BLM Announcement in Utah Reinforces ORR Message About Outdoor Recreation and Access to Public Lands Supporting the Health and Wellbeing of All Americans
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sept. 28. — Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) today welcomed the “All Americans Outside” initiative announced by Bureau of Land Management at an event in Moab, Utah. This new initiative touches all areas of outdoor recreation, from camping, hunting, and fishing to biking, boating, and RVing, and reinforces a long-held priority of ORR and its members to enhance access to America’s public lands to improve the experience and quality of life of outdoor enthusiasts everywhere.
All Americans Outside aims to promote outdoor recreation as a way to support health and wellness, expand opportunities for youth and veterans, strengthen volunteer stewardship, and build partnerships that benefit public lands and communities.
“This effort aligns with America’s Outdoor Era: ORR’s National Health Vision, which we launched at our National Executive Forum on Health and Outdoor Recreation earlier this year,” said Jessica Turner, ORR President. “Science tells us that time outdoors delivers health outcomes that no clinical or indoor intervention can fully replicate. People of all abilities should have access to this vital public health solution, and we look forward to supporting BLM’s efforts to make that possible.”
Through this initiative, BLM plans to ensure that public lands and waters are accessible and inclusive for all individuals. All Americans Outside helps:
- Promote outdoor recreation and its connection to health and wellness.
- Connect more Americans to public lands.
- Create more career opportunities for youth and veterans.
- Increase volunteer engagement to support stewardship efforts.
- Expand partnerships for mission-related projects and programs.
“ORR is proud to support the launch of this initiative and look forward to a continued partnership with the BLM, other federal agencies, local communities, and private and nonprofit sector leaders to make this vision a reality,” said Whitney Potter Schwartz, ORR Senior Vice President.
About Outdoor Recreation Roundtable
The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable is the nation’s leading coalition of outdoor recreation associations representing the more than 110,000 outdoor businesses in the recreation economy and the full spectrum of outdoor-related activities. The most recent data from the U.S. Department of Commerce shows that outdoor recreation generated $1.3 trillion in economic output (2.4% of GDP) and accounts for 5.2 million jobs.