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

#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 Did It! WTA Celebrates Game-Changing Investments for Trails, Outdoors this Legislative Session

Washington Trails Association

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.

Seattle Kraken embrace Indigenous traditions, elevate Native voices

The Oregonian \ By Chris Aadland, Underscore.news and Indian Country Today

While other NHL franchises are also attempting to engage with Native American fans and tribal communities — including the dedication of game nights to Indigenous people — the Kraken have been taking more concrete steps toward engaging with the region’s tribal leaders and others in Indian Country to make them feel like they’re part of the team’s community and to amplify the voices of Indigenous people.

4th Annual Outdoor Economy Conference

Cherokee, NC April 4-7, 2022

The Outdoor Economy Conference connects, educates, and inspires leaders and doers working to grow the outdoor industry and craft an economy that’s intimately tied to the well-being of their places and communities. Outdoor CEOs, conservation leaders, federal agencies, local officials, state parks to local parks, economic developers to land managers… the Outdoor Economy Conference brings everyone to the table to focus on what matters.

CONSERVATION 101: WHAT IS ADVOCACY, AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT

The Mountaineers

Mountaineers are fierce defenders of our wild places. Dive deeper into what this entails, how to build your skills as an advocate, and why successful advocacy makes a difference for the outdoor places we love. Conservation advocacy has been an enduring priority throughout The Mountaineers history. Early members recognized the importance of protecting wild places for the outdoor experience, and as a result we have been involved in nearly every major conservation campaign in our state's history. Advocacy has been, and remains, at the heart of key environmental protections. 

Big Tent Legislative Agenda

2022

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 Parks: Memories, experiences, and expectations survey

Washington State Parks

This year, Washington State Parks staff are taking a closer look at how the stories we tell, services we provide and visuals we use represent our values to the communities we serve. We’re committed to protecting our most treasured lands, providing memorable experiences and connecting people with the diverse natural and cultural heritage of our state. We want to make sure our outreach work is truly aligning with our mission. We’ve created a survey where folks can share their personal memories, opinions and stories related to Washington State Parks. Survey closes February 15, 2022. Learn more

New economic report showcases outdoor recreation economy’s strength & resiliency during difficult year

Outdoor Recreation Roundtable

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released economic data for 2020 on outdoor recreation’s powerful and positive economic impact on the U.S. economy today. These new numbers show outdoor recreation generates $689 billion in economic output and creates 4.3 million jobs. The report, a snapshot in time of a challenging and uncertain year, includes national and state-level data.

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Washington State's Outdoor Recreation Economy Generates

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