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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.

#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

Maryland Office of Outdoor Recreation & Together Outdoors Partner to Award Outdoor Equity Grants

Maryland Outdoor Equity Program

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.

Outdoor Recreation Caucus Insights

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.

A Costume Climbing Tradition: Anywhere, Anytime

The Mountaineers

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.

 

Visit ORR’s Workforce Hub

Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Association

The outdoor recreation industry is a growth industry that provides 5 million good jobs across the United States. Outdoor recreation jobs sustain economies, increase rural prosperity, improve public health outcomes, and promote environmental stewardship and conservation. Through various initiatives, ORR is working to help industry leaders, policymakers, and prospective workers understand how these jobs provide outstanding quality of life, support conservation goals, strengthen local economies, and connect Americans to the great outdoors. Visit ORR’s Workforce Hub and check out some of the other resources created to support and sustain the outdoor workforce.

Visit ORR’s Workforce Hub

Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Association

The outdoor recreation industry is a growth industry that provides 5 million good jobs across the United States. Outdoor recreation jobs sustain economies, increase rural prosperity, improve public health outcomes, and promote environmental stewardship and conservation. Through various initiatives, ORR is working to help industry leaders, policymakers, and prospective workers understand how these jobs provide outstanding quality of life, support conservation goals, strengthen local economies, and connect Americans to the great outdoors. Visit ORR’s Workforce Hub and check out some of the other resources created to support and sustain the outdoor workforce.

We Are ONE

June 25-28 at the Loudermilk Center in Atlanta, Georgia

We Are ONE is a national gathering of environmentalists of color, June 25-28 at the Loudermilk Center in Atlanta, Georgia. We are honored to invite you to join us - a community of new and familiar voices - to nurture our communities, activate coordinated action, and mobilize our collective commitment to environmental justice and equity. It takes all of us to meet this moment in history. PGM ONE, Justice Outside, and Next 100 Coalition communities, we’re here to create a space to bring our whole, complex, intersectional selves to heal, connect, ideate, and build a framework for endurant collaboration among Indigenous, Black, and Brown environmental leaders and efforts nationally.

Samish Island Nature & Adventure Camp, July 11-15, 2024

The Bronze Chapter

Samish Island Nature and Adventure Camp offers an opportunity to disconnect from the stresses of daily societal racism and micro-aggressions and reconnect with rest, health, peace, each other, and nature. Executive Chef Wayne Johnson manages the kitchen, which becomes a place of discovery, where culturally significant dishes are prepared with love, offering a taste of home and a sense of belonging. The meals we share help make Camp a place where memories are made, friendships are forged, and the spirit of the Black and Brown outdoor community is alive and well. Samish Island Nature and Adventure Camp is the only all-inclusive sleepover summer camp of its kind in the region. It’s a place where culture, adventure, and the natural world come together to create a nourishing, life-affirming experience for everyone present.

Protect our most precious places

Across the country, Tribal Nations and other communities are calling for the protection of their most sacred places. REI Co-op, together with hundreds of organizations and outdoor brands, is joining their call to designate more national monuments to safeguard spectacular natural spaces—for ourselves, and for future outdoor enthusiasts who follow in our footsteps. It’s our shared obligation to protect these places—so we’re harnessing this network’s power to make it happen. Help us urge President Biden to designate more of America’s incredible public lands as national monuments.

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Washington State's Outdoor Recreation Economy Generates

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