Today the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, released national and state economic data for 2023, revealing that outdoor recreation continues to be a major driver of the U.S. economy, jobs, and local communities. This is the seventh consecutive year that the BEA has released government data on this critical industry sector. This new government data shows outdoor recreation generated $1.2 trillion in economic output, comprised 2.3% of U.S. GDP, and supported 5 million jobs — 3.1% of all employees in the country.

The Outdoor Equity Coalition offers complimentary membership through December 2025. Members commit to promoting justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in outdoor spaces, especially for marginalized communities. To join, you must complete a pledge affirming these values and opt into further communications if desired. For more details or to sign up, visit the official Outdoor Equity Coalition membership page. Our vision is to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive outdoor recreation community that reflects the rich diversity of our state and nation.

This project has been a year in the making, with feedback from over 1,300 users helping to shape a more accessible, user-friendly experience. You’ll immediately notice improvements in several key areas including seamless navigation, mobile-optimized design, improved accessibility, streamlined information. Committee update notifications will work the same as before. The system for signing up and receiving email notifications for committee schedules is not changing. As a reminder: 1) To receive weekly notices of all committee meetings during session or bi-monthly notices of meetings during interim, continue to subscribe to the Combined Meeting Schedule, to which this message was sent. 2) To receive individual committee agenda updates, subscribe to the committees you are interested in. 3) We recommend you subscribe to both the Combined Meeting Schedule and any committees you are interested in.

Oct 30, 2024 - Together Outdoors hosted a webinar with industry leaders and philanthropists discussing best practices around equitable and impactful grant-making in outdoor recreation. These efforts were made possible by the generous support of Winnebago Industries and will be followed by the release of a new business learning guide next week outlining the essential role that grant funding can play in breaking down barriers and supporting those working hard to increase access to the Great Outdoors for underrepresented communities. Learn more.

In case you missed it our October 11 newsletter is now archived on our timeline tab. In this issue is request for member feedback; BIPOC Communities; Research Notes; and Big Tent Sustainability, along with our new briefing document.

ORR's Together Outdoors program and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Office of Outdoor Recreation announced a groundbreaking partnership to establish the first Maryland Outdoor Equity Grant Fund and the program’s pilot round of grants. This initiative marks a significant step towards fostering inclusivity and expanding access to outdoor recreation across the state. “This fund will not only support underrepresented communities in accessing and enjoying the outdoors but also create lasting connections to nature and foster stewardship among these groups,” said Ambreen Tariq, Senior Program Director at ORR and Together Outdoors Coalition Lead.

There were several Big Tent Board members at the event including Ted Jackson, Reco Bembry, Rob Sendak, Conor Marshall, (and ex-officio members) Andrea Martin, Brock Milliern, Owen Rowe and Joel Sisolak. We felt this was very productive time and value the opportunity to convene to learn about the challenges and opportunities ahead for outdoor recreation and equity.

In this feature from Mountaineer magazine, read about the Mother's Day tradition, taking fabulously-dressed climbers to summits around the PNW. One of the Pacific Northwest’s grand traditions - a right of passage for many aspiring mountaineers - is climbing Mt. St. Helens, in a dress, on Mother’s Day. Inspired by the famous 1987 red dress of Kathy Phibbs, photographed and featured on the cover of the Seattle Times, thousands of aspiring summiteers flock to the flanks of Helens each May, donning their Sunday best. But as the tradition has grown and permits have become more restricted, many are taking their dress-game elsewhere.