A national leadership forum involving outdoor recreation will be co-hosted by the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) this fall.
The National Leadership Forum on Rural Development through Outdoor Recreation will take place Oct. 1-2 in Pittsburgh.
ORR, The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship and the Pennsylvania Office of Outdoor Recreation will host the event supported by the Richard King Mellon Foundation.
More than 50 national leaders in conservation, economic development and outdoor recreation will attend the invite-only event.
ORR Vice President of Programs Chris Perkins said, “Outdoor recreation has proven time and again to be a catalyst for economic growth and community resilience, particularly in rural areas. This forum is not just about sharing insights, but about forging partnerships that will lead to lasting, positive change in rural communities across the country.”
Leaders will discuss the role of outdoor recreation in rural economic development, community identity, jobs and resilience. Topics include building housing for all, connecting recreation and public health, funding recreation infrastructure, generating community buy-in, maintaining local wealth/affordability and outdoor recreation effects.
The New York Times bestselling author Baratunde Thurston will deliver the keynote presentation. Thurston is the host of the PBS television series “America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston,” which explores how the U.S. landscape affects the way residents work, play and interact with the outdoors.
The event will include a field visit to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where participants will discuss economic development with local leaders.
ORR said the event is part of its commitment to rural outdoor recreation economic development.
