Creating recreation opportunities focus of summit here
The Montana Governor’s Office of Outdoor Recreation is set to hold a summit here next week on the topic of enhancing frontcountry outdoor recreation opportunities.
The 2019 Business of Outdoor Recreation Summit: Recreation Innovation Lab is Oct. 10-11 at Grouse Mountain Lodge. The Crown of the Continent Geotourism Council and the Montana Access Project are partners in the summit expected to bring together more than 100 participants from across Montana, Alberta and British Columbia.
The lab focuses on outdoor recreation opportunities in the frontcountry or places that are considered easy to get to by car or for day trips, and will look at the way communities are looking to offer these experiences because of the economic potential that can result.
Outdoor recreation contributes an estimated $7.1 billion to Montana’s economy and brings more than 12.4 million visitors to the state each year.
“There is a wealth of knowledge and creative thinking around creating frontcountry outdoor recreation opportunities in a multitude of communities on differing landscapes — from mountains to prairies, lakes to rivers, and public to private land,” said Rachel VandeVoort, director of the Montana Governor’s Office of Outdoor Recreation. “In this lab, we will come together and share our unique expertise working as Montanans and neighbors in the Crown region to elevate each other’s well-being and economic vitality.”
Last year the Montana Governor’s Office of Outdoor Recreation held a summit here to discuss the business of outdoor recreation and ways to create growth within the outdoor industries.
During the lab event next week, participants will tour three recreation projects around Whitefish and will “dive into the nuts and bolts of how to start, grow and maintain quality outdoor recreation experiences,” according to the event’s website.
“The impact of outdoor recreation on the economy and well-being of communities in Montana and the Greater Crown of the Continent, including British Columbia and Alberta, is undeniable. Not only is it consistently the top reason people choose to live and visit, but it has become a powerful tool in industry and employee recruitment and retention,” said Sheena Pate, project coordinator for the Crown of the Continent Geotourism Council. “We’re bringing together diverse stakeholders to ensure the value of one of our leading economic drivers is understood, supported and planned for. Not just for the industry’s sake, but because we are all inherently tied to the health of the landscape.”
The event also includes the chance to enter a Recreation Innovation Award Competition worth $2,500 provided by hunting map innovators onX to support recreation work.
The Innovation Lab is made possible through REI Co-op, the Outdoor Industry Association, Montana State Parks and many other businesses and organizations that are working to encourage access to outdoor recreation in Montana and surrounding areas.
The lab event runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Cost for the event is $125. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/y33mpzjb