Type: OIA Press Room

BOULDER – Reports of a new Office of Outdoor Industry and Experiences in Connecticut today were praised by outdoor industry stakeholders across the country, including Outdoor Industry Association president, Kent Ebersole, who issued the following statement:

“From coast to coast, it is encouraging to see the growing number of states prioritizing their local outdoor recreation economies,” said Kent Ebersole, president of Outdoor Industry Association. “The reason for this momentum is simple: the outdoor recreation economy accounts for more than $1 trillion in consumer spending nationwide and supports more than five million hard-working employees and their families across the nation. Furthermore, the number of Americans who participate in the outdoors has increased to new heights for eight consecutive years, with over 56% of the population getting outside. We welcome the state of Connecticut to this movement and look forward to working with policymakers there to increase access to public lands and waterways, advance conservation efforts, and increase outdoor participation, so everyone can experience the benefits from spending time outdoors.”

Duncan to reinforce Foundation’s mission of getting people outside for their health, the health of communities, and the health of the outdoor industry

BOULDER, CO (January 8th, 2024) –  Outdoor Foundation (OF), the philanthropic arm of Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), is proud to welcome Lesford Duncan, MPH, as its new Executive Director. Lesford joins the Foundation with over a decade of experience in public management in government and nonprofit sectors. A proven and collaborative leader in outdoor equity and youth development, he has leveraged philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, and programmatic best practices to promote the resilience and well-being of children, families, and communities. His previous roles include Senior Director of Programs and Associate Executive Director at Outdoor Outreach and most recently the Chief Executive Officer of the Greening Youth Foundation, the international nonprofit working to cultivate the next generation of diverse environmental leaders.

Throughout his career, Duncan has worked to lead and support coalitions and develop innovative programs addressing issues at the intersection of outdoor recreation, environmental justice, and health. He has led and collaborated on local, state, and federal public policy efforts to reduce barriers to outdoor access, advocate for equitable conservation and environmental justice, and promote the health and well-being of communities. He has also worked closely with the Outdoor Foundation over the past four years, supporting Thrive Outside Communities in San Diego and Atlanta, and serving as a board member of the Outdoor Foundation.

Through community grant-making and groundbreaking research, the Outdoor Foundation works with partners across the country to address equity barriers and help make the outdoors accessible for all. The Foundation’s Thrive Outside Community Initiative awards multi-year, capacity-building grants to diverse communities to create repeat and reinforcing positive outdoor experiences for children and families. The core goal of the Thrive Outside Community Initiative is to create healthy individuals, communities, and economies by making the outdoors a key component of daily life. 

“Lesford brings to this role an impressive track record of creating outdoor opportunities for children, youth, and families who have faced barriers to making the outdoors a part of their lives,” said Amy Dominguez-Arms, Outdoor Foundation Board Chair. “The board is excited to work with Lesford to expand our support for Thrive Outside Communities – where diverse civic leaders are mobilizing and coordinating resources to make meaningful outdoor experiences available to all. With Lesford at the helm, we look forward to capitalizing on our valuable partnership with OIA to magnify our impact in the years ahead.” 

“With the support of the Outdoor Foundation board and team, I am honored to lead the Foundation and to contribute to a mission that resonates deeply with me; fostering deep and sustained relationships between communities and nature, and cultivating a more inclusive outdoors where we all find joy, recreation, and well-being,” said Duncan. “Together, with the talented team at the Outdoor Foundation and our partners at OIA, we look forward to supporting collaborative and innovative efforts to increase outdoor access and promote community health through outdoor recreation.”

Duncan is an avid kayaker, ultramarathon runner, and mountaineer. Born to Jamaican parents who instilled in him the values of adventure, persistence, and curiosity, he is proud to have placed a small Jamaican flag at Mt. Everest Base Camp. The Outdoor Foundation looks to a promising future strengthening the multitude of networks that build accessibility and inclusivity in the outdoors with Duncan at the helm.

