Blogs

I love traveling and usually start planning my next trip before the current one ends, but I knew that spending three out of four weeks away from my family and home would be tough. And it was—especially since I didn’t feel well on two of those trips, and the third involved a serious family distraction (thankfully, all is well now). Still, the traveling was worth it to meet so many people who are passionate about creating memorable outdoor experiences and working together to ensure these resources are sustainably managed. It was also exciting to introduce new people to the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professions (SORP) and brainstorm ways to elevate our work ...

Press Release from https://fpr.vermont.gov/press-release/63-million-vorec-grants-boost-outdoor-recreation-across-vermont Wed, 05/29/2024 - 12:00 PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release – May 29, 2024 Contact: Jackie Dagger, VOREC Program Manager Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation jackie.dagger@vermont.gov , 802-636-7410 $6.3 Million in VOREC Grants Boost Outdoor Recreation Across Vermont, Supporting 51 Projects Montpelier, VT – Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore and the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) today announced 51 new recipients of the VOREC Community Grant Program. These ...

The Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals (SORP) is proud to unveil the 2024-2025 board of directors. The board members bring a wealth of experience and expertise to their respective roles, embodying SORP's dedication to promoting excellence in the outdoor recreation profession. The composition of the executive board is as follows: President: @Michael Bradley , Ph.D. – Department Chair, Arkansas Tech University Vice President: @Drew Pollak-Bruce – Founder & Principal, CRP Planning + Design Secretary: @Monika Derrien , Ph.D. - Research Social Scientists, USDA Forest Service Treasurer: @Lisa Luokkala - Executive ...

At the 2024 National Outdoor Recreation Conference (NORC) SORP announced the 2024 National Recreation Resource Leadership, Project Excellence and Individual Service award winners. The National Recreation Resource Leadership Awardis selected by the SORP Board of Directors to recognize an individual or organization whose career path has had a significant national impact on outdoor recreation and the outdoor recreation profession. The 2024 National Recreation Resource Leadership Award was presented to Deb Haaland, United States Secretary of the Interior. The 2024 Project Excellence and Individual Service Awards, recognizes outstanding contributions to the ...

On December 4, 2023 the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals (SORP) and Outdoor Recreation Design Lab hosted our second Inclusive Spaces Audit Workshop. Funded by a grant from Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) , the workshop focused on empowering outdoor recreation providers to make their spaces more inclusive and accessible to a broader range of users. Hosted at Staunton State Park in Pine, Colorado, our second edition of the workshop was expanded from a half-day format to a full day to incorporate time for understanding key concepts and pre-field observations. Participants were required to submit a short application to attend the ...

On September 7, 2023,, the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals' Executive Director, Rachel Franchina, participated in a workshop about solutions and actions for implementing the BLM's Blueprint for 21st Century Outdoor Recreation . The workshop was hosted by the BLM's new Congressionally-designated foundation, the Foundation for America's Public Lands . Outdoor recreation is a key focus area for the Foundation and they are committed to supporting the BLM and partners in transforming how people experience outdoor recreation on BLM-managed public lands. The workshop included a mix of presentations and breakout group discussions. BLM and Foundation ...