Confluence Of States Release Annual Outdoor Report Highlighting Work Across Offices
NATIONWIDE – The Confluence of States released their annual Outdoor Report providing an overview of the collective work offices of outdoor recreation have accomplished for fiscal year 2023. Offices include:
New Hampshire Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry Development
Washington Senior Policy Advisor on Outdoor Recreation and Economic Development
Offices of Outdoor Recreation provide a centralized and dedicated home to coordinate efforts across agencies, identify new opportunities for economic growth, connect all communities to the benefits of time outside, and promote responsible recreation in a state’s most treasured places. They support the outdoor industry developing economies and creating jobs, increasing rural prosperity, improving public health outcomes and quality of life, and promoting environmental stewardship and conservation.
The Confluence of States is a growing network guided by four pillars to ensure outdoor recreation retains a bipartisan approach:
Conservation and Stewardship
Education and Workforce Training
Economic Development
Public Health and Wellness
The report highlights each pillar describing efforts from across member state offices and their departments. From facilitating grant funding to supporting outdoor economy summits and passing meaningful legislation to support the outdoors.
“We are proud to release the 2023 Outdoor Report, a comprehensive and collaborative effort that showcases the incredible work our member states have accomplished this past year elevating the outdoors in their states,” said Brad Garmon, Chair of the Confluence of States and Executive Director of the Michigan Outdoor Recreation Industry Office. “This report highlights the significant strides we have made in increasing awareness and relevance of the outdoor recreation sector, including its role in improving community vitality, creating and training a diverse workforce, and expanding access to ensure more people can enjoy the beauty of our great outdoors.”
For 2021, U.S. federal data showed that the outdoor recreation economy accounted for $862 billion in gross economic output, 1.9 percent of gross domestic product, and 4.5 million jobs in 2021. From 2020 to 2021, the outdoor recreation economy grew nearly 19%, over three times faster than the U.S. economy as a whole. New data for 2022 is scheduled to be released later this month through the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
“This year’s Outdoor Report exemplifies why state offices of outdoor recreation are so valuable—their accomplishments across economic development, education and workforce, conservation and stewardship, and public health demonstrate outdoor recreation’s importance in every state and the need for further investment in outdoor recreation,” said Chris Perkins, Vice President of Programs at Outdoor Recreation Roundtable. “We applaud the Confluence of States for this year’s achievements and look forward to supporting their continued success in the years to come.”
"The success of statewide outdoor offices and the entire outdoor industry as a whole depends on meeting the needs of the new generation of outdoor enthusiasts," said Rich Harper, Director of Government Affairs of the Outdoor Industry Association. "Through community investment and groundbreaking research, we look ahead to another year working with partners across the country to address equity barriers and help make the outdoors accessible for all.”