The inherent risks of navigating wild landscapes — trying to traverse avalanche terrain in the mountains, for instance — can be reduced when a group of adventurers works together to solve the problem. It’s an increasingly popular tactic used to hone backcountry decision-making in dicey situations: Come together, listen to every voice and find a solution that works for everyone. The all-together concept aids outdoor explorers on the micro level, but it appears to also be emerging on a macro level, with the outdoor recreation industry asserting newfound power as an economic, political and cultural force. It helps that outdoor recreation — including hiking, camping, hunting, boating and climbing — has considerable industrial clout, accounting for $427.2 billion, or 2.2%, of U.S. gross domestic product in 2017.

RCO conducted a study of recreational assets of statewide significance. These are outdoor places that make Washington a great place to live. They include local facilities that support the most popular forms of recreation in our state as well as marque, popular, and destination sites that have a regional or statewide draw. This study identifies these assets, where gaps may exist, and recommendations and investment strategies to fill these gaps. The study also forecasts needs through 2040 and how this study will implement the goals of the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Plan.  READ THE STUDY of assets of statewide significance and VIEW MAPS of the foundational assets.

Join University of Washington’s EarthLab and the College of the Environment for an evening with our 2019 Doug Walker Lecturer, J. Drew Lanham, PhD. In this lecture, Lanham will discuss what it means to embrace the full breadth of his African-American heritage and his deep kinship to nature and adoration of birds. 

Because the idea of outdoor early education is catching on nationwide, Washington launched a pilot program in 2017 to develop official requirements that all licensed outdoor preschools must follow.

Newly released economic data on the national and, for the first time ever, state levels reinforce what the outdoor recreation industry has long believed: Outdoor recreation is a powerful driver of national and local economies and it is growing faster than the U.S. economy as a whole...

This year, the Department celebrates its 25th Anniversary – twenty-five years since the legislature combined the Wildlife and Fisheries departments to bring a unified approach to habitat, fish, and wildlife management. Much has changed in those 25 years, but one thing remains constant. Washington’s residents are benefiting from the work of the people and organizations that lead, stand beside us, and act for fish, wildlife and habitat in Washington.

DENVER (June 18, 2019) – Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) today released the first comprehensive look at the impact of new tariffs on America’s outdoor industry at a tariff town hall event in Denver, Colorado, co-hosted by Tariffs Hurt the Heartland. The data shows that outdoor companies and consumers paid an extra $1.1 billion due to new tariffs in the period from September 2018, when tariffs went into effect, and April 2019, when the most recent government data is available. The tariffs have been placed on outdoor equipment – including backpacks, camp stoves, camp chairs, hats and bikes. The data also found that increases on existing tariffs and additional threatened tariffs will cost the outdoor industry an additional $1.5 billion every month.

Industry.traveloregon.com is your go-to resource for everything from grants to research and marketing opportunities to upcoming events in Oregon’s tourism industry. Thanks to your feedback, it’s now even better. After hearing from the industry last fall, we developed a new site that’s simpler to navigate, offering improved search functionality and a more intuitive layout of pages and content.