 

About Outdoor Foundation

The Outdoor Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Outdoor Industry Association, is a national 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to getting people outside for their health, the health of communities, and the health of the outdoor industry. Through community investment and groundbreaking research, the Outdoor Foundation works to create a more inclusive and accessible outdoor experience for all. Visit outdoorfoundation.org for more information.

About the Outdoor Industry Association

Based in Boulder, Colo., with offices in Washington, D.C., Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is a catalyst for meaningful change. A member-based collective, OIA is a passionate group of business leaders, climate experts, policymakers, and outdoor enthusiasts committed to sustainable economic growth and climate positivity while protecting – and growing access to – the benefits of the outdoors for everyone. For more than 30 years, OIA has catalyzed a thriving outdoor industry by supporting the success of every member company across four critically aligned areas: market research, sustainability, government affairs, and inclusive participation. OIA delivers success for its members through education, events, and business services in the form of solutions and strategies, consultation, collaboration, and opportunities for collective action. For more information, visit outdoorindustry.org

BOULDER, Colo. (November 29, 2023) – Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) President Kent Ebersole today released the following statement commending the introduction of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act in the U.S. House:

“We are thrilled to see Congress taking bipartisan action to ensure each American has the opportunity to enjoy outdoor spaces in their own community, bolster economic growth, and advance mental and physical health benefits for all, and thank House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Westerman and Ranking Member Grijalva for their leadership on this bill. The outdoor recreation economy continues to soar to new levels, accounting for over $1 trillion in consumer spending and demonstrating participant growth for the eighth consecutive year. This is an important inflection point. We must modernize, preserve, and increase access to the public lands and waterways – regardless of where someone lives or works – and support more than five million employees who help drive our industry forward.”

Since its initial introduction by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in 2021, OIA has also strongly advocated for the companion America’s Outdoor Recreation Act which aims to bring green spaces to more people and expand access to the great outdoors.

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About the Outdoor Industry Association

Based in Boulder, Colo., with offices in Washington, D.C., Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is a catalyst for meaningful change. A member-based collective, OIA is a passionate group of business leaders, climate experts, policy makers and outdoor enthusiasts committed to sustainable economic growth and climate positivity while protecting – and growing access to – the benefits of the outdoors for everyone. For more than 30 years, OIA has catalyzed a thriving outdoor industry by supporting the success of every member company across four critically aligned areas: market research, sustainability, government affairs, and inclusive participation. OIA delivers success for its members through education, events, and business services in the form of solutions and strategies, consultation, collaboration, and opportunities for collective action. For more information, visit outdoorindustry.org.

BOULDER, CO (November 27, 2023) – A member-led collective and the outdoor industry’s catalyst for meaningful change, Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) today proudly announces that Julie M.H. Brown has joined the team as Director of Sustainable Business Innovation. In her new role, Brown will direct and manage OIA’s sustainability department in its mission to unite, empower and guide the outdoor industry to become climate positive by 2030.

Along with driving all OIA sustainability initiatives into the future, Brown will oversee OIA’s Climate Action Corps, the consortium consisting of over 75 outdoor businesses that has already made significant and crucial progress on measuring, setting targets, reducing emissions, and advocating for bold policy action in Congress. She will also lead OIA’s Clean Chemistry and Materials Coalition (CCMC), the comprehensive program that provides OIA members with strategies, scalable action plans, and solutions for thoughtfully phasing out PFAS and other harmful chemicals from their products.

“Julie brings to OIA almost two decades of environmental sustainability experience at the nexus of policy, business and technology. Her knowledge in this critical area will be vital as we continue to provide meaningful council, education, and pragmatic programs to our members,” said Kent Ebersole, President of OIA.

Brown brings a wealth of experience in sustainability to OIA, with a long history of working with brands in the apparel and outdoor markets, where she executed sustainability strategies for global brands, technology companies, and circular economy partners. Most recently she served as Head of Sustainability for EON, a technology company leading the development of cloud-based digital identities for products. Prior to that, Brown worked as Director of the Higg Index at the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, where she collaborated directly with OIA to launch and optimize the Higg Index for the outdoor industry.

