The Great Outdoors Month Council in January approved a new Executive Committee. Executive Committee members are:
- CHAIR: Frank Peterson – President & CEO, Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation
- Vice Chair: Luis Benitez – Director, Colorado Office of Outdoor Recreation
- Vice Chair: Kevin Coyle – Vice President for Education and Training, National Wildlife Federation
- Vice Chair: Chris Maloof – Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Development, Aspira
- Vice Chair: Mary Ellen Sprenkel – CEO, The Corps Network
- Vice Chair: Kathryn Van Waes – Executive Director, American Hiking Society
- Executive Director: Derrick Crandall – President, American Recreation Coalition
The Council will roll out new strategies and coordinated events to introduce Americans across the country to new experiences and more healthy, active fun in America’s Great Outdoors. The Council will continue to focus on public/private partnerships and key pillars of the Month’s successes, including Governors and agencies managing the nation’s public lands and waters. Key initiatives for 2018 will included testing of a new TouchSomeFun event and PSAs featuring the nation’s Governors inviting people to explore the outdoors in their states.
Last year’s Great Outdoors Month included thousands of events and drew more than 1.5 million participants in activities ranging from National Trails Day to National Get Outdoors Day to the Great American Campout.