World Parks Week is April 24th to May 2nd! With COVID-19 remaining a reality for many across the globe, the theme for World Parks Week extends from last year’s #NatureNeverCloses theme by encouraging people to think about what their local neighborhoods/communities have to offer and what these local spaces mean to them. Thinking #Hyperlocal helps us to build deeper connections with our communities in a time where connection is paramount!  Learn More

OLYMPIA–Gov. Jay Inslee today announced the appointment of Megan Duffy as the new director of the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO), the largest state agency grantor of funding for outdoor recreation and habitat conservation efforts in Washington. She replaces Kaleen Cottingham, who is retiring and has served the agency since 2007.

Washington State Parks invites visitors to help celebrate the agency’s 108th birthday on Friday, March 19, by enjoying a state park for free that day.

Join for a celebration of the outdoor recreation community’s resilience and successes during legislative session. We’ll salute those who have driven our community forward and enjoy an evening with each other and those working hard to support our outdoor spaces. And hang around for some trivia, prizes, and a night away from the hustle of quick zoom check-ins. [2021 Sponsor Fact Sheet] Free to attend. Save the date and [R.S.V.P. HERE.]

A short film produced by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Conservation Northwest. For wildlife lovers, hunters and anglers, Indigenous peoples, farmers and ranchers, outdoor recreationists and so many others, this land is no desert devoid of life, This Land is Part of Us.  Watch “This Land is Part of Us”: https://youtu.be/NfhM9vLQD-0. Please share with your friends, family, and networks! We appreciate your support.

Outdoor recreation offers opportunities for sustainable economic and community development across the United States. Through interviews with over 60 practitioners - including elected officials, land managers, economic development specialists and business leaders - the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable has developed this toolkit to help your community build an outdoor recreation economy of its own.

More than 50 people attended the first meeting of the Outdoor Recreation Caucus, hosted by Representative Andrew Barkis, and held via Microsoft Teams, but moving to a Zoom platform for future meetings. The Caucus meets weekly during session on Thursdays at 7 a.m. so that stakeholders can share emerging information on active legislation. On the agenda this week was a welcome and introduction to the 2021 Caucus and review and discussion of the Bill Report. Contact Wendy Brown, Policy Director/Legislative Liaison, Recreation & Conservation Office to join the notification distribution list.

The Big Tent Outdoor Recreation Coalition is hosting weekly policy calls open to all interested to inform and answer questions about pending and emerging legislation impacting outdoor recreation. Calls are scheduled weekly on Fridays from 8:45 a.m. - 9:00 a.m., January 15 - end of April: Join Zoom Meeting: https://redbarncommunications.zoom.us/j/86820688671 / Meeting ID: 868 2068 8671 or by phone: 1 253 215 8782.  The zoom and call information stay the same throughout session.