WASHINGTON, D.C. — May 6, 2026 — The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) kicked off its inaugural, two-day National Executive Forum on Health and Outdoor Recreation, with an opening evening at the White House Historical Association Decatur House, convening leaders from the $1.3 trillion outdoor recreation economy, policymakers, health experts, and innovators to explore how time outside can help address America’s most pressing health challenges.
The gathering marked the start of two days of conversations, fireside chats, and celebrations of the leaders and innovators pioneering outdoor recreation as a cornerstone of American health.
The evening honored Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods and the forthcoming Noticing: Intimate Encounters with the Natural World, with the presentation of ORR’s inaugural Outdoor Recreation Lifetime Achievement Award. Louv coined the term “Nature-Deficit Disorder” to spark a global movement around youth development, public health, education, and outdoor access. He also co-founded Children & Nature Network, a global nonprofit expanding equitable access to nature for children and families.
“For decades, Richard Louv has fundamentally shaped how we think about the connection between time outdoors, childhood development, community health, and human flourishing,” said ORR President Jessica Turner. “His work laid the foundation for and inspired many of the conversations happening at this Forum.”
Louv was joined by CJ Goulding, founder and executive director of Boyz N The Wood and a recent recipient of the Richard Louv Prize for Innovation in Nature, for a fireside conversation on nature, belonging, youth development, and community health – a dialogue that embodied the intergenerational commitment to access to the outdoors and wellness that Louv’s work has long inspired.
The reception and dinner also featured a discussion with Kathryn Burgum, co-chair of President Trump’s Great American Recovery Initiative and White House Senior Advisor for Addiction Recovery, and Stacy Bare, Executive Director of Friends of Grand Rapids Parks and U.S. Army veteran, moderated by John Legittino. Burgum shared personal and professional perspectives on addiction, treatment, and recovery, and how expanding access to the outdoors can play a significant role. Bare discussed his own journey of healing and reconnection through outdoor experiences. Together, they highlighted growing evidence that outdoor experiences can reduce stress, strengthen social connection, and complement evidence-based approaches to recovery.
“This Forum reflects growing recognition that many of our most urgent health challenges—from chronic disease and loneliness to addiction and mental health—require prevention-focused, cross-sector solutions,” said Turner. “Outdoor recreation is uniquely positioned to be part of that solution.”
The National Executive Forum on Health and Outdoor Recreation continues tomorrow advancing ORR’s national vision for America’s Outdoor Era with sessions focused on policy innovation, evidence-based research, infrastructure investment, public-private partnerships, and opportunities to integrate outdoor access more directly into health systems and prevention strategies.