WE BELIEVE
OUTDOOR RECREATION
Matters.
WELCOME TO THE BIG TENT
The Umbrella Organization for the voice of Outdoor Recreation in Washington State.

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

What we do:  The Big Tent advocates for sustainable state funding for recreation and conservation lands as well as sustainable and equitable development and human interaction with those lands.

Vision:  The Big Tent envisions a Washington where elected leaders, businesses, nonprofits, and residents are working together to create a more inclusive and equitable outdoor experience for all. We want to find ways to use outdoor recreation to fuel economic activity and sustain healthy outcomes in our communities.

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#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!

Outdoor Recreation Economy Continues to Grow in Washington Outdoor Recreation Economy Continues to Grow in Washington

Outdoor Recreation Economy Continues to Grow in Washington

WA Governor's Office

National trade association calculates $26.2 billion in statewide annual economic report.  Washington's natural splendor plays a major role in its economy, generating an annual $7.6 billion in wages and salaries and $2.3 billion in state and local tax revenue through outdoor recreation, according to the Outdoor Industry Association. 
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Simplicity, Consistency, and Equity in Recreation Fee Systems in Washington Mid-Project Update

The William Ruckelshaus Center

Nearly 40% of the state is primarily managed by nine agencies.  In recent decades, these agencies have instituted various user-based fees.  Currently more than 20 unique recreation passes and permits are available in Washington.  The myriad of pass permutations results in public land users who are uncertain about what pass is needed where, when and why.  View the mid-project report to learn status of how these challenges are being addressed.
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Olympia Beer Hosts Once-in-a-lifetime Eclipse Viewing Campout Olympia Beer Hosts Once-in-a-lifetime Eclipse Viewing Campout

Olympia Beer Hosts Once-in-a-lifetime Eclipse Viewing Campout

Imperial Stock Ranch, Shaniko OR

On Monday, August 21, 2017, the United States will experience its first total solar eclipse in nearly 38 years. To celebrate this historic event, Olympia Beer (Big Tent member), has organized a VIP Eclipse Viewing Campout at the remote Imperial Stock Ranch, located within the path of totality near Shaniko, Oregon.  Located at 3,000' in elevation, the site has expansive views in all directions with views of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams and Mt. Jefferson.  Proceeds from the event silent auction will benefit two local causes, one of which is the Big Tent Outdoor Recreation Coalition.
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2 Things Outdoor Research Wants the Industry To Remember As We Move The Trade Show from Utah

Outdoor Retailer

In his statement yesterday, Outdoor Retailer's Dan Nordstrom delivered yet another example of our industry leaders' reasoned and thoughtfully diplomatic approach to what has become a passion-fueled issue.

Read Dan Nordstrom’s statement: On the Outdoor Retailer Trade Show and Public Lands

Nordstrom’s statement underscored several important points that have—at times—been drowned out by the media surrounding the trade show. Here are two of the most salient:

  • “It’s time for EVERYONE involved in the outdoor movement—brands, dealers, customers, non-profits, ALL of us—to come together and become a true political force. It’s so much bigger than the trade show. With this Congress every one of the historic victories that created the legacy of public land we all love so much could be gone in a few months, taking us backward half a century.”

 

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Washington State's Outdoor Recreation Economy Generates

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