OIA's Audio Outdoorist

Leaders of four outdoor industry advocacy organizations — each representing different but overlapping stakeholder groups — gather around the "fire" for an intimate and candid conversation about the public land conservation and access issues that matter to outdoor users and the outdoor economy. Where do the organizations' policy priorities intersect and where do they diverge? How can members of each organization best support the policy initiatives through in-person and virtual advocacy amid the pandemic safer-at-home orders?

We originally recorded this conversation via a live Brandlive video broadcast on May 14. Throughout the conversation, you heard us referring to some slide images and graphics. You can find those graphics and the full video broadcast here: outdoorindustry.org/article/campfir…-advocacy-home/

And be sure to join the conversation on the Outdoor Industry COVID-19 Forum: www.linkedin.com/groups/12382693/

Amid COVID-19, states across the country implemented stay-at-home and shelter-in-place orders, all with different closure rules and requirements for local, county, state and national public lands, parks and trails. Now, as the country begins to contemplate reopening those outdoor assets, there are many questions and considerations about how to do it expeditiously but safely. Directors from several state outdoor recreation and parks and wildlife offices gather around the fire to chat about what conversation they're having with other government and land management agencies, outdoor businesses and participants in their states; what usage and access trends have emerged during the pandemic; and how outdoor businesses have been and can continue to be leaders in their communities as Americans rediscover the benefits of time spent outside.

In this short episode, we look back on the highlights of Day 2 at OR and preview a few of the can't miss events on Day 3 at Summer Market. You can view Thursday's full OIA events and education agenda here: outdoorindustry.org/event/oia-outdoor-retailer/ To learn more about the work OIA does year round on behalf of its member companies, click here: outdoorindustry.org/

In this short episode, we look back on the highlights of Day 1 at OR and preview a few of the can't miss events on Day 2 at Summer Market. You can view Wednesday's full OIA events and education agenda here: outdoorindustry.org/event/oia-outdoor-retailer/

To learn more about the work OIA does year round on behalf of its member companies, click here: outdoorindustry.org/

You've got sustainability questions; we've got answers. Wherever you are on your journey to sustainability, we're here to help. In 2019, we are helping OIA companies to Walk the Walk by hosting a series of sustainability boot camps. They are designed to help small to mid-sized brands that have limited to no dedicated sustainability staff or expertise to accelerate sustainability improvements and meet (or exceed) customer expectations. The camps are intensive full-day sessions combining engaging speakers, educational content, hands-on activities and take-home resources. The goal is for participants to leave the boot camp with more confidence and clarity around what is a complex topic. They will leave with a customized action plan so that they can champion sustainability within their brand, establish their organization's strategy and program and take the next steps.

The first boot camp was held in Seattle, Washington, in March, and it hit capacity. The second camp is scheduled for June 16 in Denver, the day before Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, providing scheduling efficiency for those people who are already planning to attend the trade show. If Denver in June isn't convenient, we'll be offering two additional boot camps later this year, one in New York City on September 19 and one in Costa Mesa, California on December 5. Visit outdoorindustry.org for more information on the upcoming camps.

In this episode of Audio Outdoorist, we're speaking with two industry professionals who attended the Seattle camp to find out why their company made it a priority, what they learned and what they'll do next to keep their sustainability strategy forging forward.

Stay tuned for future stories from NEMO, Showers Pass and other boot camp attendees as they navigate their post boot-camp sustainability journeys. You can also read about how other industry brands are taking steps toward greater sustainability in our online series, "Sustainability: The First Step is the Hardest."

https://outdoorindustry.org/sustainability-first-step-hardest/

Last week, in an overwhelming display of bipartisan support, the House of Representatives voted to pass the Natural Resources Management Act. This comes after it successfully passed through the Senate earlier in February, which means it now goes to the president for his signature. This is an enormous win for the outdoor industry, as the package includes many different components, including permanent reauthorization for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. In this episode, OIA's Managing Content Editor Deborah Williams sits down with Patricia Rojas-Ungar, OIA's vice president of government affairs, who recently joined the association. They'll talk about about what this milestone means for the industry and our members, and the work that still needs to be done.

More here: https://outdoorindustry.org/advocacy/

In the past two weeks, America has experienced what can only be described as whiplash as Congressional leadership, the Senate, House and President Trump bicker over funding priorities and principles. The President has flip-flopped on his insistence for border wall funding and his threats of government shutdown. On December 13, the day we recorded part 1 of this two-part Lame Duck series, we were still optimistic that a handful of important public lands bills—including the Land and Water Conservation Fund reauthorization—would get attached to a large omnibus funding package. We were also optimistic Congress and the President would avert a shutdown. Unfortunately, hope for the omnibus package—and with it public lands bills—eroded early this week. As of the time we recorded this episode, a continuing resolution hadn't yet been reached. OIA Government Affairs Manager Jess Wahl again helps us understand how the disagreements in Washington stymied progress for critical public land policy that, ironically, has more bipartisan support than almost anything else on Capitol Hill.

When the calendar turns over to January 2019, we'll welcome many new faces on Capital Hill. Likewise, we'll say goodbye to any legislative measures on Congress's docket that do not get passed before the Senate and House of Representatives adjourn for the year. In this episode, OIA's Jessica Wahl talks to Deborah Williams about the work that OIA is doing to get bills passed before the finish line and how this will impact the outdoor industry.

This episode is the third in a series about the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), America's premier federal program that reinvests offshore energy revenue into conservation to ensure that we all have access to the outdoors. Congress created the LWCF almost a half-century ago to guarantee America's natural, historic and outdoor recreation heritage. Most likely, there's a park, trail, greenway or waterway very close to you that was funded in part or in whole by LWCF dollars.

In this episode, host Ben Schenck discovers that not only can he see the impacts of LWCF out his window, he can actually bike all the way from his home in Pittsburgh to our nation's capitol on a series of trails that were connected thanks to LWCF dollars. Travel along with Ben as he rides more than 300 miles and learns about the history of the trail system. Along the way he meets other outdoorists who are thru-biking or section-biking and -hiking the Great Allegheny Passage Trail and the C&O Canal Towpath.

On September 30 of this year, Congress let LWCF expire, so at the time of this recording in November, our public lands and waters have lost over $100 million dollars in potential funding. Encourage your member of Congress to reauthorize LWCF before the end of this year. Visit outdoorindusty.org/lwcf to learn about the fund, to see a map of projects across the country that are funded by LWCF and to find our social media toolkit. Then Tweet or tag your lawmakers in D.C. Tell them why LWCF is important to you and your community. Make sure they know what you—and they—stand to lose if they don't reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Saturday is Day 3 of Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, and it will feature the third of our OIA lunch sessions. Hear from OIA's new State and Local Policy Director David Weinstein about the lunch panel he'll moderate to bring attendees up to speed on the growing trend of state outdoor recreation offices. Learn what you can do for them and what they can do for you. Also, find out about the resources and goodies on offer at the OIA booth, #30001-UL of the Colorado Convention Center. View Saturday's full OIA events and education agenda here.

Click here to learn more about the work OIA does year round on behalf of its member companies.