Author Archives: ORR

ORR Calls for End to Shutdown, Proposes Steps to Insulate America’s Great Outdoors from Future Shutdowns

Policy Statement on Federal Recreation Sites and Programs During Federal Shutdowns The federal shutdown is impacting federal workers, businesses and nonprofits, communities, and countless American families.  This much is clear: the shutdown poses serious problems for outdoor recreation.  The outdoor recreation community calls on Congress and the Administration to end the lapse in funding which has…

Recreation Leaders Meet with Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Highlight Recreation Opportunities for 2019 and Beyond

Recreation took center stage at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on January 8 as Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) leaders and recreation company CEOs met with Secretary Sonny Perdue, Under Secretary for Natural Resources and the Environment Jim Hubbard and other key officials.  The group noted the importance of national forests to many recreational activities,…

Congress Recognizes Outdoor Recreation in Farm Bill

Outdoor recreation received a significant boost in the Farm Bill, which passed the United States Senate December 11, the U.S. House of Representatives December 12 and was signed by the President December 20. Opening the door for outdoor recreation projects and programs in rural communities to access the rural economic development grants, new language in…

Jessica Wahl Named Executive Director of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable

Outdoor Industry Executive to Lead America’s Premier Outdoor Recreation Coalition Washington, D.C. (December 19, 2018) – The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) Board of Directors announced the appointment of Jessica Wahl as executive director following an extensive national search. Jessica brings a decade of experience navigating the halls of The White House, Department of the Interior…

Agents of Discovery and Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Honor Partners, Celebrate D.C. Explorer Campaign

Agents of Discovery and the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable – along with participating sites and partners – celebrated the D.C. Explorer Campaign with a reception at ORR’s offices December 11.  The campaign ran June 7 – November 1, 2018, and involved nine locations across D.C., Maryland and Virginia.  Public and private partners from the federal, state and local…

George H. W. Bush – A Champion of America’s Great Outdoors

During recent ceremonies at the U.S. Capitol, the Washington Cathedral and in Houston George H.W. Bush was honored for his leadership, his patriotism and his remarkable circle of friends.  His love of boating and fishing and the great outdoors was referenced multiple times – including talk of his boat, Fidelity, a not-too-traditional fishing boat –…

President George H. W. Bush – A Legacy in America’s Great Outdoors

During ceremonies this week in the U.S. Capitol and at the Washington Cathedral, George H.W. Bush was honored for his leadership, his patriotism and his remarkable circle of friends.  His love of boating and fishing and the great outdoors was referenced multiple times – including talk of his boat, Fidelity, a not-too-traditional fishing boat –…

Planning Underway for Next Chapter of Partners Outdoors

Partners Outdoors – a unique gathering of recreation community leaders from the private and public sectors – has been a mainstay of the outdoor recreation community for almost 30 years. This special meeting is designed to promote public-private brainstorming focused on identifying workable, innovative solutions to recreation management challenges. Partners Outdoors 2018 was one of…

Make a Family Holiday Memory on Your National Forests

Thanksgiving is here, and that means the holidays are right around the corner.  This year, make plans for a great family experience – cutting your own Christmas tree on a national forest!   The U.S. Forest Service has a special program that allows fourth graders with an Every Kid in a Park pass to obtain a…

One Lame Duck Vote That is a Walk in the Park

The sun is setting on the 115th Congress, with just weeks left to advance legislative proposals that have been debated over the past two years on Capitol Hill. While time is short and the legislative laundry list is long, the House and Senate should take full advantage of the remaining time by passing legislation that…