Trip Report: Outdoor Alliance California D.C. Fly In

Big Pine Lakes, California. Photo credit: Andrew Peluso

This week, outdoor recreation leaders in California met virtually in Washington D.C. through Outdoor Alliance’s California coalition to advocate for outdoor recreation, public lands and waters, equitable access, and climate solutions. A team of California outdoor recreation leaders from Outdoor Alliance member organizations, conservation partners, grasstops leaders, and outdoor industry brands including Patagonia, REI, Camelbak, Peak Design, and Kokatat spent three days meeting with policymakers and leaders in D.C. to amplify and advocate for key conservation and outdoor recreation issues.

The event kicked off with an advocacy breakfast and workshop, presented by Kodiak Pancakes. It was here that participants had an opportunity to get trained on outdoor recreation priorities, key pieces of legislation, learn from national policy experts, and an hear an inspiring message from a recreation and public lands champion, Congressman Jared Huffman (D-CA-2).

Over the course of three days, California outdoor recreation leader had bipartisan meetings with members from the California delegation to discuss the explosion in outdoor recreation numbers, President Biden’s Executive Order on 30x30, PAW+, and how this Congress can work towards building an inclusive and equitable outdoors. The event also included an hourlong panel on the Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E. initiative and other efforts to improve equitable access to the outdoors.

“California is often the leader in conservation, climate change and the environment. Now is an important time for the California outdoor recreation community to continue to show up and advocate for outdoor equity and recreational infrastructure support. These concepts work in tandem with conservation and climate change initiatives. We have seen through Covid how important the outdoors and recreation are for people's health and well-being, now is the time for us all to double down and work to create sustainable, inclusive outdoor spaces for generations to come,” said Katie Goodwin, California Regional Director, Access Fund.

Outdoor Alliance California brings together a broad coalition of partners including leaders from our member organizations, brand partners, grasstops leaders, and constituents that work together to find common ground on public land policy and to advocate for recreation and conservation to decision makers. California’s delegation in Congress is a critical voice for moving conservation legislation forward, and outdoor recreation voices are a key constituency for California lawmakers.

“Rep. Porter said it really well, we need more businesses and nonprofits coming together to advocate for policies that impact all of us. There’s a profound strength when we come together as an industry, with our business experience, and our nonprofit partners, with their expertise in the field, and speak with one voice to drive better polices for our planet,” said Megan Wolf, Environmental Activism Manager, Patagonia

“This week I had the opportunity to participate in Outdoor Alliance’s virtual fly-in, on behalf of Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF). Speaking to congressional members about Biden's Administration's America the Beautiful Report and its commitment to addressing our nation's most urgent conservation challenges in a manner that meets local, state, tribal, and regional needs. Advocating the importance for Congress members to engage and support policies that treat public lands and water as solutions to the climate and biodiversity crisis. The voices of recreationists and conservationists were heard this week as we all come together to advocate for funding, protection, and access to public lands. The advocacy does not end when you care about people, place, and planet," said Maricela Rosales, California Program Associate Director, Conservation Lands Fund.