The Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals (SORP) 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 Vision

The Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals creates sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities for all. 

Our Mission

SORP provides leadership for the outdoor recreation profession through skill development, networking, and technical guidance.

Our Values

  1. Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Our organization is strengthened by the diversity of thoughts, experiences, and connections of the outdoor recreation professionals who work to provide outdoor recreation for all.

  2. Sustainable Recreation: We embrace and share our members’ work that demonstrates sustainable balance among environmental, social, and economic conditions and benefits present and future generations of all backgrounds.

  3. People: Our strength is the passion, diversity, knowledge, and leadership of our members and the outdoor recreation profession.

  4. Community: We thrive in the opportunity to support lasting connections and the cultivation of shared purpose in serving the recreating public.

  5. Collaboration: We embrace diverse collaborations to advance the outdoor recreation profession and foster meaningful and lasting relationships.

  6. Skill Development: We believe that a fulfilling career includes life-long learning and evolves to be responsive to changing conditions. 

Services

  1. We provide a support and collaboration network for outdoor recreation professionals through communities of practice, web-based tools, and gatherings.

  2. We serve as a confluence for resources, tools, information, and innovation provided by our network of outdoor recreation professionals.

  3. We advance skill development and training by creating and disseminating high-quality learning opportunities through webinars, gatherings, and our annual conference.

  4. We promote the scholarship and advancement of students and new professionals by providing monetary support and development opportunities.

  5. We contribute leadership on contemporary policy issues relevant to outdoor recreation by participating in national forums and gatherings, and supporting applicable position statements.

SORP Staff

Executive Director

Rachel Franchina

rachel.franchina@recpro.org

Membership & Communications Manager

Rebecca Maguire

rebecca.maguire@recpro.org

Training Specialist

Angie Braley

angie.braley@recpro.org 

Who We Are: The 2025-2026 SORP Board of Directors

President

Lisa Luokkala

Executive Director

Superior Hiking Trail Association

Vice President

L Fisher

Trail Policy Manager

Continental Divide Trail Coalition

Treasurer

Tyler Thompson

Research and Evaluation Analyst

Three Rivers Park District (MN) 

Secretary

Monika Derrien, Ph.D.

Research Social Scientist

USDA Forest Service

Pacific Northwest Research Station

Endowment 

Dakota Anderson

Recreation Coordinator

City of Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks

Emerging Leader

Colby Parkinson

Ph.D. Student

Penn State University

Anne Marshall

Recreation Resources Director

Tennessee Parks and Conservation Bureau

Bess Perry, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Michigan State University

Drew Pollak-Bruce

Founder & Principal

CRO Planning + Design

Lara Jacobs, Ph.D.

Post-doctoral Researcher

Michigan State University

Whit Patterson

Outdoor Recreation Planner

Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

Akiebia Hicks

Project Manager

Connecticut Bureau of Outdoor Recreation

Kate Porsche

Director

Oregon State University Center for Outdoor Recreation Economy

Kathryn Wrigley

Forest Recreation Specialist

Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation

Mike Ferguson

Assistant Professor

University of New Hampshire

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