Voters in Alabama, Missouri Vote to Preserve Park Funding

I-GOs Posted on Thu, 11/10/2016 - 09:37.
Voters in Alabama, Missouri Vote to Support Park Funding

Voters went to the polls this week to decide a number of issues, and in Missouri and Alabama, voters overwhelmingly voted to protect and maintain park funding.

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Georgia, RBFF Successful in Retaining First-Time License Buyers

I-GOs Posted on Thu, 11/03/2016 - 09:02.
Georgia, RBFF Successful in Retaining First-Time License Buyers
Source: RBFF Newswaves

While millions of individuals take up fishing each year (6.2 million in 2015), roughly just as many leave the sport for various reasons. To combat this trend and retain first-time fishing license purchasers, the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) and Georgia Wildlife Resources Division partnered on a New Angler Retention Pilot Program. Through the year-long program, the organizations were able to measure the impact of email communication on a new angler's purchase of a license the following year.

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I-GO: It's Time for Doctors to Prescribe Outdoor Therapy

News Posted on Tue, 11/01/2016 - 08:34.
I-GO: It's Time for Doctors to Prescribe Outdoor Therapy
Read the article in Outside Magazine

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Positive Outlook for Outdoor Recreation in 2017

American Recreation Coalition Posted on Wed, 10/19/2016 - 10:07.
Positive Outlook for Outdoor Recreation in 2017
Read the full report here

Outdoor recreation contributes $650 billion to the American economy, and supports tens of millions of jobs. According to ARC’s new report: Outdoor Recreation Outlook 2017, those numbers are only expected to grow. Most components of the recreation industry reported significant gains in 2016 and the general outlook for the industry in 2017 is optimistic. Key items from the report include:

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Changes to NPS Fees and Operations Can Provide New, and Sustainable Funding

I-GOs Posted on Thu, 10/13/2016 - 09:56.
Changes to NPS Fees and Operations Can Provide New, and Sustainable Funding

The National Park Service (NPS) has an extraordinary opportunity to make changes to how maintenance and visitor services are funded by adopting contemporary financial strategies that would ensure national parks remain relevant, accessible and sustainable long into the future. January 2017 will bring a new Administration and Congress changes – offering a perfect time to consider recommendations from three long-time park advocates and partners.

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ARC, Agents of Discovery and Forest Service Bring Interactive Gaming to the Great Outdoors

News Posted on Thu, 10/13/2016 - 08:01.
ARC, Agents of Discovery and Forest Service Bring Interactive Gaming to the Great Outdoors
This news release is available as a PDF here

Washington, D.C. (October 13, 2016) - Interactive, mobile gaming is coming to America’s national forests! The American Recreation Coalition (ARC), Agents of Discovery and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) are teaming up to bring educational, movement-based interactive gaming to dozens of national forest sites across the country.

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RBFF and U.S. Forest System Enter Historic Cooperative Agreement

I-GOs Posted on Thu, 09/29/2016 - 12:54.
Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation and U.S. Forest Service Enter Historic Cooperative Agreement
By Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation

The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) announced Tuesday it has entered into a new cooperative agreement with the U.S. Forest Service. Through the agreement, the Forest Service will help provide funding for the Take Me Fishing campaign while RBFF will promote the available fishing opportunities on or near U.S. Forest Service lands.

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Forest Service Aims to Revamp Special Use Permit Process to Encourage, Enable More Access to Public Lands

American Recreation Coalition Posted on Thu, 09/29/2016 - 12:29.
Forest Service Aims to Revamp Special Use Permit Process to Encourage, Enable More Access to Public Lands
Originally published by Jason Blevins in the Denver Post, this story can be found as a PDF here

The U.S. Forest Service is scheming a historic shift from a century of strict regulation focused on controlling and limiting access toward a new mission that encourages more Americans to more safely explore public lands.

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Urban Every Kid in a Park Event Draws Virginia Governor & Member of Congress

I-GOs Posted on Fri, 09/23/2016 - 10:56.
Urban Every Kid in a Park Event Draws Virginia Governor & Member of Congress

Alexandria, VA– The Trust for the George Washington Memorial Parkway (Trust), will engage the next generation in an Every Kid in the Park event on Friday, September 23rd from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. 75 Lyles Crouch Elementary School 4th grade students will come to Jones Point Park to participate in a morning of fishing, boating, and conservation activities to connect them to their local parks and the Potomac River. The Trust’s STEM on the Potomac educational program will also bring TC Williams High School STEM Academy 11th grade students will join as mentors for the 4th grade students.

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Recreation Leaders Address NASPD Conference

I-GOs Posted on Mon, 09/12/2016 - 10:07.
Recreation Leaders Address NASPD Conference

A trio of recreation community leaders - ARC President Derrick Crandall, NMMA VP for State Government Relations David Dickerson and RVDA President Phil Ingrassia - addressed the National Association of State Park Directors 2016 Conference in French Lick, Indiana last week. The mood was upbeat, and no wonder - state parks are reporting that visitation is up. Virginia has an especially good story to tell with almost one million visitors - through July 31 - than the same time last year! State parks continue to be one of the best opportunities for healthy, active outdoor fun on public lands and waters across the country. See their presentation here. For more state park facts, click here.