The outdoor recreation industry is a growth industry that provides 5 million good jobs across the United States. Outdoor recreation jobs sustain economies, increase rural prosperity, improve public health outcomes, and promote environmental stewardship and conservation. Through various initiatives, ORR is working to help industry leaders, policymakers, and prospective workers understand how these jobs provide outstanding quality of life, support conservation goals, strengthen local economies, and connect Americans to the great outdoors. Visit ORR’s Workforce Hub and check out some of the other resources created to support and sustain the outdoor workforce.

We Are ONE is a national gathering of environmentalists of color, June 25-28 at the Loudermilk Center in Atlanta, Georgia. We are honored to invite you to join us - a community of new and familiar voices - to nurture our communities, activate coordinated action, and mobilize our collective commitment to environmental justice and equity. It takes all of us to meet this moment in history. PGM ONE, Justice Outside, and Next 100 Coalition communities, we’re here to create a space to bring our whole, complex, intersectional selves to heal, connect, ideate, and build a framework for endurant collaboration among Indigenous, Black, and Brown environmental leaders and efforts nationally.

Samish Island Nature and Adventure Camp offers an opportunity to disconnect from the stresses of daily societal racism and micro-aggressions and reconnect with rest, health, peace, each other, and nature. Executive Chef Wayne Johnson manages the kitchen, which becomes a place of discovery, where culturally significant dishes are prepared with love, offering a taste of home and a sense of belonging. The meals we share help make Camp a place where memories are made, friendships are forged, and the spirit of the Black and Brown outdoor community is alive and well. Samish Island Nature and Adventure Camp is the only all-inclusive sleepover summer camp of its kind in the region. It’s a place where culture, adventure, and the natural world come together to create a nourishing, life-affirming experience for everyone present.

Across the country, Tribal Nations and other communities are calling for the protection of their most sacred places. REI Co-op, together with hundreds of organizations and outdoor brands, is joining their call to designate more national monuments to safeguard spectacular natural spaces—for ourselves, and for future outdoor enthusiasts who follow in our footsteps. It’s our shared obligation to protect these places—so we’re harnessing this network’s power to make it happen. Help us urge President Biden to designate more of America’s incredible public lands as national monuments.

Together Outdoors (TO) announces two new grant opportunities for fostering inclusivity and diversity in outdoor recreation:

1. Inclusive Micro-Grant Program: Aimed at supporting small and rural grassroots organizations, this initiative seeks to enhance their capacity in creating a more inclusive outdoor recreation environment. Thanks to foundational support from THOR Industries, TO welcomes contributions from the outdoor recreation community for future grant rounds.

2. Outdoor Pathway Scholarship: In collaboration with the Outdoor Diversity Alliance, TO has launched a program to connect students from underrepresented communities to outdoor and environmental professions. Recipients will receive $5000 in scholarship funding over two years, mentorship, and assistance with job placement in the outdoor industry or environmental field.

Don't miss out on these incredible opportunities!

Get ready for the outdoor experience of the summer at Refuge Fest 2024, where adventure, nature, inclusivity and good vibes collide!

Take advantage of the opportunity to secure exclusive Early Bird tickets for Refuge Fest, the 7th annual outdoor festival held at Tolt-MacDonald Park & Campground from August 16-18. As a gesture of gratitude to their valued newsletter subscribers, the organizers are extending a special offer of Early Bird tickets priced at just $95. Individuals are encouraged to reserve their spot promptly to become integral members of a movement that champions inclusivity, community spirit, and a deep connection with nature.

Join Refuge Fest 2024 now to enjoy the amazing mix of community and nature. Your presence will help make outdoor adventures better for everyone.

The Outdoors for All Act, a bipartisan bill in both the House and Senate, would ensure that the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program has steady funding for generations to come. This program awards grant funding through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), supporting the development of new parks and the renovation of existing outdoor recreation infrastructure in underinvested urban communities. Since its establishment in 2014 over $45 million in grants have already awarded to 50 communities through ORLP, but a lack of long-term authorization and a minimum population threshold of 50,000 have prevented the program from being accessed by many of the communities that need it most. NRPA asks YOU to weigh in. Join NRPA in urging Congress to pass the Outdoors for All Act.

The goal of this toolkit is to provide state legislators, agency staff, and partners with a framework and resources for establishing state-level outdoor opportunity funds and grant programs. It aims to offer ideas for place-based flexibility acknowledging resource differences among states. The toolkit is intended to be used in conjunction with input from grassroots/local organizations and communities. Included in the toolkit is an introduction to outdoor opportunity grant programs, program structure considerations, an overview of existing programs, case studies, and key resources.