Resources on this page include:
- A fact sheet developed by the National Extension Outdoor Recreation Working Group (pictured at right): The Outdoor Recreation Economy and Cooperative Extension: An opportunity to address a growing need in the nation’s communities
- Examples of outdoor recreation Extension programming
- Examples of Extension job descriptions that include a major Outdoor Recreation programming component
Examples of outdoor recreation Extension programming
Outdoor recreation in extension work has taken on many forms across the country, highlighted below are four examples from different regions of the U.S. These programs are all state level programs that showcase opportunities offered. There are more localized extension projects in counties or regions including outdoor recreation programming but also much more opportunity for this integration moving forward
- North Carolina State University Extension – Outdoor Recreation Stewards Program
“The Outdoor Recreation Stewards Program was piloted in Montgomery County in 2023 to bring experts in recreation, tourism, forest management, and local resources to community members. Participants were able to prioritize goals for outdoor recreation and destination development, identify ways they could be part of the process, and make their priorities known to leaders in the room.” - Ohio State University Extension – Multi-county
- Scenic Byway Coordination
“Local educators with The Ohio State University Extension Community Development assist local scenic byways, like the Appalachian Byway of Ohio, with expansion efforts, corridor-management planning, and target marketing support.” - Lake Erie Sport Fishing Course at Stone Laboratory
This physical education course is an introduction to techniques and equipment used in Lake Erie sport fishing featuring daily Lake Erie angling trips with lectures that include related aquatic science information. This is a one-week introductory, for credit course, taught in-person at Gibraltar Island. - Lake Erie Sport Fishing Workshop at Stone Laboratory
Lake Erie Sport Fishing is an intensive workshop designed to give students a background in technical concepts used by experienced Lake Erie anglers. The course relies on actual fishing experience coupled with personal instruction provided while on the water.
- Scenic Byway Coordination
- Oregon State University Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy
Delivers workforce development “to meet the unique needs of the vast, extremely entrepreneurial, and rapidly growing outdoor recreation industry.” - Utah State University Extension – Gateway & Natural Amenity Region (GNAR) Initiative
“The GNAR Initiative exists to help Western gateway communities, their regions, and public lands around them thrive and preserve the things that make them special. The Initiative does this by leveraging our three pillars – research, education, and capacity building – to help communities and land managers throughout the West prepare and respond to challenges.” - West Virginia University Extension Service – Mon Forest Towns
“Connecting towns within and near the Monongahela National Forest to improve quality of life for residents and visitors.” - In 2022 the NET published a series of case studies highlighting the extent of Extension’s work on tourism and outdoor recreation from around the country, including Oregon, Michigan, Minnesota, Vermont, West Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, and Utah.