“The outdoor industry is uniquely positioned to drive meaningful impact and inspire profound change through sustainable innovation, advocacy, and research. In today’s world, transparency in sustainability performance is not just a choice; it’s a necessity,” said Brown. “I am truly honored to be a part of the OIA team and am looking forward to collaborating with our members to help them achieve their crucial sustainability objectives.”

“Collectively we can create more sustainable practices to ensure the outdoor industry is successful for the health of business, people, and the planet,” Ebersole added.

About Outdoor Industry Association

Based in Boulder, Colo., with offices in Washington, D.C., Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is a catalyst for meaningful change. A member-based collective, OIA is a passionate group of business leaders, climate experts, policy makers and outdoor enthusiasts committed to sustainable economic growth and climate positivity while protecting – and growing access to – the benefits of the outdoors for everyone. For more than 30 years, OIA has catalyzed a thriving outdoor industry by supporting the success of every member company across four critically aligned areas: market research, sustainability, government affairs, and inclusive participation. OIA delivers success for its members through education, events, and business services in the form of solutions and strategies, consultation, collaboration, and opportunities for collective action. For more information, visit outdoorindustry.org

 

 

BOULDER, Colo. – Today, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released new data showcasing the tremendous impact of outdoor recreation on America’s economy. In 2022, the BEA found that outdoor recreation accounted for $1.1 trillion in gross economic output, 2.2% of gross domestic product (GDP), and supported 5 million jobs across the United States.  

“It comes as no surprise that outdoor recreation and the outdoor economy continue to demonstrate outstanding growth, which also supports the historic trends in outdoor participation we have seen in recent years,” said OIA President Kent Ebersole. “The outdoor recreation participant base grew for the eighth consecutive year to a record 168.1 million participants, and new participants are increasingly diverse and looking to businesses to lead on sustainability, equity, and conservation. This new data demonstrates the strength of the outdoor recreation industry and our collective power to drive sustainable economic growth while protecting – and growing access to – the benefits of the outdoors for everyone.”  

BEA launched its outdoor recreation economy project in 2017 to “deepen the public’s understanding of the economic impact of outdoor recreation, inform decision making, and improve governance and long-term management of public lands and waters.” 

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About the Outdoor Industry Association  

Based in Boulder, Colo., with offices in Washington, D.C., Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is a catalyst for meaningful change. A member-based collective, OIA is a passionate group of business leaders, climate experts, policy makers and outdoor enthusiasts committed to sustainable economic growth and climate positivity while protecting – and growing access to – the benefits of the outdoors for everyone. For more than 30 years, OIA has catalyzed a thriving outdoor industry by supporting the success of every member company across four critically aligned areas: market research, sustainability, government affairs, and inclusive participation. OIA delivers success for its members through education, events, and business services in the form of solutions and strategies, consultation, collaboration, and opportunities for collective action. For more information, visit outdoorindustry.org.  

 

  

 

BOULDER, Colo.  (September 29, 2023) – Today, Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) President Kent Ebersole released the following statement regarding the looming government shutdown on September 30:

“Government shutdowns are bad for business. Although no two shutdowns are alike, and the impact of a shutdown varies from agency to agency, the $862 billion outdoor recreation industry and its 4.5 million employees rely on public lands, waterways, and national parks to be open and accessible to the public. If past experience teaches us anything, we know tens of millions of dollars are at stake for communities and outdoor businesses across the country, not to mention the risk to tens of thousands of hard-working business owners, employees, and families. We strongly encourage all sides to negotiate a plan to keep the federal government running before the funding deadline.”

Washington D.C. (Sep. 28, 2023) — Aligned around the goal of facing unprecedented threats to public lands and waters, three well-established outdoor industry non-profits – representing a quarter million people and 800 businesses – are coming together with an aligned agenda and shared voice to protect the outdoors. The new coalition — Protect America’s Outdoors — is unified by the idea that speaking with one voice on behalf of a huge group of people makes their collective impact stronger.

