle as its new Executive Director. Andrea joins the Coalition after serving as its Interim Executive Director since mid-November. “We’re thrilled to announce Andrea McNamara Doyle as our new Executive Director,” said Joe Mentor, Wildlife & Recreation Coalition Chair. “The Board recognized the great work Andrea has already done as Interim Director and agrees that she is the right person to help the Coalition move forward successfully for the future. Her enthusiasm and ability to bring together our broad coalition of independent organizations has been truly remarkable.”

The Obama Administration Just Gave The Outdoor Economy A Huge Boost

Climate

Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell kicked off National Parks Week on Tuesday with a major speech outlining a new vision for a second century of parks conservation. The speech highlighted the problems faced by national parks, including maintenance backlogs, lack of robust funding, climate change, and the rise of an extreme movement to sell off public lands. A major action item from Jewell’s speech was an announcement that the Department of Interior will work with the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) to do a first-ever study to measure the impact outdoor recreation has on the economy. Despite the major economic powerhouse that outdoor recreation can be for towns, businesses, and communities near public lands, the BEA has not measured or tracked its outputs as it does the outputs of other major sectors of the economy.

Quiet Recreation on BLM-Managed Lands: Economic Contribution 2014

Quiet activities are worth nearly $2 billion in a single year according to a new study.

Public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the western United States and Alaska provide a wealth of recreational opportunities to visitors. These range from camping, hiking, and hunting to off-highway vehicle use (OHV), boating, and snowmobiling. In this report we distinguish between “quiet” and “non-quiet” recreational activities. We use the term “quiet recreation” to refer to recreation that generally does not involve significant use of motorized equipment—aside from any transportation to-and-from the recreation sites. 

New $4.6 million ad campaign promotes Utah’s state parks

Fox 13 Salt Lake City

SALT LAKE CITY -- A new ad campaign with Utah parks in the starring role has been unveiled. The $4.6 million campaign has the state hoping more adventurers will flock to Utah to check out more than just the Mighty Five. In the 30 seconds of video, it's clear to see Mother Nature plays favorites with the Beehive State.

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Washington State's Outdoor Recreation Economy Generates

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