Looking out over the Cooley Jericho Community Forest

State Leaders Promote Collaboration in Recreation Industry

In time for the summer season, state leaders from the offices of outdoor recreation share how the industry shapes their state and what impacts are to come.

In our June 13 webinar on the State of the Recreation Economy – part of our Building the New Forest Future series – panelists from Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine spoke on a myriad of topics surrounding the outdoor recreation economy.

Mike Wilson, senior program director at the Center, facilitated a discussion among the three panelists who gave insight into the roles their state office of outdoor recreation plays in the advancement of the industry. We recorded the discussion for you to listen to – just click the link below.

Our panelists were Jackie Dagger, Manager of the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative, Janel Lawton, Director of the New Hampshire Office of Outdoor Recreation, and Carolann Ouellette, Director of the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation. Laura Dibetta, Director of Outdoor Recreation at New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, was unable to join the conversation due to last minute scheduling conflicts.

The discussion started with the value that outdoor recreation adds to the regional economy, from economic benefits to health, well-being, resource stewardship, and more. These state offices work together regionally and nationally to advance initiatives that grow the sector.

They are excited about the momentum of increased investment in recreation on the local, state, and federal level allowing for more opportunities to grow the industry sustainably. One trend they are seeing is communities using outdoor recreation to attract residents and visitors without overwhelming the community, through grants, youth programs, and stewardship efforts.

You can learn more about the initiatives in each state by visiting their website.

We hope you enjoy the recording. Please share it with others who are interested in supporting young leaders in their communities.

Staff Contact

Mike Wilson

Senior Program Director

Cell: 603-731-0558

More on Our Webinar Series

Building the New Forest Future is a webinar series that amplifies stories, practices, and lessons from community development, sustainable tourism, and rural economy in the Northern Forest.

Building the New Forest Future: Center Webinar Series