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THE BIG TENT FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION
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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.

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#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 ]

 

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We Represent Outdoor Recreation

The power of the Big Tent lies not with any individual or with any shiny advertising or marketing campaigns, but with the combined weight of dozens of organizations and agencies who believe in the collective value of outdoor recreation.

We are an organic group, with no Executive Director.  We come together periodically, meet on an as-needed basis, and gather each year in Olympia to show policy-makers and opinion leaders that outdoor recreation is a critical sector in Washington, one that brings jobs, revenue, active and healthy living, and tourism to a state blessed with mind-numbing natural beauty.  
 
On this website you will find a statement about who we are and how we came to be; a listing of our current members; contacts; information about how you can join us; meeting announcements; links to press releases and topical articles; and of course some background pictures of the outdoors.
 
We hope you find this site helpful, and that you won’t hesitate to tell us how we can add to it and improve.  It belongs to all of us who marvel at the stunning natural resources which make Washington a special place in which to live, work, and play.  Thanks for stopping by!

An Impressive List of "Wins"

Blue Ribbon Task Force on Outdoor Recreation

Last interim, the Governor's Blue Ribbon Task Force on Outdoor Recreation put together a set of recommendations to the Legislature on outdoor recreation programs and State Parks funding. The attached chart shows all of the "wins" related to those recommendations, and it is pretty impressive list." 
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ESSB 5843 Signed! ESSB 5843 Signed!

ESSB 5843 Signed!

Tolmie State Park

Many of you attended a great event yesterday at Tolmie State Park for the Governor's signing of ESSB 5843 (outdoor recreation sector lead and No Child Left Inside revitalization). Thank you to everyone who could attend and to those who signed the paddles for Senators Ranker and Parlette - they LOVED them! Linked here are the pictures from the event.

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Governor Inslee Invites You to SB 5843 Signing Governor Inslee Invites You to SB 5843 Signing

Governor Inslee Invites You to SB 5843 Signing

May 13, 12:30pm, Tolmie State Park

Outdoor recreation leaders - You are invited to join Governor Inslee at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13th at Tolmie State Park for the bill signing ceremony of SB 5843: “Concerning outdoor recreation.”  Sponsors: Senators Ranker, Parlette, Pearson, Rolfes, Hewitt, Litzow, Conway, Hasegawa, McAuliffe.

 

This bill creates an outdoor recreation policy advisor position in the Governor’s office and adds programs that utilize veterans for at least 50 percent of their program implementation to the list of criteria for the Parks and Recreation Director to use when awarding grants from the Outdoor Education Recreation grant program. Having a senior policy advisor to the Governor creates a voice for outdoor recreation that can work to build partnerships, identify opportunities, increase participation and develop incentives to increase the economic impact of outdoor recreation. Statewide, there are 199,000 jobs and $21.6 billion in annual spending related to outdoor recreation. No RSVP necessary.  Questions: call Simon Vila, 360.902.4137 or simon.vila@gov.wa.gov.

 

Date:                     Wednesday, May 13th, 2015

Time:                    12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Location:             Tolmie State Park, 7730 61st Ave. N.E., Olympia, WA 98506

Parking:               Limited parking is available on site.


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Final Passage of ESSB 5843 - Now Heads to the Governor's Desk! Final Passage of ESSB 5843 - Now Heads to the Governor's Desk!

Final Passage of ESSB 5843 - Now Heads to the Governor's Desk!

Outdoor Recreation Bill

We have great news to share regarding the passage of a bill we at the Big Tent Outdoor Recreation Coalition have been supporting.  The bill is Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5843 on outdoor recreation - and its on its way to the Governor's desk!

A day after the House insisted on its position on 5843, the Senate took a vote to concur with the House Amendments to the bill. The vote count from the Senate yesterday is below. What this means:


  • Creation of a new Outdoor Recreation senior policy adviser in the Governor's Office.  There will be performance metrics the outdoor job will have to strive for and report on;
  • Specific statutory eligibility language in the No Child Left Inside for programs that utilize veterans in their implementation or administration;
  • An earlier Senate amendment to require confirmation of the new senior policy adviser, is dropped out of the bill;
  • There is specific funding in the Senate's budget - $1M for the NCLI and $331K for the new outdoor recreation position - will still need to work to ensure that in the final budget.
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Klobuchar, Wyden Call On Administration To Conduct National Report Detailing Economic Benefits of Outdoor Economy

Washington D.C.

While the federal government currently collects certain data on the benefits of the outdoor economy, we lack clear and comprehensive data on its contributions to growth and job creation at the national level. In a letter to the Secretaries of the Departments of Commerce and the Interior, Klobuchar and Wyden urged the Administration to undertake a new nationwide study that will provide businesses and policymakers with the data they need to make informed decisions and ensure our outdoor economy continues to thrive.
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House Budget a Step in the Right Direction House Budget a Step in the Right Direction

House Budget a Step in the Right Direction

Washington Wildlife & Recreation Coalition

The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition, which brings together 280 businesses and non-profits, applauds the state House’s capital construction budget. The budget announced today includes $75 million in funding for the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) and preserves the integrity of the program. The WWRP is the state’s premiere conservation and recreation program. It is the largest source of funding for local parks and trails and the only Washington state program that preserves farmland. WWRP funded projects have also done more to protect and restore Puget Sound than any other program.
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ESSB 5843 Has Passed Out of the Senate

Good Legislative News - Outdoor Recreation

We wanted to make sure you all knew that ESSB 5843, Sen. Ranker and Sen. Parlette's bill to create an outdoor recreation lead in the Governor's office and fund the No Child Left Inside program, passed out of the Senate with a vote of 46-3. Woohoo! The bill now moves to the House.

On the Floor, two amendments were added to the bill - one requiring that the outdoor recreation lead in the Governor's office be subject to Senate confirmation, and another further defining the roll of this sector lead. We'll make sure to let you know how the process goes as the bill advances through the House. 
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Washington State's Outdoor Recreation Economy Generates

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