Summit Brings Regional Outdoor Recreation Leaders to DC

Washington, DC - Outdoor Alliance, a national non-profit coalition of outdoor recreation organizations, hosted its 2014 Advocacy Summit December 8-11 for conservation leaders from Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Washington, and Oregon. The Summit provided advocacy and communications training with lobbying experts, a workshop on federal relations, and peer engagement sessions. Regional groups met with their congressional delegations and convened with leaders at the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management’s Planning 2.0 leadership team, senior advisors to Interior Secretary Jewell at the Department of the Interior, and the Council on Environmental Equality. The Summit convened leaders from the Mountaineers, Winter Wildlands Alliance, American Canoe Association, American Whitewater, Access Fund, Mazamas, the International Mountain Bicycling Association, Washington Trails Association, and other local outdoor recreation associations.

Key issues for the Advocacy Summit included wildfire funding, state takeover of public lands, renewable energy development, and major programs and bills like the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA). Major regional issues included the protection of Boulder-White Clouds in Idaho and Browns Canyon in Colorado through national monument designation. The Advocacy Summit represents the first of ongoing opportunities to advance the policy agenda of the outdoor recreation community. Outdoor recreation in the U.S. creates thousands of jobs, is responsible for billions of dollars of revenue, and includes the activities of millions of Americans.

 Outdoor Alliance protects, enhances, and promotes the human-powered outdoor recreation experience by uniting the voices of thousands of outdoor enthusiasts to influence policy for America’s public lands. Outdoor Alliance works with Congress, the Administration, and senior officials within the public land management agencies to protect public lands in the U.S. and improve access for the outdoor recreation community. It has worked closely with officials at the Forest Service and BLM to assist in forest planning efforts and advocate for stronger protection of public lands.