American Hiking, with support from the U.S. Forest Service, is proud to announce the first-of-its-kind National Trails Day® Community Grant. The grant is designed to reduce barriers for underrepresented communities to organize meaningful events in celebration of the 30th annual American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day® on June 4, 2022.

OLYMPIA – March 16, 2022 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission announced today the appointment of Diana Dupuis as the agency’s new director. Dupuis will be the first female director since the agency was established more than 100 years ago. “Diana is a strategic leader with extensive experience in parks. She has dedicated more than 14 years to our agency,” said Parks Commission chairman, Mark O. Brown. “I am pleased to welcome Diana as the new director. She has a deep understanding of our agency, and I am confident that her expertise will help us achieve our goals.”

Mountaineers are fierce defenders of our wild places. Dive deeper into what this entails, how to build your skills as an advocate, and why successful advocacy makes a difference for the outdoor places we love. Conservation advocacy has been an enduring priority throughout The Mountaineers history. Early members recognized the importance of protecting wild places for the outdoor experience, and as a result we have been involved in nearly every major conservation campaign in our state's history. Advocacy has been, and remains, at the heart of key environmental protections. 

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) invites the public to provide feedback on a draft 10-year recreation strategy for WDFW-managed lands. Public input on the draft strategy, which is available in English and Spanish, is welcome through 5 p.m. on Feb. 28.  

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released economic data for 2020 on outdoor recreation’s powerful and positive economic impact on the U.S. economy today. These new numbers show outdoor recreation generates $689 billion in economic output and creates 4.3 million jobs. The report, a snapshot in time of a challenging and uncertain year, includes national and state-level data.

From its craggy coastlines to its icy volcanic peaks, Washington is home to some of the world’s most stunning geology. This new website by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) helps connect people to the state’s rich and diverse geologic history. See press release

World Parks Week is April 24th to May 2nd! With COVID-19 remaining a reality for many across the globe, the theme for World Parks Week extends from last year’s #NatureNeverCloses theme by encouraging people to think about what their local neighborhoods/communities have to offer and what these local spaces mean to them. Thinking #Hyperlocal helps us to build deeper connections with our communities in a time where connection is paramount!  Learn More

OLYMPIA–Gov. Jay Inslee today announced the appointment of Megan Duffy as the new director of the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO), the largest state agency grantor of funding for outdoor recreation and habitat conservation efforts in Washington. She replaces Kaleen Cottingham, who is retiring and has served the agency since 2007.