Outdoor Alliance, The Conservation Alliance, and Outdoor Industry Association are already long-time partners. Outdoor Alliance and The Conservation Alliance are nonprofits working to advocate for the human-powered outdoor recreation community and conservation-minded businesses around protecting America’s wild places and outdoor spaces. Outdoor Industry Association is the trade association for the Outdoor Industry, whose membership champions conservation of public lands for both outdoor recreation and environmental health.

In the last few years, conservation advocates have seen rapid change around public land and outdoor activities. Outdoor recreation participation is at a new high, with more than half of Americans participating in outdoor recreation in 2022. Increased visitation has put pressure on public lands and waters, especially after years of underfunding and short-staffing. What’s more, climate change, and a lack of access to nature for many Americans threatens many communities.

“Protect America’s Outdoors was born out of these challenges,” said Adam Cramer, CEO of Outdoor Alliance. “Now is the time to show our collective power and make sure that lawmakers understand the importance of protecting the outdoors — not just for land, water, wildlife conservation, or outdoor recreation, but also for our identity as a nation.”

Shoren Brown, Vice President of Public Affairs for TCA, said: “We’re stronger together. We see tremendous potential to continue and grow the outdoor recreation industry and its economic impact across the country. The ceiling for progress is so much higher when we collaborate with those who share the same vision for conservation.”

The shared policy goals of Protect America’s Outdoors include:

• Conserving America’s Public Lands and Waters
• Making American Lands and Waters Part of Climate Solutions
• Supporting Sustainable and Equitable Outdoor Recreation Access
• Ensuring Funding for Conservation and Stewardship

Outdoor recreation’s economic impact has also continued to grow in recent years, contributing $862 billion in gross economic output to the U.S. economy in 2021, and sustaining more than 4.5 million jobs. Communities around the country are looking to expand outdoor recreation opportunities to enhance residents’ quality of life and support diversified local economies.

The time is now for policymakers to take action to protect the outdoors and everything they provide for the American people.

Learn more about Protect America’s Outdoors, including shared policy goals and past successes, at www.ProtectingAmericasOutdoors.com.

About Outdoor Alliance, The Conservation Alliance and Outdoor Industry Association

Outdoor Alliance is a coalition of 10 member-based organizations representing the human-powered outdoor recreation community. The coalition includes Access Fund, American Canoe Association, American Whitewater, International Mountain Bicycling Association, Winter Wildlands Alliance, The Mountaineers, the American Alpine Club, the Mazamas, Colorado Mountain Club, and Surfrider Foundation. It represents the interests of the millions of Americans who climb, paddle, mountain bike, ski, and enjoy coastal recreation on our nation’s public lands, waters, and snowscapes. outdooralliance.org

The Conservation Alliance is an organization of like-minded businesses whose collective contributions support grassroots environmental organizations and their efforts to protect wild places where outdoor enthusiasts recreate. Alliance funds have played a key role in protecting rivers, trails, wildlands and climbing areas. Membership in the Alliance is open to all companies who care about protecting our most threatened wild places for habitat and outdoor recreation. Since its inception in 1989, The Conservation Alliance has contributed more than $21 million, helped to protect more than 51 million acres of wildlands; protect 3,107 miles of rivers; stop or remove 34 dams; designate five marine reserves; and purchase 14 climbing areas. conservationalliance.com

Based in Boulder, Colo., with offices in Washington, D.C., Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is a catalyst for meaningful change. A member-based collective, OIA is a passionate group of business leaders, climate experts, policy makers and outdoor enthusiasts committed to sustainable economic growth and climate positivity while protecting the benefits of the outdoors for everyone. For more than 30 years, OIA has catalyzed a thriving outdoor industry by supporting the success of every member company across four critically aligned areas: market research, sustainability, government affairs, and inclusive participation. OIA delivers success for its members through education, events, and business services in the form of solutions and strategies, collaboration, and opportunities for collective action. For information, visit outdoorindustry.org.

