REI, the Seattle-based outdoor recreation and sporting goods giant, announced today that it is going to close for Black Friday (you read that right) and pay its 12,000 employees to go out and play.  REI is also encouraging other companies to join them in what they describe as a stand against the commercial madness that’s characterized the day after Thanksgiving for at least a decade and a half.

The next meeting of the Big Tent Outdoor Recreation Coalition is scheduled for Thursday November 12, 2015, from 10am - 12noon at the Nature Conservancy in Seattle. Agenda highlights include formation of our advocacy committee, membership related policies and 2016 budget. For more information contact info@bigtentcoalition.info.

All Washington State divers and dive shop owners are being offered an opportunity to participate in an economic impact study to determine how much scuba diving contributes to the economy in Washington State. Sponsored by the SeaDoc Society, Washington Scuba Alliance (WSA) and the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF), will help determine the financial impact of diving and inform policy makers in the state when possibly deciding future expenditures. According to SeaDoc executive director Joe Gaydos, the purpose of the survey is to gather data to better understand the model inside the scuba diving industry in Washington State and how it fits into the overall outdoor market. “Here is a major industry in Washington State and British Columbia we do not have any data on. We were interested in seeing how diving compares with fishing, for example,” says Gaydos.

This position will focus on economic development issues relating to outdoor recreation which includes performing policy planning, analysis, development, and implementation consistent with the Governor’s priorities. The success of this position will be based on measurable results relating to economic development strategies for increasing the number of new jobs and economic activity related to outdoor recreation. A secondary measure will be increased participation by citizens and visitors in outdoor recreation as well as increases in outdoor recreation opportunities. This position is responsible for working with outdoor recreation related businesses, the recreation industry, state and federal agencies, stakeholders, tribes, legislators and constituents to better understand the political landscape and provide informed counsel to the Governor.  Closes October 31, 2015

Actually what Congress did, setting a new standard for dysfunction, is allow the wildly successfully, 50-year-old Land and Water Conservation Fund to expire. They killed it quietly, without a vote.  It leaves hundreds of millions of dollars of park and trail acquisitions in limbo around the U.S.

And we invite you to not just see them, but experience them. Because our Wonders aren’t just for taking pictures of – to truly say you’ve seen our Wonders, you have to get out of the car, hike down from the scenic vista and feel them beneath your feet.  Just remember: This is Oregon. So how you go about doing that is entirely up to you.