Even with the government shut down, Outdoor Alliance doesn’t stop working to protect public lands and waters. In October, our team and partners from across the country came together in Washington, D.C. for a fly-in that brought outdoor recreation leaders face-to-face with lawmakers to talk about the issues that matter most to the outdoor community: keeping public lands public, defending agency staffing and resources, and securing long-term funding for the outdoors.

Over the course of two days, our team, member organizations, and Grasstops Collective advocates met with 77 offices, including 9 members of Congress—a nearly even split between Republicans and Democrats. These meetings helped strengthen bipartisan support for outdoor recreation and conservation priorities across the country.

Policy Priorities and Takeaways

Our meetings focused on several key policy priorities:

Keeping public lands public: At a time when some lawmakers are proposing to sell off or give away public lands, Outdoor Alliance continues to stand up for the idea that these lands belong to everyone. Senator Lee’s recent shift from a national land sale strategy to a piecemeal approach underscores that the outdoor community needs to stay engaged in protecting public lands and waters.
Protecting outdoor recreation: We shared the importance of upholding the Roadless Rule, which the USDA is in the process of working to rescind, a move that would strip protections from 45 million acres of National Forests. While some staff were less familiar with this issue, these conversations highlighted the need for ongoing public education and advocacy.
Defending agency capacity: Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle expressed concern about the state of agency staffing. Understaffed agencies are struggling to implement policies like the EXPLORE Act, manage recreation responsibly, and maintain essential infrastructure.
Securing funding for the outdoors: There was strong bipartisan interest in reauthorizing the Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF), a cornerstone of the Great American Outdoors Act that has delivered millions of dollars in deferred maintenance projects across public lands. Many offices voiced support for moving a clean reauthorization bill through the Senate in the next year.

Outdoor Alliance’s CEO Adam Cramer said, “Public lands are one of the last truly bipartisan spaces in America. The conversations we had this week show that there’s still real appetite—across party lines—to protect access, fund stewardship, and ensure agencies have what they need to care for these places.”

Highlights from California

The California team met with 14 bipartisan offices, including House Natural Resources Committee staff and Ranking Member Congressman Jared Huffman, who expressed continued support for the Legacy Restoration Fund and outdoor recreation priorities.

“Our meetings with key decision-makers from the California delegation were both productive and insightful, strengthening Outdoor Alliance’s national advocacy efforts,” said Katie Goodwin, Western Regional Director & Policy Analyst at Access Fund. “It was especially meaningful to meet in person with our California policy team, as we continue our six-year partnership advancing impactful conservation policies and expanding public lands access at the federal level.”

Grasstops Collective in Action

The October fly-in marked the first time that both cohorts of the Grasstops Collective—Outdoor Alliance’s leadership development program for local recreation advocates—joined forces on Capitol Hill.

“The fly-in was a great opportunity to make our local outdoor assets and issues personal for lawmakers and their staff,” said Jason McDougald, a current member of the Grasstops Collective and Executive Director of Camp Grier in Western North Carolina. “It was the perfect culmination to the training, where we were able to put our skills to use in a practical way and learn from the professionals at Outdoor Alliance.”

Kait Boyle, a professional mountain bike athlete based in Teton Valley, Idaho, said, “Leaving my first ever trip to D.C. where I had the opportunity to have member meetings with both of my Idaho Senators, I was struck by how powerful meeting in person is for building bridges. Despite generally having different politics from my state's majority, sitting at a table with my Senators and their staffers let my lobby team and I connect with them on the personal level of shared values for public lands. Swapping stories of the meaning of Idaho's public lands with my Senators gave us the connection from which to discuss the importance of protections such as the Roadless Rule and the reauthorization Legacy Restoration Fund because ultimately these policies lead to the continued legacy of the experiences that are made possible on Idaho's public lands that myself, my lobby team, the members of the organizations we represent, and our Senators all personally value.”

Over the last year, civic engagement has been a bulwark against misguided attacks on public lands. Advocacy, especially through writing, calling, and meeting with members of Congress, continues to be effective in protecting the outdoors. In meetings, grasstops advocates shared on-the-ground perspectives from their home states, illustrating how national policy decisions affect local communities. Many participants were surprised by how accessible the process was—walking into congressional buildings and meeting with elected officials underscored the importance and effectiveness of public participation in democracy.

Applications for Cohort 3 of the Grasstops Collective are open until November 9. Apply or recommend a leader here.

Building Momentum

Outdoor Alliance’s meetings in D.C. reinforced that outdoor recreation remains a bipartisan success story—one that unites people around shared values of conservation, access, and stewardship. With more than one million messages sent to Congress this year through Outdoor Alliance’s advocacy campaigns, lawmakers were eager to engage with our coalition and learn more about how outdoor recreation drives local economies and community well-being.

As Nicole Brown, Outdoor Alliance’s Communications and Public Engagement Manager, said, “We heard a lot more strategic thinking this year about how to move key outdoor policies forward in a bipartisan way. That’s encouraging. Lawmakers are listening—and they want to deliver for the outdoor community.”

Get Involved

Outdoor Alliance’s work on Capitol Hill only happens because outdoor enthusiasts across the country speak up. You can help amplify these efforts by writing your lawmakers and urging them to support public lands, outdoor recreation, and the people and agencies who care for them.

Trip Report: Outdoor Alliance Brings Advocates to D.C. to Stand Up for Public Lands and Waters