REI is working with organizations across the country to tell Congress to support this critical program in upcoming spending bills—and we need your voice to get it done. Let’s fund the trails transformation we need. Two years ago, you helped us create this program by taking action through the REI Cooperative Action Network. Now it’s time to get the program fully funded. Tell Congress why safe, equitable and climate-friendly trails are important to you. Join us in Cooperative Action and urge Congress to fully fund safe, equitable, and climate-friendly transportation nationwide.

With the 2023 state legislative session underway, we’re advocating for several bills and funding proposals that would benefit public lands and recreation in Washington. Learn more about our current state policy priorities and how you can help secure important wins for the outdoors in Olympia this year

Big Tent weekly policy calls are open to all interested in staying informed about legislation impacting outdoor recreation in Washington State. Policy calls are hosted weekly on Fridays 8:45 - 9:00 a.m. via zoom throughout the 2023 legislative session. Click the read more for the zoom link -

At a time of changing theories in fish and wildlife management and conservation and the funding thereof, Washington Governor Jay Inslee has a new senior natural resource policy advisor and hunters and anglers as well as close watchers of WDFW and its oversight commission should take notice.

The state legislative session has just come to an end, and WTA is excited to celebrate game-changing wins. With the help of hikers, partner advocates, and legislative champions like Rep. Cindy Ryu and Sen. T’wina Nobles, both WTA-led budget proposals were fully funded in the 2022 operating budget. This is a huge win for the outdoors and those who care for and recreate on public lands. WTA focused on two key goals this session: securing $15 million in annual funding ($5 million per agency) for maintenance needs on recreation lands managed by Washington State Parks, Department of Natural Resources and Department of Fish and Wildlife and creating more opportunities in the outdoor recreation industry for underrepresented communities through a pilot program between WTA and Washington State Parks.

With a short session, we are focused on engaging on the highest priorities amongst members of our coalition and the Big Tent Outdoor Recreation Coalition community. This legislative agenda reflects the platform of Big Tent's members. We hope that the legislature will consider the following policy priorities as it works to pass bills and a supplemental budgets during the 2022 legislative session.

Washington State’s Recreation and Conservation Office is asking people to help determine how funding should be spent by taking a survey about what kind of outdoor recreation they do. The State is updating its statewide recreation and conservation plan, which includes a state trails plan, to unlock grants from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. This federal fund provides $6 million to Washington State to build parks and trails and to conserve wild areas.

As April drew to a close, the Zoom squares of the weekly Big Tent policy call were full of smiles. Advocates were thrilled to see strong support for outdoor recreation during the 2021 Washington State Legislative session. After a roller coaster of a year where we expected budget cuts to outdoor programs, the strong support for outdoor recreation was a welcome surprise. Legislators clearly saw the need to invest in outdoor recreation and education following the pandemic, and as a result, our priorities saw near record support.