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.

#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

Governor Appoints Director of Recreation and Conservation Office

RCO

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.

2021 Big Tent Outdoor Recreation Coalition Legislative Celebration

Thursday, March 18, 2021 - 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Join for a celebration of the outdoor recreation community’s resilience and successes during legislative session. We’ll salute those who have driven our community forward and enjoy an evening with each other and those working hard to support our outdoor spaces. And hang around for some trivia, prizes, and a night away from the hustle of quick zoom check-ins. [2021 Sponsor Fact Sheet] Free to attend. Save the date and [R.S.V.P. HERE.]

This Land is Part of Us - Full film

WDFW

A short film produced by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Conservation Northwest. For wildlife lovers, hunters and anglers, Indigenous peoples, farmers and ranchers, outdoor recreationists and so many others, this land is no desert devoid of life, This Land is Part of Us.  Watch “This Land is Part of Us”: https://youtu.be/NfhM9vLQD-0. Please share with your friends, family, and networks! We appreciate your support.

The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Rural Economic Development Toolkit

Outdoor Recreation Roundtable

Outdoor recreation offers opportunities for sustainable economic and community development across the United States. Through interviews with over 60 practitioners - including elected officials, land managers, economic development specialists and business leaders - the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable has developed this toolkit to help your community build an outdoor recreation economy of its own.

Weekly Outdoor Recreation Caucus Meetings

Thursdays at 7 a.m. during session

More than 50 people attended the first meeting of the Outdoor Recreation Caucus, hosted by Representative Andrew Barkis, and held via Microsoft Teams, but moving to a Zoom platform for future meetings. The Caucus meets weekly during session on Thursdays at 7 a.m. so that stakeholders can share emerging information on active legislation. On the agenda this week was a welcome and introduction to the 2021 Caucus and review and discussion of the Bill Report. Contact Wendy Brown, Policy Director/Legislative Liaison, Recreation & Conservation Office to join the notification distribution list.

Weekly Big Tent Policy Calls Start January 15, 2021

Stay informed during session

The Big Tent Outdoor Recreation Coalition is hosting weekly policy calls open to all interested to inform and answer questions about pending and emerging legislation impacting outdoor recreation. Calls are scheduled weekly on Fridays from 8:45 a.m. - 9:00 a.m., January 15 - end of April: Join Zoom Meeting: https://redbarncommunications.zoom.us/j/86820688671 / Meeting ID: 868 2068 8671 or by phone: 1 253 215 8782.  The zoom and call information stay the same throughout session.

2021 Parks and Great Outdoors Legislative Day

Washington Wildlife & Recreation Coaltion

Thursday, February 4, 2021, Via Zoom: Join the Washington Wildlife & Recreation Coalition and the Washington Recreation & Park Association at the annual Parks and Great Outdoors Legislative Day in Olympia! Help advocate for Washington state's premier outdoors fund, the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP), and tell your legislators why Washington's parks, wildlife habitat areas, and working lands deserve to be funded.

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Washington State's Outdoor Recreation Economy Generates

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