WELCOME TO
THE BIG TENT FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION
Image Alt Text

The mission  of the Big Tent  is to promote sustainable, diverse, equitable, and inclusive outdoor experiences in Washington state through advocacy and education.

LEARN MORE

#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

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!

Final Passage of ESSB 5843 - Now Heads to the Governor's Desk!
SuperUser Account
/ Categories: Big Tent , Legislative Updates

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

Outdoor Recreation Bill

So this bill now goes to the Governor, who is expected to sign it.  Doug will double check on whether there should be some "please sign it" letters or calls, but his sense is we will be in pretty good shape. We will be in touch if we need help with a "please sign it" effort.
 
Folks, this is a pretty momentous bill in that, for the first time ever, there will be someone in the Executive Branch who is focused on nothing but growing and promoting the outdoor recreation sector.  That is a big, big deal.
 
The No Child Left Inside funding, after several years with no funding, is also a very big deal.
 
Several legislators were absolutely key to making this happen, starting with the prime sponsor, Sen. Kevin Ranker (D-San Juan Islands/40th Dist.), who absolutely busted his tail for this bill and deserves major kudos.  So too does the first co-sponsor of the bill, Sen. Linda Parlette (R-Wenatchee/12th Dist.).  Sen. Kirk Pearson (R-Monroe/39th Dist.) also was extremely helpful.  On the House side, Speaker Frank Chopp (D-Seattle/43rd Dist.) played a very helpful role on this bill and Reps. Zack Hudgins (D-Tukwila/11th Dist.) and Joe Fitzgibbon (D-Burien/34th Dist.) were very helpful as well.

If you wish to send a short "thank you" note to each of these key legislators on this bill, their contact information is below as well
 

Getting this one to the Governor is very good stuff, folks! Thank you all for your help in this effort, and we're looking forward to seeing you at the next meeting on May 13th!

Doug Levy and Brittany Jarnot
Outcomes by Levy

------------------------------------------------------

Sen. Kevin Ranker (D-San Juan Islands/40th Dist.) - kevin.ranker@leg.wa.gov; kendall.farley@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Linda Parlette (R-Wenatchee/12th Dist.) - linda.parlette@leg.wa.gov; grace.edwards@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Kirk Pearson (R-Monroe/39th Dist.) - kirk.pearson@leg.wa.gov; cameron.bailey@leg.wa.gov
Speaker Frank Chopp (D-Seattle/43rd Dist.) - frank.chopp@leg.wa.gov; miranda.leskinen@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Zack Hudgins (D-Tukwila/11th Dist.) - zack.hudgins@leg.wa.gov; doug.honma@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (D-Burien/34th Dist.) - joe.fitzgibbon@leg.wa.gov; siobhan.peterson@leg.wa.gov


ESSB 5843
Outdoor recreation
Senate vote on Final Passage as Amended by the House
4/22/2015

Yeas: 38 Nays: 9 Absent: 0 Excused: 2  
Voting Yea: Senator Angel, Baumgartner, Becker, Benton, Billig, Braun, Chase, Cleveland, Conway, Dammeier, Darneille, Fain, Fraser, Frockt, Habib, Hargrove, Hasegawa, Hatfield, Hill, Hobbs, Jayapal, Keiser, King, Kohl-Welles, Litzow, McAuliffe, McCoy, Miloscia, Mullet, Nelson, O'Ban, Parlette, Pearson, Pedersen, Ranker, Rivers, Roach, Warnick

Voting Nay: Senator Bailey, Brown, Dansel, Ericksen, Hewitt, Honeyford, Padden, Schoesler, Sheldon 

Previous Article The Outdoors Summit
Next Article Governor Inslee Invites You to SB 5843 Signing
Print
4207

Washington State's Outdoor Recreation Economy Generates

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