About Outdoor Recreation Roundtable
Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) is the nation's leading coalition of outdoor recreation associations representing more than 110,000 businesses, as well as outdoor recreation companies, state Offices of Outdoor Recreation, and academic partners. We educate decision makers, and the public, on balanced policies that conserve public lands and waterways and enhance infrastructure to improve the experience and quality of life of outdoor enthusiasts everywhere.
About OSU-CORE
Oregon State University's Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy is developing a powerful new approach to workforce development and leadership training to help people from all walks of life build a career with purpose.
About this research
Between 2020 and 2023, Chris Perkins, Vice President of Programs at Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), conducted research with practitioners from around the country on opportunities, challenges, and best practices related to rural economic development via outdoor recreation. The Oregon State University Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy turned this research into a digital form for improved educational outcomes. The research is intended to support communities who wish to develop outdoor recreation economies, as well as other leaders across the outdoor community who wish to understand the process best.
Perkins conducted nearly 80 interviews with practitioners in the outdoor recreation industry, including representatives from nonprofit sector organizations (community groups, service corps, and advocacy & trade associations), public sector organizations (community economic development, city and county services, state agencies, and federal agencies), and the private sector industry (manufacturing, retail, services, tours and guides). The full list of participants can be found here:
Full List of Research Participants
ORR, OSU, and the author would like to thank the following individuals for their contributions:
ORR Member Organizations
Adam Fortier-Brown, MRAA
Brett Richardson and Jeff Kurowski, RVDA
Chris Bornemann, RVIA
Dan Forster, Archery Trade Association
David Basler and Jeff Sims, ARVC
David Kennedy, BoatUS
Eric Kretsch, Association of Marina Industries
Scott Schloegel, MIC
Local/State/Congressional Officials
Christy Tafoya, Director, New Mexico State Parks
Craig Johnson, New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Program Manager
Emily Niehaus, Former Mayor, Moab, UT
Gabe Vasquez, Former Town Councilor, Las Cruces, NM and current Representative, U.S. House of Representatives
Warren Unsicker, Director of Economic Development & Outdoor Recreation Industry Initiative, Farmington, New Mexico
Marketing
Elaine Gizler, Director Discover Moab
James Glover, Once a Day Marketing LLC
Tyler Ray, Backyard Concept, LLC
Economic Development/Outdoor Business
Alan Rindlisbacher, Director of Community Strategy, Economic Development Council of Utah
Chad McWilliams, Director, Travel & Tourism, Sevier County, UT
Doug Dragoo, Mayfly Outdoors
Dr. Silas Chamberlin, Vice President for Economic Development, York County Economic Alliance
Jina Belcher, Executive Director, New River Gorge Regional Development Authority
Marc Berejka, Vice President of Community Advocacy and Impact, REI
Sarah Shrader, Owner, Bonsai Design, Founder, Grand Junction Outdoor Recreation Coalition
Sean Byrne, Partner, ACG Advocacy Leadership
Stephanie Pack, Former Business Development Manager, Utah Economic Development Corporation
Stephanie Swepson-Twitty, President and CEO, Eagle Market Streets Development Corporation
Steve McKnight, President & CEO, Altoona Blair County Development Corporation
Ta Enos, Founder and CEO, PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship
Taldi Harrison, Director of Community and Government Affairs, REI co-op
NGO
Debbie Phillips, CEO, Rural Action (Ohio)
Dr. Elizabeth Juarros, Gallinas River Park, Las Vegas, New Mexico
Jack Morgan, Senior Program Manager, National Association of Development Organizations
Janice Ikeda, Executive Director, Vibrant Hawaii
Jason McDougald, Executive Director, Camp Grier
John Wentworth, President, Mammoth Lake Trails and Public Access
Kendra Briechle, Former Manager, Community and Economic Development and Katie Allen, Former Conservation Leadership Network Director, The Conservation Fund
Jessie Powers, Executive Director, Outdoor Recreation Council of Appalachia
Kristin Kovalik, State Director, Trust for Public Land Oregon
Laurel Harkness, Former Executive Director, Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals
Lucas St. Clair, Executive Director, Elliotsville Foundation
