The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) issued its year-end 2021 report, highlighting legislative movement and other resources provided throughout the year by the group.
ORR cited COVID-19 as a partial reason to why U.S. policymakers are pursuing the economic impacts of outdoor recreation, in addition to increasing access outdoor recreation to provide societal, mental and physical benefits. The organization convened experts from its membership to discuss the economic impacts and recovery from Covid and implementation of the Great American Outdoors Act. Participants of these informational sessions included RVDA President Phil Ingrassia, who called the event “very informative.”
In partnership with Thor Industries, ORR launched Together Outdoors, an initiative aimed at making outdoor recreation more inclusive and representative of the diversity of the United States. Together Outdoors is designed to identify and overcome systemic issues that contribute to barriers to the outdoors for historically marginalized groups through the development of education, partnerships and action for participants.
To date, Together Outdoors has united 100 leading outdoor businesses, national and regional land management agencies, and nonprofits in a shared commitment to helping outdoor recreation grow and meet the needs of diverse participants. Under the leadership of Coalition Lead Gerry Seavo James, members started a seven-month educational journey of module-based webinars, resources, best practices, diverse perspectives and data-driven evaluation tools, with the goal of catalyzing change both internally within organizations and in the field where these leaders interact with the public.
Thor President and CEO Bob Martin said the team listened to long-running concerns and obstacles underrepresented groups face when pursuing outdoor adventure.
“Enjoying and appreciating nature is important for health and mental well-being and should be welcoming places for everyone,” Martin said. “Thor is committed to helping advance outdoor equity and inclusion, so all feel welcome to go everywhere and stay anywhere.”
Over the summer, ORR celebrated accomplishing its first three-year strategic plan and convened members of the Board of Directors to establish a new three-year plan at Trinchera Ranch in Colorado. The new plan focuses on ORR’s capabilities to convene and support the entire industry, the report stated.
Other 2021 highlights included establishing new outdoor recreation offices in Arkansas and Maryland, and several new states joining the National Governors Association’s Outdoor Recreation Learning Network, sponsored by ORR.
