The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) in collaboration with the Richard King Mellon Foundation, the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship and the Pennsylvania Office of Outdoor Recreation, hosted its inaugural National Leadership Forum on Rural Development through Outdoor Recreation. The event brought together 70 national leaders in economic development, outdoor recreation, and conservation to identify shared priorities and core opportunities for rural communities looking to enhance their economies through outdoor recreation.
The forum featured a keynote address from Baratunde Thurston, Emmy-nominated host, producer, writer and public speaker, widely recognized for his work on PBS’s “America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston.” Thurston’s remarks underscored the power of outdoor recreation to bring diverse communities together, strengthen local economies, and cultivate a deeper connection with nature. His message resonated with attendees, the organization said, inspiring them to think critically about the intersections of recreation, community identity and economic resilience.
“This gathering was a breath of fresh air. Recognizing our interdependence with each other and with our planet is part of my life’s work and to be in community with people across so many organizations and sectors committed to the same was inspiring. Rural areas are reminding us that we can grow economic opportunity by growing and deepening our relationship with nature. In fact, that’s really the only way forward,” said Thurston following the forum.
Chris Perkins, vice president of programs for ORR, called attention to the broader mission of the forum, highlighting the importance of rural development initiatives at a time when outdoor recreation participation has reached record highs and the outdoor recreation economy has reached $1.1 trillion in economic impact annually, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. “Outdoor recreation has proven time and again to be a catalyst for economic growth, especially in rural areas. But to truly unlock the potential of these communities, we need more than just a shared vision — we need actionable strategies and lasting partnerships,” said Perkins. “This forum and the roadmap that will be released from its learnings will help define a pathway for outdoor recreation economies that are resilient, sustainable, and inclusive and where national and local organizations and businesses can support and benefit.”
The agenda was packed with high-profile discussions, including a fireside chat between Dr. Basil Gooden, U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development and I Ling Thompson, CEO of the Foundation for America’s Public Lands, who discussed the current state of rural America, key development opportunities to tap into and lessons from effective communities from around the country to demonstrate how outdoor recreation and rural economies can thrive together.
Forum participants also explored the role of outdoor recreation in addressing critical challenges facing rural areas, including affordable housing, health and community identity. Discussions centered on how investments in recreation infrastructure not only benefit local economies but also foster healthier, more connected communities. Attendees examined how outdoor recreation can be leveraged to maintain local wealth, preserve affordability and ensure broad access to natural spaces for all residents.
The forum was followed by a day-long field tour to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where participants observed firsthand the local efforts to use outdoor recreation as a vehicle for economic revitalization. Attendees met with local leaders, business owners, and community members at the Quemahoning Recreation Area, Johnstown Incline, Central Park and Stone Bridge Brewing Company to gain insights into how a focus on recreation has created new opportunities for jobs, tourism, and community engagement in this historic town.
Looking ahead, ORR plans to build on the success of this forum by turning its key learnings into a Roadmap for Rural Economic Development that will chart a shared agenda for public, private and nonprofit partners to help outdoor recreation and rural communities thrive together. Additionally, ORR will continue its work in rural communities through initiatives such as the Rural Implementation Grants, also funded by the Richard King Mellon Foundation. These grants provide critical financial support to communities aiming to grow their outdoor economies, helping them overcome barriers to funding and bandwidth, while ensuring long-term success.
The Rural Economic Development Toolkit, a cornerstone of ORR’s efforts, was a focal point of the discussions throughout the event. Developed over several years and now in its second edition, the toolkit is designed to assist rural communities in building their outdoor recreation sectors by providing guidance on creating local visions, securing buy-in from community stakeholders and navigating funding opportunities. As noted in the Daily Yonder, recreation communities have experienced the most job growth since the pandemic, with counties whose economies depend on recreation, tourism, or outdoor amenities like skiing and hiking gaining 36,700 more jobs since 2019, a 1.25% increase in employment.
As the nation’s leading coalition of outdoor recreation associations, ORR said it is committed to bringing national attention to the economic potential of outdoor recreation. Through forums like this and resources like the Rural Economic Development Toolkit, ORR aims to ensure that rural communities have the tools they need to thrive in an evolving economy driven by outdoor recreation.
The National Leadership Forum on Rural Development through Outdoor Recreation featured influential speakers, panelists and stories, including:
- Welcome from Chris Perkins, Vice President of Programs, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable and Sam Reiman, Director, Richard King Mellon Foundation.
- Keynote address by Baratunde Thurston followed by a Q&A with Jessica Wahl Turner, President, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable.
- Fireside Chat with Under Secretary for Rural Development Dr. Basil Gooden and I Ling Thompson, CEO, Foundation for America’s Public Lands.
- Recipes for Successful and Resilient Economic Transitions – Featuring Dr. Silas Chamberlin, Principal, Firefly Outdoor + Economics; Tawny Wilson, Director of Advancement and Impact, Oweesta Corporation; Matt Dunne, Founder and Executive Director, Center on Rural Innovation; Rob Riley, President, Northern Forest Center; and moderated by Nicole Manapol, Director of Economic Recovery Corps, International Economic Development Council.
- Stories of Place: Old Fort – Video shared on behalf of Jason McDougald, Executive Director, Camp Grier and Stephanie Swepson-Twitty, President and CEO, Eagle Market Streets Development Corporation.
- Planning for Housing, Affordability, and Local Wealth Creation – Featuring Janice Ikeda, Executive Director, Vibrant Hawai’i; Dr. Megan Lawson, Economist, Headwaters Economics; David Lipsetz, President and CEO, Housing Assistance Council; Sara Moffat, Senior Advisor, Bureau of Land Management; and moderated by Larry Selzer, President and CEO, The Conservation Fund.
- Fireside Chat with Lucas St. Clair and Tony Pipa on Vison and Values.
- Stories of Place: Athens County, OH – Shared by Jessie Powers, Executive Director, Outdoor Recreation Council of Appalachia.
- Funding Recreation Infrastructure – Featuring Curan Bonham, Program Officer, Richard King Mellon Foundation; Ryan Chao, President, Rails to Trails Conservancy; Tom Gilbert, President, Pennsylvania Environmental Council; Meryl Harrell, Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, U.S. Department of Agriculture; and moderated by Tee Thomas, CEO, Quantified Ventures.
- Activating Communities – Featuring Steph Bertaina, Senior Policy Analyst, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Program Lead, Recreation Economy for Rural Communities; Chris Estes, Co-Executive Director, Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group; Sandi Marra, President and CEO, Appalachian Trail Conservancy; Brian Vincent, Mayor, Farmville, Virginia; and moderated by Dr. Danny Twilley, Assistant Vice President of Economic, Community, and Asset Development for the Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative at West Virginia University.
- Stories of Place: Wind River Reservation – Shared by Alexandra Calloway-Nation, Fellow, U.S. Economic Development Administration Economic Recovery Corps.
- New Horizons for Outdoor Recreation – Featuring Marc Berejka, Divisional Vice President, Community Advocacy & Impact, REI Co-op; Glenn Hughes, President, American Sportfishing Association; Shauneequa Owusu, Chief Strategy Officer, ChangeLab Solutions; Kim Wootteon, Vice President, Commercial Strategy, KOA; and moderated by Dr. Nathan Reigner, Director, Pennsylvania Office of Outdoor Recreation.
- Stories of Place: PA Wilds – Shared by Ta Enos, Founder and CEO, PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship.
