Outdoor Alliance Launches Grasstops Collective

Photo credit: Holly Mandarich

Outdoor Alliance recently launched an advocacy network and training program designed to build the power of “grasstops” leaders who can advocate for public land and water conservation, climate change, and outdoor recreation.

The Outdoor Alliance Grasstops Collective will work with grasstops advocates to build relationships with policy makers to advocate for conservation priorities. Grasstops leaders are unique for their meaningful voice in their communities, whether they are in business, nonprofit, or local government. They are the unofficial mayors—the ones who know everyone at the crag, trailhead, or put-in. Armed with more knowledge about outdoor policy and advocacy, they can make a real impact on the outdoors.

Over the next five years, Outdoor Alliance will train more than 100 grasstops leaders. These trained advocates, all bound together by their love for the outdoors and their leadership roles in their communities are the key to long term political and social power in the name of outdoor adventure. These leaders won't just stop at their own networks; they'll kick off a ripple effect in the outdoor community. 

The training will take place across approximately six months, and will cover skills needed to build relationships with members of Congress and decision makers at the local, state, and federal levels.  It will include an advocacy visit to Washington D.C., as well as local in-district meetings.

While the outdoor recreation community has been widely successful with grassroots outreach, and through its networks of professional policy staff and organizers, there is a huge opportunity to build deeper  conservation focused grassroots power in the outdoor community. The Grasstops Collective will work to influence key decision makers on conservation and recreation priorities for years to come.

In its first year, the Grasstops Collective program is accepting nominations from Outdoor Alliance’s member groups only, but you can sign up below to get more deeply involved in outdoor recreation advocacy and apply for the program in subsequent years.

The Grasstops Collective is funded in part by Wana Brands Foundation.