Rachel Franchina, Executive Director, Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals
Randy Carpenter, Project Director, Future West
Rick Jenkinson, Glade Chief, Granite Backcountry Alliance
Noah Wilson, Director of Sector Development, Mountain BizWorks
Seth Brown, Vice President, Quantified Ventures
Shawn Real Bird, Executive Director, Montana Indigenous Tourism Alliance
Tyson Bertone-Riggs, Policy Analyst, Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition
Academia
Doug Arbogast, Extension Specialist, West Virginia University Extension Service
Lindsey Shirley, Former Associate Provost, Division of Extension and Engagement Associate Director, Oregon State University Extension Service
Federal/Regional Agencies/Electeds
Attila Bality, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) Program, National Park Service
Bob Ratcliffe, Stephan Nofield, and Krista Sherwood, Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) Program, National Park Service
Donald Leadbetter, Tourism Program Manager, National Park Service
Meryl Harrell, Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Molly Theobald, Director of the Division of Critical Infrastructure, Appalachian Regional Commission
Omero Torres, Recreation Team Leader, U.S. Forest Service
Reggie Chapple, Acting Assistant Director of Partnerships and Civic Engagement, National Park Service
Steph Bertaina, EPA Office of Community Revitalization
Toby Bloom, National Program Manager of Travel, Tourism and Interpretation, U.S. Forest Service (USFS)
State Directors of Outdoor Recreation
Amy Allison, Former Director, North Carolina Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry
Axie Navas, Former Director of the New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division
Brad Garmon, Director, Michigan Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry
Cailin O'Brien-Feeney, Former Director of the Oregon Office of Outdoor Recreation
Carolann Ouellette, Former Director of the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation
Chris Floyd, Former Manager, Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation
Colin Robertson, Former Administrator of the Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation
Kelly Collins Choi, Staff, Maryland Outdoor Recreation Economic Commission
Jon Snyder, Outdoor Recreation and Economic Development Senior Policy Advisor to Washington Governor Jay Inslee
Mary Monroe Brown, Former Director, Wisconsin State Office of Outdoor Recreation, and Anne Sayers, Deputy Secretary, Travel Wisconsin
Michael Snyder, Vermont State Forester and Commissioner, VT Forests, Parks & Recreation
Nathan Fey, Former Director, Colorado Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry
Pitt Grewe, Former Director of the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation
Rachel Schmidt, Former Director of the Montana Governor’s Office of Outdoor Recreation
This toolkit distills and organizes these conversations, but should not be seen as exhaustive nor complete. Rather, the paper may be useful to motivate initial funding, policy and partnership priorities for the growth of outdoor recreation economies across rural America.
Toolkit Timeline
-
January 2021
ORR launches the first edition of the Rural Economic Development Toolkit.
-
2022-2023
ORR presents Toolkit research to national audiences.
-
August 2022 to 2023
ORR distributes implementation grants to rural communities nationwide.
-
January 2024
ORR launches the second edition of the Toolkit.
-
October 2024
ORR hosts the National Leadership Forum on Rural Development in Pittsburgh.
-
May 2025
ORR awards Hurricane Helene rural recovery grants.
-
July 2025
ORR releases the Trail Map for Rural Development in America and an updated Rural Development Needs Map with more than 350 communities.
-
2026
ORR launches the third edition of the Toolkit as a permanent website.
About the author
Chris Perkins is Vice President of Programs at the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, where he works to promote the sustainable growth of the outdoor recreation economy. This work focuses on rural economic development through outdoor recreation, outdoor recreation infrastructure, state outdoor recreation advocacy, the outdoor recreation workforce, and building a more inclusive outdoor recreation community. Chris received a Masters in Environmental Management and a Masters in Business Administration at the Yale School of the Environment (YSE) and Yale School of Management (SOM). Chris has also worked for the U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee, Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee.