Lessons for Resilience: ORR Hurricane Helene Grantees Display Power of Recreation in Recovery

When Hurricane Helene tore through the Southeast in the fall of 2024, it tested the networks, infrastructure, and community relationships that outdoor recreation advocates had spent years building to sustain local recreation economies. In response, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable awarded Hurricane Helene Recovery and Resilience grants in 2025 to communities across the Southeast to help restore…

America 250 Is a Time to Celebrate Our Greatest Shared Inheritance: The Outdoors

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable issued the following statement for our nation’s 250th anniversary: “As America celebrates its 250th birthday this July 4th, we have an opportunity not only to reflect on our nation’s history, but also to remind ourselves of one of the greatest gifts we share as Americans: our extraordinary outdoors,” said Jessica Turner, President of…

Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Announces New Grant Programs to Advance Rural Economies, Community Health, and Quality of Life through Outdoor Recreation

New grant opportunities will direct funding to Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) community participants and rural Mountain West communities to turn outdoor recreation plans into local health, access, and community impact Washington, D.C. — June 17, 2026— Today, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), the nation’s leading coalition of outdoor recreation associations, announced two new grant…

ORR Elevates Bold Vision for Outdoor Recreation as Public Health Solution with Health and Human Services Secretary and Interior Secretary During Roundtable in Grand Junction

Following the roundtable, ORR welcomed HHS and DOI marking Great Outdoors Month®, connecting outdoor recreation and public lands with better physical and mental health WASHINGTON – The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) participated in a roundtable this week in Grand Junction, Colorado, with Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Bureau of…

Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Members Welcome Bipartisan House Bill to Invest in America’s Public Lands and Waters and Increase Access for Outdoor Recreation; Reaffirm Support for Bipartisan America the Beautiful Act in the Senate

WASHINGTON – The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) affirmed its support for the bipartisan legislation advancing in the House and Senate to reauthorize and strengthen the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF), originally established through the Great American Outdoors Act in 2020. The House Natural Resources Committee announced a field hearing to consider the Great American Outdoors Act 250. The legislation,…

Event Recap: First National Executive Forum on Health and Outdoor Recreation

Overview  On May 6 and 7, 2026, the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) convened the inaugural National Executive Forum on Health and Outdoor Recreation in Washington, D.C. — a first-of-its-kind gathering that brought together top outdoor recreation industry and health leaders to make the case for a bold national vision to make outdoor recreation a pillar of public health and grow a key sector…

Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Kicks Off First National Executive Forum on Health and Outdoor Recreation; Honors Author Richard Louv with Lifetime Achievement Award

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…

Outdoor Recreation Leaders Bring a Unified Message to Washington: A Defining Moment for America’s Outdoor Economy

The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) convened its Business Council and association members in Washington, D.C. this week for a high-impact fly-in, bringing together leaders from across the industry to engage directly with Congress, federal agencies, and senior White House officials.  The message was clear and consistent throughout: this is a defining moment for America’s outdoor recreation economy.  A $1.3 Trillion…

Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Welcomes Make America Beautiful Again Commission Meeting and Releases Recommendations to Grow a Sustainable Outdoor Recreation Economy

Washington, D.C. — Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) welcomes today’s meeting of the Make America Beautiful Again (MABA) Commission and its focus on expanding access to public lands and waters and growing America’s outdoor recreation economy.  As the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding, outdoor recreation offers a powerful opportunity to unite conservation, economic…