Providing leadership for the
outdoor recreation profession
About the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals
The Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals has been serving the outdoor recreation profession since 1983. It is the nation’s leading association of outdoor recreation and related professionals who strive to protect our natural and cultural resources while providing sustainable recreation access. Our mission is to provide leadership for the outdoor recreation profession through skill development, networking, and technical guidance.
Join the Stewards Circle
The Stewards Circle honors those who have chosen to leave a legacy gift or donated to our endowment, ensuring that future generations continue to have access to resources, professional development opportunities, and more through SORP.
Join our Stewards Circle if you donate $1,000 or more to the endowment or leave a legacy gift of any amount. The perks of the the Stewards Circle include:
- Receive a Stewards Circle pin
- Acknowledgement on website and annual report
- Special invites (e.g. NORC reception) and discounts to NORC
- Preview of annual report and other publications
Whether you've already included us in your plans or are just beginning to explore your options, we'd love to welcome you.
SORP Members Receive...
Community
Access to an incredible community of outdoor recreation professionals who are interested in networking, sharing resources, staying up to date on the latest industry trends, finding and sharing job opportunities, and discussing hot topics.
Support
SORP will help connect you with experienced industry professionals plus we collect, organize, and share a wide variety of resources to save you time and keep you up to date on planning and management tools, concepts, processes, handbooks, and policies.
Opportunity
Access to online training through webinars, plus discounts for the National Outdoor Recreation Conference, the only conference that supports the training needs of professionals that manage nature-based outdoor recreation.
2028 National Outdoor Recreation Conference
March 6-9, 2028 | Gulf Shores, Alabama
The National Outdoor Recreation Conference (NORC) brings together 400+ professionals from across the outdoor recreation field. Over four days, attendees engage in workshops, concurrent sessions, and inspiring keynotes, with added training and field workshops to learn and explore the local region.
Upcoming
Events
Find Industry Insights
Check out the SORP communities to discover a wealth of shared knowledge and connections. SORP members are able to:
- Ask questions and get answers from industry colleagues across the country
- Find or share valuable resources through the technical resource library curated by topics such as climate change, DEIA, stewardship, outdoor recreation economy
- Access webinar recordings
- Get access to member discounts to events and trainings.
Support SORP
The Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals (SORP) is a nonprofit organization that relies on the generosity of our community through donations, partnerships, memberships, and more to advance the outdoor recreation profession. There are many ways to support SORP and help strengthen the people and programs shaping outdoor recreation across the country.
We could not offer our benefits without support from our members and partners.
Donate
Endowment + More
SORP is the nation’s leading association of outdoor recreation and related professionals who strive to protect our natural and cultural resources while providing sustainable recreation access. SORP offers programs for the career advancement and professional development of outdoor recreation professionals. Many of our opportunities are free of charge to serve our community and provide these important training opportunities.
Planned Giving
Wills, QCDs + more
Planned giving is a major charitable contribution arranged during a donor's lifetime as part of an overall financial or estate plan. These gifts may benefit you, your family, and the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals in the future.
As a SORP member benefit we have partnered with LifeLegacy to offer a tool to build your Last Will & Testament.
Shop
Gear Up as a SORP Member!
Love being a member of the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals? Looking for a way to support our mission? You can now shop gear (t-shirts, hats, jackets, etc.) through our shop on Bonfire! We are a verified nonprofit, so any purchase helps us keep moving forward towards providing leadership for the outdoor recreation profession through skill development, networking, and technical guidance.
"This is the most valuable organization I have ever joined. Keep it up!"
SORP Member
Amazing conference with huge networking and connectivity opportunities
2024 NORC Attendee
It was amazing to be at a conference with so many passionate professionals and learn about the opportunities to contribute to individual and overarching projects.
2024 NORC Attendee
"This is the most valuable organization I have ever joined. Keep it up!"
SORP Member
Community Highlights
Search our Resource Library
Check Out ResourcesThe most robust list of resources in our library are available for our members.
Training Resources
We've assembled a great collection of websites and documents from the web that can help you do your job better.
SCORP Resources
SORP's digital library of state SCORPs is the only place you will find all 50 state SCORPs in one place.
Trainings & Workshops
Explore opportunities SORP offers to advance skills and knowledge in the field of outdoor recreation.
SORP Reports
We have curated a great list of resources for you.
Start a Discussion
Join the ConversationParticipate in online discussions in hundreds of online communities with thousands of members.
View Blogs
ButtonReview featured blog posts on different topics available to members.
Find Your Next Job
Check out the Job BoardShare and browse job opportunities within the outdoor recreation industry. No other professional organization is positioned to support outdoor recreation professionals with the same depth and breadth of expertise as SORP. Our focus is the complex interactions between outdoor recreation, tourism and natural, historic, and cultural resources. Must be a SORP member to view.
Awards
At the National Outdoor Recreation Conference (NORC), SORP recognizes and honors individuals and groups for their outstanding accomplishments in the field of outdoor recreation planning, management, research, and policy, as well as in service to SORP. Statewide recreation plans (such as SCORP Plans) are now recognized under the Project Excellence category.
NEWS AND UDPATES
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Create a FREE account to join our newsletter and to save your information and access our online portal! From your portal you can register for events and purchase a membership.