 

BOULDER, Colo. – Today, Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) celebrated the Biden administration’s historic action to launch the American Climate Corps, which will be tasked with building a clean and climate resilient economy and promoting a strong outdoor workforce.

“It is outstanding to see this administration take another big step forward in the fight to conserve and restore our lands and waters, bolster community resilience, and modernize the country’s outdoor infrastructure for the 168 million Americans who participate in outdoor recreation every year,” said OIA President Kent Ebersole. “Tackling climate change requires tremendous leadership at all levels of government and industry. The Biden administration continues to deliver on their ambitious conservation agenda, from five new national monument designations and land protections to this newly redesigned American Climate Corps. These policies are imperative not only to turn the tide on climate change, but to safeguard our environment and the long-term economic health of the $862 billion outdoor recreation industry.”

OIA and its members have consistently supported the establishment of an American Climate Corps and investments in natural climate solutions. OIA has hosted webinars, sent letters to congressional leadership, gathered industry leaders, worked with lawmakers, spoke to the public, and built a policy platform that calls for a fully-funded American Climate Corps.

Additionally, OIA’s Climate Action Corps – outdoor businesses united on the bold goal to become the first climate-positive industry by 2030 – has already made significant progress in reducing their carbon footprints according to science-based targets, removing their remaining carbon emissions from the atmosphere, and advocating for robust climate policy. OIA looks forward to working with the Biden administration to support the next generation of clean energy, conservation, and resilience workers. Read the full 2022 Impact Report and Climate Action Corps Member Progress Reports here.

Read more on how OIA and 100 outdoor companies are pioneering a collaborative model to accelerate science-based climate action and influence policy here.

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About the Outdoor Industry Association

Based in Boulder, Colo., with offices in Washington, D.C., Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is a catalyst for meaningful change. A member-based collective, OIA is a passionate group of business leaders, climate experts, policy makers and outdoor enthusiasts committed to sustainable economic growth and climate positivity while protecting – and growing access to – the benefits of the outdoors for everyone. For more than 30 years, OIA has catalyzed a thriving outdoor industry by supporting the success of every member company across four critically aligned areas: market research, sustainability, government affairs, and inclusive participation. OIA delivers success for its members through education, events, and business services in the form of solutions and strategies, consultation, collaboration, and opportunities for collective action. For more information, visit outdoorindustry.org

 

 

Swift and strategic action puts outdoor collective on track to become the first climate positive industry by 2030

 

BOULDER, COLO [August 16, 2023] – Today, Outdoor Industry Association’s (OIA) Climate Action Corps proudly released the latest data from its 2022 Impact Report, summarizing the group’s objectives, methodology, results, and findings, as well as an assessment of its overall impact to date. 

 A member-led collective of outdoor brands, specialty retailers, and suppliers both big and small, OIA’s Climate Action Corps consists of leading outdoor businesses that have united around the bold goal to become the first climate positive industry by 2030. The Corps’ 2022 Impact Report reveals in detail how the sustainability collective continues to make significant and crucial progress on measuring, setting targets, reducing emissions, and advocating for bold policy action in Congress.

Some of the most notable highlights from the Climate Action Corps’ 2022 Impact Report include:

• 99% of Corps members have measured their operational greenhouse gas emissions (measured, estimated, or in progress for scope 1 and 2 emissions) – up from 96% from last year and 84% in 2020.
• 91% are measuring their value chain emissions (measured, estimated, or in progress for scope 3 emissions) – up from 83% last year and 69% in 2020.
• 87% have set Scope 1 and 2 targets and 76% have set targets for Scope 3 (set or in progress).
• 13 Corps members are engaged in 4 Impact CoLabs – in addition to 7 members who have already completed 2 CoLabs – to help accelerate emissions reductions.
• 76% have engaged in advocacy actions, such as endorsing a climate solutions campaign or sign-on letter, participating in a government meeting, or corresponding directly with U.S. Congress or administration officials – up from 59% last year.

