2021 Building Outdoor Communities Digital Workshop

This workshop was all about building outdoor communities to meet our shared moment, with a focus on economic recovery and resilience, inclusive access for all communities, and place-based culture creation. Guided sessions and a supportive workspace were provided for addressing the shared needs and opportunities brought forth throughout this pair of half-day trainings.

In partnership with the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable and our workshop sponsor, the NC Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, the Building Outdoor Communities workshop featured leading voices on the ins and outs of building a sustainable, dynamic outdoor recreation economy that benefits local communities and visitors alike. The session connected attendees with leaders and doers from both our own region and around the country to identify communities’ top action areas and get hands-on with valuable tools and expert facilitators to help build strong and lasting partnerships and tell community-driven stories that attract funding and get things done.

Through this session, participants were able to:

• Understand the importance and impact of the outdoor industry on rural and urban communities, with data and talking points to be the best salespeople themselves
• Leave with understanding of existing public and private resources to execute plans
• Get connected with key resources, models, and leaders to have the tools and network they need to succeed
• Hear from communities around the country about their successes and challenges thus far in developing economies around outdoor recreation