Trip Report: Second Annual Outdoor Alliance California Virtual DC Fly-In
Photo credit: Peter Thomas. Big Sur, California. Land of the Esselen Tribe.
This week, outdoor recreation leaders in California met for our second annual virtual Washington D.C. fly-in. The Outdoor Alliance California coalition and partners joined together to unite and amplify the voices of the state’s outdoor recreation community to advocate for climate, public lands, and outdoor recreation priorities.
Over the last week, the Outdoor Alliance California team and our partners met with members of the California Congressional delegation to ask them to take immediate action to address the climate crisis. Public lands and waters are a key part of climate solutions, and the outdoor community can support and benefit from these efforts. We shared our community’s support for the Inflation Reduction Act, Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act, and how this Congress can work towards building a more inclusive and equitable outdoors.
“With a surprising amount of really good legislation currently in the pipeline in Congress—on climate, public land protections, wildfire, agency funding, recreation and equitable access for all—now could not have been a better time to get constituents in front of their elected representatives to talk about what we care about most as the outdoor recreation community,” said David Page, Executive Director of Winter Wildlands Alliance. “Now’s the time to put the pressure on and to encourage the folks who represent us in DC to get the good work across the finish line.”
Our team included California outdoor recreation leaders from Outdoor Alliance member organizations, conservation partners, grasstops leaders, and brand partners including Patagonia, REI, Camelbak, Peak Design, Specialized, Outdoor Industry Association, and Rivian. Together, this crew of California’s outdoor recreation leaders spent three days meeting with policymakers and leaders in D.C. to amplify and advocate for key climate action, landscape conservation, and outdoor recreation issues.
The event kicked off with an advocacy breakfast and workshop, presented by Patagonia Provisions and Alpen Sierra Coffee. 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 hear inspiring opening remarks from public lands and waters champions, Senator Alex Padilla and Congresswoman Katie Porter (CA D-45).
Outdoor Alliance team meeting with Congressman Huffman
California outdoor recreation leaders had bipartisan meetings with nearly a dozen members of the California delegation to discuss climate action, land protections, investments for our federal land managers, and how this Congress can work towards building an inclusive and equitable outdoors. During our meetings we were very fortunate to have public lands and waters champion, Congressman Jared Huffman (CA D-02) join us to share his insights on Inflation Reduction Act, Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act, and next steps on Senator Padilla’s PUBLIC Lands Act. Our team is grateful for the Congressman and his staff for their fierce support of the outdoor recreation community.
The event also included an hourlong panel, Going Beyond Land Acknowledgments. We had over 300 participants join us for an insightful conversation on how the outdoor recreation community can go beyond land acknowledgements to honor, learn from, and partner with Tribal communities. A special thank you to our partners Redbud Resource Group for leading the discussion and our panelists—Chairman Ron Goode of the North Fork Mono Tribe; Theresa L. Lorejo-Simsiman, California Stewardship Director, American Whitewater; Geneva E. B. Thompson, Assistant Secretary for Tribal Affairs, California Natural Resources Agency.
Annie Nyborg, Director of Sustainability at Peak Design, Peak Design, said, “Some folks say that business should stay out of politics and policy. That would certainly be lovely. Unfortunately, when the long-term welfare of our land, waters, and climate are being ignored—or worse yet, actively lobbied against—it’s critical for companies who care to step up and advocate. Business has a significant opportunity for guiding responsible policies that benefit communities, the economy, and the planet. Outdoor Alliance California virtual fly-in is the bridge between business voices and the representatives who need to hear them—bringing companies, nonprofits, policy experts, and our elected officials together to collectively advocate for a more sustainable future. Until the day comes when we feel comfortable ‘staying out of politics,’ we’ll be joining the Outdoor Alliance in speaking up for what we believe in.”