Join King County Play Equity Coalition this Friday for KCPEC's Thrive Outside Day to learn more about collective efforts and opportunities to elevate barrier-free access to outdoor experiences and connection. KCPEC is the backbone organization to Thrive Seattle - the Thrive Initiative is a national collective and effort under the Outdoor Foundation to increase regional access and remove barriers to the outdoors so all communities can benefit from outdoor recreation, education, and nature connection. What is it: Thrive Outside Day is a day where all Thrive Communities across the nation recognize and celebrate our collective work to address equity barriers, connect with outdoor providers, and explore opportunities to be engaged in our work. When: October 20, 2023, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the Pacific Tower, 1200 12th Ave S, Seattle. Coffee and light snacks will be provided for breakfast. Korean bowls will be provided for lunch. [Register]

SAVE THE DATE: The 2023 Burien Solar Punk Festival will be held on Saturday, Aug. 12, from 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. at the New Start Community Garden. There are few opportunities in Burien where BIPOC (Black, Ingenuous , People of Color) people and businesses can sit down, connect, network, and celebrate the culture together. Join us for a full day of engagement, networking and an evening opportunity to camp under the stars, watch a culturally relevant movie and enjoy everything from locally crafted beer to AR Art wall or even drink harvested rainwater.”

October 24-26, 2023 | Yakima Convention & Event Center: The second annual State of Washington Tourism Conference will be held October 24-26 in the Yakima Valley at the recently expanded Yakima Convention & Event Center. The conference will include the Responsible Outdoor Travel Summit, a full-day event following the main conference schedule. The summit continues the success of last year’s event, which brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, from legislators and land managers to content creators.

REI is working with organizations across the country to tell Congress to support this critical program in upcoming spending bills—and we need your voice to get it done. Let’s fund the trails transformation we need. Two years ago, you helped us create this program by taking action through the REI Cooperative Action Network. Now it’s time to get the program fully funded. Tell Congress why safe, equitable and climate-friendly trails are important to you. Join us in Cooperative Action and urge Congress to fully fund safe, equitable, and climate-friendly transportation nationwide.

2023 grant application period is now open. Submit your application online. WDFW will accept grant applications for projects that create, improve, increase, and/or promote opportunities for communities to view or experience wildlife. WDFW prioritizes initiatives that are brought forward by or are co-developed with underserved and marginalized communities to address stated community needs that are imbued with equity and justice values. Ideal proposals will benefit or address barriers for underrepresented communities and/or apply diversity, equity, and inclusivity in their projects.

Learn the basic signs you need to know in order to communicate with Deaf people while working, recreating or volunteering in the outdoor field. Learn ASL from Deaf Outdoor Experts. Want to set up a course for your group? Email courses@corpsthat.org for a discount link.

Four local policymakers were invited to Sea to Sound 2022 to experience the Olympic Discovery Trail in a power wheelchair. Here are their thoughts.

Like other state agencies, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is establishing a Pro-Equity Anti-Racism (PEAR) Team and developing a Pro-Equity Anti-Racism Plan. The PEAR Team will be composed of internal agency staff and external community members and partners dedicated to advancing DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) across the State Parks agency. For more information about PEAR and Executive Order 22-04, click here. State Parks is currently recruiting interested parties to serve on the PEAR Team. To apply to join the PEAR team, submit a PEAR interest form by Feb 3, 2023. To learn more about PEAR, you can attend one of our virtual information sessions Jan 19 at 10 a.m., or Jan 23 at 5 p.m. Email dei@parks.wa.gov to register.