Outdoor Allies: Andrew Blann

Ever wondered how you can do more for public lands but you aren’t sure where to start? Outdoor Alliance’s Outdoor Allies series explores how other outdoor adventurers got their start in advocacy work and their advice for how you can harness your passion for the outdoors into advocacy for the land and water you love. Andrew Blann is the Vice President of the Arkansas Climbers Coalition and the Marketing Director at Fossil Cove Brewing Company in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Andrew enjoys his time outdoors in deep forests, bullet rock, and clear Ozark streams. 

What do you like to do outside and how did you first get connected with the outdoors? 

I'm primarily a rock climber but also enjoy creek fishing, canoeing,  hiking and exploring new places.. I grew up in Kansas and spent a lot of my childhood outdoors: working outdoors, playing outdoors, at the lake, riding horses, running around the woods, all the things kids love to do in the country. We took a family trip to interior Alaska when I was in elementary school and it exposed me to a type of outdoors I'd never experienced, the vastness of Alaska is mind boggling. That trip stuck with me and played a major role in my love and passion for the outdoors. 

What is your current role in advocacy? 

Andrew Blann, tabling at one of many ACC events in Arkansas

I'm a volunteer board member with the Arkansas Climbers Coalition, I became active in that role the more I learned about climbing access, experienced access restrictions and saw the success of local climbing organizations (aka LCOs) around the country in shaping policy and protecting access.

What are some successes you’ve had as an organization in the state of Arkansas? 

One of our biggest successes would be with the city of North Little Rock. There was a big 1,000 acre park that was used as an old quarry and we signed an MOU to develop climbing there. We tapped into our volunteer network to get it started three years ago, and now there are three different climbing areas that have over 120 routes. We also just recently helped the state open up some climbing at Petty Jean State Park. There aren’t many routes there now, but it was a huge success because for years climbing was off-limits there. We helped the state reexamine their management plan, which took several years, but we have been successful and we’re hoping that we will be able to develop more routes there in the future. Our work with the Forest Service includes a lot of trail maintenance and rebolting. The successes we’ve had are relationship-based, especially with recreation managers and district managers and our stewardship events and trail work days have helped us develop those. 

There was recent federal policy that was advanced by Rep. Bruce Westerman in the state of Arkansas that will adopt new guidance for bolting. Can you talk a bit about that success and what it means for Arkansas, as well as recreation across the country? 

Andrew, alongside Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR-4) and Traci Berry, Grasstops Collective member

This was significant for our work, but most climbers in Arkansas are unaware of this. Climbing is still a pretty small subset of outdoor recreation in Arkansas, but mountain biking and paddling are huge here and the EXPLORE Act will be able to bring awareness to the importance of expanding and maintaining access here locally, and how to remain involved. It’s refreshing that when we go to D.C. and also return to our local communities, that there are lawmakers who aren’t just talking the talk, but walking the walk. I think in Arkansas, climbers, mountain bikers, etc. have no idea why they're voting for anybody in particular, but having this kind of engagement at a high level when it comes to policy will hopefully make folks more aware, and more involved going forward.  

You’re a part of our Grasstops Collective, our first cohort. Can you talk a bit about what you learned being a part of that program and what skills you’ve taken from it to advance your work in Arkansas?

One thing I’ve learned is that it's a long game, this type of work. It’s all about relationship building, and it takes more than just one meeting or one conversation to put things into forward motion. There is no snapping of the fingers, and things just happen, it’s all about consistency, showing up, and making the small wins become something larger over time. You have to stay engaged, whether that's a couple times a year, or talking to whoever the decision maker is all the time. Whatever time you do get in front of these people, take it, because it’s going to be beneficial and pay back not just for you, but also your community. 

Finding common ground is an important place to start. I don’t know many Congresspeople who are climbers, but you can always find something to connect on in Arkansas because access to the outdoors and nature are very important to everyone in this state. We all have these shared places that we've been to and experienced at some time in our life here, and so being able to find those common threads that we all have and use those to build off of those is what’s helped me in keeping the momentum up. 

What would you tell someone who is looking to get more involved in protecting the places they get outside?

Cohort 1 of the Grasstops Collective, and other climbing organizations: Access Fund, American Alpine Club

Find a local group that loves your activity, go to one of their meetings, events or stewardship days. Start talking to people involved and start pulling on threads. The more you show up, the more connections you make and more opportunities to make a difference will appear. Be curious and meet other people that share your passions. It's a long game, but consistency helps build relationships, land managers, which will ultimately benefit the areas you recreate in.

Lightning round (one or two word answers):

Most used piece of gear: Climbing shoes

A place you want to visit: Arrigetch Peaks in the Brooks Range, Alaska

Another advocate you admire: Ken Smith

Favorite close to home spot: Big Piney Creek