Outdoor Industry Association’s Post

Interesting report from onX. The report details the state of the outdoor experience as described by 2,200 recreationists across the U.S. and reveals a substantial gap between an increasing number of outdoor enthusiasts and the percentage of those who engage in stewardship–activities that help protect and restore the public lands that fuel their experiences. Seventy-seven percent of outdoor enthusiasts head outside 12 or more times each year. Yet, only 19% of outdoor enthusiasts commit to one of the above stewardship activities annually. While most of us see the importance of stewardship, only a handful of folks, less than one in five, are doing the work. https://lnkd.in/gTE8N5xK

So without putting too fine a point on it, this is exactly what I'm talking about. Getting more people outdoors for health, recreation and building appreciation for nature has been a goal in the conservation community for more than 30 years of my career in conservation. In recent years this objective has really taken off among the larger outdoor industry (the hunting and fishing segment has been doing it forever). It is fabulous to see OIA and all of the individual businesses leaning in. But the whole point in all of this is not just to develop recreational access and passive/ objective appreciation, but to develop an engaged commitment and demonstration of that appreciation through conservation and stewardship, manifested in action. Volunteer days, contributions and investments in organizations that are doing the work of managing, improving and protecting habitats. It's not all about policy and sign on letters and capitol days, it requires investment of elbow grease, blood sweat and tears and the funding for equipment, supplies and people that do, lead and teach the skills and practices of stewardship. And not just on public lands- restoration, management and protecting of private lands is critical too...

A budget reflects a community, state or nation's priorities--and, at this moment, budgets at all levels of government fail to adequately prioritize investments in the outdoor economy. An indicator of success in the national outdoor economy movement will be the level of public investment we see in outdoor recreation at all levels--and how we fund it. Will we continue to fund outdoor assets like "nice to have" quality of life assets or will we fund them like true economic investments that deliver returns in new jobs, more tax revenue and business creation?

New research released by Outdoor Recreation Roundtable sums up the disparity between outdoor recreation funding and the growing impact of outdoor recreation participation. Our funding priorities at the municipal, county, state and federal levels need to reflect the crucial importance of recreation to regional economies. We should be investing in outdoor assets and ecosystems as we do in other high-growth, high-impact sectors. Unlike most of those sectors, investing in outdoor assets and businesses not only grows the economy but improves quality of life. ORR's full report is available here: https://lnkd.in/eHFwBQHa

1 TRILLION! Breaking news today in the outdoor recreation world: the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) just released new data on the economic impact of outdoor recreation and found that outdoor recreation is responsible for over $1 trillion in economic output. These numbers show that outdoor recreation is not just good for people’s physical and mental health, it is also a significant economic driver across the entire country. With outdoor recreation growing, it is even more important that Congress prioritize sound policy that would improve access to the outdoors, create more trails, and protect America’s public lands and waters. America’s Outdoor Recreation Act would improve sustainable, equitable outdoor access, helping to address the demand for outdoor recreation. Take action, via the link in our bio. With your help, we can continue to enjoy protected outdoor recreation opportunities for years to come. https://lnkd.in/gKpGNJ9X

Excited for where outdoor recreation and the industry, when realized, properly invested in, and utilized can take us as a nation - better societal health (physical, mental, and emotional), combat climate change, improve DEI, passionate and purposed workforce development and employment, sustainable economics and economy, increased cognitive abilities, improved communities and opportunities, vested environmental protection, the potential to maintain livable housing costs, and much more. We are fortunate to have Outdoor Recreation Roundtable leading much of this charge (but it is the work of so many, from government to business and vital non-profits and individuals). The last 10 years have been a data boom showing the many benefits and allowing us to start realizing the many parallel and tangential ones tied to recreation, public lands, infrastructure, etc. This data allows wise and bi-partisanship decision making for the mutual benefit of all. Where the OREC Industry, but particularly the vital underlying recreation infrastructure, can take us is limitless, but only if we continue to "move the needle" and push forward.

New trends report of the Outdoor Industry. Thanks so Outdoor Industry Association for pulling together this 2024 report. The tl;dr....the outdoor industry remains very strong and growing. However, one trend worth monitoring is the flattening (and slight decline) in frequency of activities from the hardest core group of outdoor enthusiasts. So, more people are coming to the outdoors - which is a +....but, there might be some softening at the end of the long-tail for core enthusiasts and frequency. And, the running component of the outdoor industry, which includes trail, continues to show robust growth at 17.9% https://lnkd.in/gyCDc5vC

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In addition to the great staycation article in @SomersetLife magazine, read our latest Blog on why Winter Holidays in the UK are magical https://lnkd.in/ek3_X3jb #staycation #luxurylifestyle #luxuryhomes #Somerset

𝙒𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙬𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙖 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝘼𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙖 - 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙩𝙤𝙙𝙙𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙤𝙬❗ When we first started identifying countries to visit, we had a checklist of what we needed to make this a child-friendly holiday: 🔘 Stroller-friendly infrastructure 🔘 Abundant kids' activities 🔘 Accessible public transport 🔘 Ample outdoor spaces This trip felt like a leap into the unknown for a parent of a toddler, but now I can confidently declare that Australia exceeded all expectations as an ideal family holiday spot! The cities we explored were masterfully designed with the community in mind. Every staircase had a ramp/elevator, every public institute had a children's play area, every public transport was built to accommodate strollers, and every playground had benches and water stations - Australia's commitment to people-centric, family-friendly infrastructure is striking. This experience highlighted a crucial lesson: brands that prioritize community needs, placing people at the core, stand the test of time. They become sustainable, beloved, and memorable. Australia epitomizes this ethos - a remarkable brand that intentionally caters to the diverse needs of families. As you build your brand, ask yourself: Is it designed to meet a genuine need? Does it understand and resonate with its community? Is it sustainable for the long haul? Australia's desirability lies in being precisely that - a brand that endures. Captured ⬇ is my 3-year-old trying to navigate the Taronga Zoo with a map 😅