At a time when Americans are eager to find things that bring us together, one topic stands alone as a great unifier — the Great Outdoors.
Across the United States, outdoor recreation — a $1.2 trillion contributor to our economy, supporting 5 million jobs — is driving job creation, rural revitalization, and bipartisan cooperation in ways that few other industries can match. At the heart of this quiet success story is a movement to create and sustain State Offices of Outdoor Recreation, which 24 states have built in the last decade.
As directors of two such offices — in Arkansas and Pennsylvania — and as chair and co-chair of the Confluence of States, the leading national coalition representing these impactful offices, we’ve seen firsthand how this model is delivering results for governors, legislators and communities across the political spectrum. These offices represent some of the best that state governments can offer, helping connect everyone to the benefits of time outside, improving public health, identifying conservation and stewardship priorities, and making states more competitive in attracting and retaining talent.
With the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable’s “25 in 2025” campaign gaining momentum — challenging states to create the 25th office of outdoor recreation this year — it’s time policymakers across state capitals take note.
Outdoor recreation offices enjoy universal political support because they do not divide — they unify. These offices are not regulatory or partisan bodies. They’re conveners: bringing together business, conservation, tourism and community voices under a shared mission. Whether created by Republican or Democratic governors, outdoor recreation offices have found champions on both sides of the aisle. That’s because hiking trails, clean rivers, vibrant campgrounds, boat launches, and local gear shops don’t belong to just one party — they are where all of us come together to make lifelong memories in the outdoors.
Offices have become trusted leaders on issues ranging from rural economic development to veterans’ wellness to outdoor workforce readiness. Regardless of the political climate, they offer a hopeful, forward-looking story that communities and policymakers alike want to be a part of.
These offices deliver some of the highest returns on investment in state government. Most operate with lean budgets and small teams — sometimes just one or two staff embedded in existing departments. And yet, they coordinate millions of dollars in federal and state outdoor investments, aligning agency work to reduce duplication and increase efficiencies and helping outdoor businesses grow and hire.
Consider Tennessee, which recently established its Office of Outdoor Recreation with no additional cost to the state simply by organizing existing leadership to work smarter and more strategically. In Minnesota, the state established the Outdoor Industry Partnership to foster collaboration among Explore Minnesota Tourism, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Employment and Economic Development, and Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation. These examples demonstrate that new offices don’t have to be new bureaucracies. They can be tools for efficiency and leverage.
What we hear most from local leaders — mayors, county commissioners, planners — is that outdoor recreation has become a lifeline. State outdoor offices help bring visitors into town, create opportunities for small businesses and manufacturers, and support quality-of-life improvements that help rural communities retain and attract residents.
In Arkansas, we’re seeing communities develop outdoor recreation economies around trail systems and waterways that were previously overlooked. In Pennsylvania, historic industrial towns are rebuilding their identities around outdoor access, thanks to the help of aligned investment and state-level support. These are homegrown wins — tied not just to nature, but to heritage, resilience and the sense of place that gives communities something to stand on again.
Outdoor recreation is a $1.2 trillion industry nationwide. State outdoor offices help turn that macroeconomic strength into tangible benefits for real communities. And don’t take it from us — take it from our governors, who recently led a national video campaign highlighting the effect of offices like ours.
We’re not here to pitch a program. We’re here to point out a model that works. Offices of outdoor recreation are bipartisan, budget-friendly, and built to deliver.
The smart play — for any state not yet in the game — is to join the 24 states that already have these offices in place and help us reach “25 in 2025.”
The impact is real. The costs are minimal. And the returns are coming in every day — on the ground, in our communities, and across every region of the country.