“We applaud the bold leadership of our Climate Action Corps members and their commitment to collective action and sustainable growth. This work is not easy. It takes perseverance, courage, and a tremendous amount of time and energy. But together, our combined efforts can drive innovation, mobilize millions of consumers, drive meaningful policy change, and be a model for other sectors to follow. Our industry’s long history of collaboration has shown time and again that we can unite to confront even the most complex issues,” said OIA President, Kent Ebersole.

Many of OIA’s Climate Action Corps members share this common vision. 

“REI’s mission is to connect every person to the power of the outdoors and engage them in the fight to protect it. The OIA Climate Action Corps has been a key partner in helping us build coalitions to solve some of our biggest environmental challenges. Their platforms allow brands to advocate for collective environmental shifts in the outdoor industry, they educate members on regulations and policies, and they offer support to ensure every brand is moving forward with their climate goals,” added Danielle Fraser, Merchandising Sustainability Manager at REI. 

“Climate Action Corps has created a unique community of support for its membership. Learning from other brands and how they approach and structure their sustainability initiatives has been valuable and reassuring that we are all on this journey together,” said Kristen Bandurski, Sustainability Program Manager at Vasque.

“L.L.Bean has always had the environment as one of our key stakeholders,” said Brian O’Connor, Director of Sustainability and Global Compliance at L.L.Bean. “OIA’s Climate Action Corps has been instrumental in helping us turn our corporate intentions into impact.” 

“We are so proud to see our industry rally around the climate crisis and take bold, science-based action to combat it. Climate change has no barriers – it impacts each one of us, and the planet upon which we all recreate. While each individual action to address this crisis has an impact, together as an industry and as a collective of Climate Action Corps members, we have greater potential to catalyze sustainable growth and affect systemic change,” added Ebersole. 

Read the full 2022 Impact Report and Climate Action Corps member Progress Reports here.

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About the Outdoor Industry Association

Based in Boulder, Colo., with offices in Washington, D.C., Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is a catalyst for meaningful change. A member-based collective, OIA is a passionate group of business leaders, climate experts, policy makers and outdoor enthusiasts committed to sustainable economic growth and climate positivity while protecting – and growing access to – the benefits of the outdoors for everyone. For more than 30 years, OIA has catalyzed a thriving outdoor industry by supporting the success of every member company across four critically aligned areas: market research, sustainability, government affairs, and inclusive participation. OIA delivers success for its members through education, events, and business services in the form of solutions and strategies, consultation, collaboration, and opportunities for collective action. For more information, visit outdoorindustry.org.

Compose[d], a digital strategy and creative services agency, is pleased to announce their partnership with the Outdoor Industry Association to help brands effectively develop and authentically communicate their company’s ongoing sustainability efforts and climate goals across all marketing, advertising, and consumer touch-points.

“We’re incredibly excited to partner with OIA to continue to help brands communicate their sustainability efforts and any other digital needs for their business,” shares Compose[d] President and CCO, Jason Parkin. “The Outdoor Industry has been, and continues to be, a leader when it comes to sustainability and climate action, which is why we’re so happy to not only be a part of it, but further commit ourselves to the industry. With the new regulations around PFAS, the FTC’s Green Guides regulations, and an increasingly savvy consumer base, it’s critical that brands are authentic in their communications, and avoid any hint of greenwashing.”

A Certified B Corp since 2020, Compose[d] is uniquely positioned to support the long-term success of the outdoor industry by incorporating CSR values and achievements into the marketing narratives of businesses around the world and across industry verticals.  With this new partnership, OIA members can now save up to 12 percent (12%) on services rendered by Compose[d].

ABOUT COMPOSED

Compose[d] is a digital strategy & creative services agency dedicated to driving positive impact. As a Certified B Corp®, we leverage our expertise to help clients effectively develop and authentically communicate their sustainability efforts, e-comm, digital marketing/advertising solutions, and consumer insights; from established global brands to up-and-coming challengers across all industry verticals.