Enjoy this monthly round-up of interesting WA state outdoor recreation news provided compliments of Jon Snyder, Outdoor Recreation and Economic Development, Senior Policy Advisor to Gov. Jay Inslee. 

Did you know that the outdoor recreation economy is larger than agricultural economy in the United States? It’s true. Just as importantly, outdoor recreation provides countless health, environmental and society benefits that are not as easy to measure. But wait, it gets better. As you know, the outdoor recreation voice is not a lone one in the woods. Thanks to a core group of volunteers with a shared vision and the support of REI, the collective outdoor recreation advocates are organized under the formal IRS structure and ar  shouting from the rooftops that outdoor fun is good for the mind, body, soul and wallet for the Evergreen State. Please take a look at this newsletter and think about getting more involved. (By “getting more involved”, I mean anything from writing a letter to the editor on behalf of the outdoors, to joining us for our advocacy day to something creative that’s on your mind. The skies the limit).

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.

The Big Tent Outdoor Recreation Coalition will take a position of support for legislative policy or funding proposals when there is consensus at the board level that the priority aligns with the mission and strategic goals of the Big Tent Coalition. The Coalition does not endorse candidates for elected or appointed office. To request an endorsement or action from the Big Tent on a relevant public policy issue, please submit the online form with any relevant attachments.

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.

This annual one-day symposium, held in the fall, brings together professionals and community leaders in the fields of health, conservation, design and planning, and education to learn from each other and explore common goals and collective strategies related to the human health benefits of being in nature, from gardens to wildlands.

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.