Partnership to Reach and Engage Underrepresented Audiences in a “Fit-for-Purpose” Outdoor Recreation Effort

For information on how to apply, please see the attached 'Outreach of Interest Template Instructions' document.

This Outreach of Interest (OOI) functions as an outreach mechanism to cultivate relationships and connect with potential partners. This OOI is intended to solicit responses to explore future projects meeting the needs and interests of potential partners through partnership agreements within legislative authority with USDA Forest Service.

This OOI aims to reach partners and explore partnerships with entities previously overlooked or underrepresented in visitor and recreation program implementation and design on national forest lands. We are looking to our partners to help us in our development process, locally, regionally, and nationally to reach visitor and outdoor recreation audiences not currently representative more effectively of our national demographics. This can include helping the agency at the inception of project (tangible and intangible) design identify justice-oriented funding criteria, objective evaluation, and robust community engagement for recreation and visitor related efforts.

Americans are finding connections to national forests and grasslands in greater numbers than ever before. Visitation to national forests and grasslands in 2020 surged to a record-breaking 168 million visits, more visitors than at any other time in the history of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (USDA Forest Service 2021). During the pandemic, visitors came to safely recreate, be restored, and create new memories. That surge also brought clarity to the USDA Forest Service as to where we need to improve delivery of affordable, safe access to outdoor recreation. We also know that not all visitors feel welcome or connected to the great outdoors. Our national forests and grasslands belong to all Americans, and our goal is to show that national forests and grasslands are open to anyone from any background or ability.

Outdoor recreation on national forests and grasslands continues to be one of our best opportunities to make connections, build relationships, and foster long-term care and stewardship of our natural resources. Our public lands can also be a source of healing, inspiration, and purpose to bridge some of the divides and challenges our country has faced over the past few years.