In this short episode, we look back on the highlights of Day 1 at OR and preview a few of the can’t miss events on Day 2 at Summer Market. You can view Wednesday's full OIA events and education agenda here: outdoorindustry.org/event/oia-outdoor-retailer/

To learn more about the work OIA does year round on behalf of its member companies, click here: outdoorindustry.org/

You’ve got sustainability questions; we’ve got answers. Wherever you are on your journey to sustainability, we’re here to help. In 2019, we are helping OIA companies to Walk the Walk by hosting a series of sustainability boot camps. They are designed to help small to mid-sized brands that have limited to no dedicated sustainability staff or expertise to accelerate sustainability improvements and meet (or exceed) customer expectations. The camps are intensive full-day sessions combining engaging speakers, educational content, hands-on activities and take-home resources. The goal is for participants to leave the boot camp with more confidence and clarity around what is a complex topic. They will leave with a customized action plan so that they can champion sustainability within their brand, establish their organization’s strategy and program and take the next steps.

The first boot camp was held in Seattle, Washington, in March, and it hit capacity. The second camp is scheduled for June 16 in Denver, the day before Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, providing scheduling efficiency for those people who are already planning to attend the trade show. If Denver in June isn’t convenient, we’ll be offering two additional boot camps later this year, one in New York City on September 19 and one in Costa Mesa, California on December 5. Visit outdoorindustry.org for more information on the upcoming camps.

In this episode of Audio Outdoorist, we’re speaking with two industry professionals who attended the Seattle camp to find out why their company made it a priority, what they learned and what they’ll do next to keep their sustainability strategy forging forward.

Stay tuned for future stories from NEMO, Showers Pass and other boot camp attendees as they navigate their post boot-camp sustainability journeys. You can also read about how other industry brands are taking steps toward greater sustainability in our online series, “Sustainability: The First Step is the Hardest.”

https://outdoorindustry.org/sustainability-first-step-hardest/

Last week, in an overwhelming display of bipartisan support, the House of Representatives voted to pass the Natural Resources Management Act. This comes after it successfully passed through the Senate earlier in February, which means it now goes to the president for his signature. This is an enormous win for the outdoor industry, as the package includes many different components, including permanent reauthorization for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

In this episode, OIA’s Managing Content Editor Deborah Williams sits down with Patricia Rojas-Ungar, OIA’s vice president of government affairs, who recently joined the association. They’ll talk about about what this milestone means for the industry and our members, and the work that still needs to be done.

More here: https://outdoorindustry.org/advocacy/