OSU Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy

Thank you OPB's Think Out Loud for featuring our own Kate Porsche and Randall Rosenberger to talk about the impact of the outdoor recreation economy yesterday! Outdoor recreation is responsible for almost 73,000 jobs in Oregon and 3.6% of our GDP! And Oregon State University is working to help upskill and train this next generation of outdoor recreation workforce. 

Last week, our Director Kate Porsche moderated a City Club of Central Oregon forum on the future of Mt. Bachelor. This important discussion brought together experts and locals to inform the public about how a sale could impact the community, economy, and the resort itself. "Mt. Bachelor contributes about $157M to the Central Oregon community. The majority of those visitors are then heading to downtown Bend to visit small businesses, eat at restaurants and visit local breweries." Check out the video recap here: https://lnkd.in/gxpUCgS4

The Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy is proud to partner with the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable and excited to celebrate the impressive growth of the outdoor recreation industry, which continues to be a powerhouse in the U.S. economy. We’re advancing this thriving industry by upskilling current professionals and preparing future leaders through innovative education and workforce programs.

Here's a great fall collab: Travel Oregon and the OSU Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy. On Nov. 6, Kate Porsche — director of OSU's CORE — will speak alongside Nastassja Olson of Travel Oregon in a webinar for the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals. Their session, "Training and Technical Assistance for the Outdoor Recreation Economy in Oregon," will showcase how Travel Oregon’s destination stewardship programming and Oregon State University's research and leadership training programs are creating a sustainable model for tourism — balancing economic, social and environmental impacts. Session details » https://lnkd.in/gW5xjQA2

Oregon State University now offers a FREE online industry training: FORE 101: Foundations of the Outdoor Recreation Economy! This training is designed to enhance skills, increase diversity and inspire innovation in the booming outdoor recreation industry. What makes FORE 101 special? 🌲 Comprehensive coverage of economic, social and environmental impacts 🌍 Eight self-paced lessons, developed in collaboration with industry leaders 🧑💼 Insights into employment pathways, policy issues, social justice and best practices 🎓 A digital badge upon completion to showcase your commitment to professional development "By offering this training for free, we hope to reach a diverse audience who may not have considered a career in this growing field," says Kate Porsche, Director of OSU’s Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy. Whether you’re new to the industry or a seasoned professional, this course is a valuable opportunity to broaden your understanding and skills, positioning yourself at the forefront of a dynamic and growing sector. 🌿 Learn more about FORE101 » https://lnkd.in/gf6963w2

Ready to turn your love for the great outdoors into a career? Oregon State University's Tourism Recreation Adventure Leadership degree is your ticket to managing natural spaces and leading epic outdoor adventures. Plus, it's a blast! Big thanks to Sports Illustrated for the shout-out! 🙌

Join us on Wednesday, July 24 at noon for our FREE Off-Season Ski & Snow Industry Webinar Series. The next webinar in this series is Stop the “Tough Guy Show”: Creating Healthier Workplace Cultures in the Ski Industry. The “tough guy show”. It’s the macho culture of invincibility, superhuman hours and stoic silence that pervades the ski industry. It affects men especially, but women are impacted, too. And it’s time to put this outdated attitude to rest. By looking down on vulnerability and emotions other than being stoked or angry, this hyper-masculinity has hurt team performance and harmed individuals. Would we have as many suicides in our industry if people felt more comfortable sharing problems and seeking help? So, stop the tough guy show. Let’s create a healthier workplace for everyone. Presented by: Ed Frauenheim, Founder of Ed Frauenheim and Friends Jay Rydd, Ski Operations Manager at Diamond Peak Ski Resort We’ll uncover attitudes that damage us as individuals and as organizations. And we’ll explore positive alternatives to the tough guy show that allow workplace culture to thrive. Register >> https://lnkd.in/gqaG4yHX

We are kicking off our FREE Off-Season Ski Industry Webinar Series this Wednesday, June 26th with: The Power of Mentorship. In this webinar featuring Kari Brandt of Diamond Peak Ski Resort and the President of Women of Patrol, you will learn about the power of mentorship in the workplace and how these connections can make your organization’s teams more productive and resilient.   Register today » https://lnkd.in/gqaG4yHX

Attention ski resort employers! What’s your plan for training your lift team this year? Check out the online Ski Operations and Lift Maintenance trainings from Oregon State University designed to train your employees at any time. What makes our online ski training programs ideal for your lift team? ❄ Accessible online format, allowing learners to participate from anywhere – even their phones. ❄ Aligned with NSAA resource guidelines, enhancing their knowledge and skill set. ❄ Superior training documentation to support liability coverage and risk management Discover more about our programs and how they can benefit your workforce » https://lnkd.in/gbDyz63Z

As if this month could get any better for outdoor recreation, April 20-28 is National Park Week, including a FEE-FREE day on April 20! Each day has a different theme and National Park Service encourages you to enjoy all our country's National Parks have to offer. From NPS: 🔭 Saturday, April 20: Discovery. What will you discover? A new place, a new interesting fact, a new activity... To kick off National Park Week and encourage you make that new discovery, entrance fees are waived on April 20! 🤛 Sunday, April 21: Volunteers. Use your time and talents as a volunteer in your national parks. Find opportunities to volunteer for a single event or long term position. 🌎 Monday, April 22: Earth Day. Join the global celebration encouraging education and stewardship of the planet's natural resources. Many parks are hosting volunteer events. You can also find ways to practice conservation at home. 💡 Tuesday, April 23: Innovation. History of our nation's innovation is preserved in national parks. Also learn about the innovative projects happening in parks or through our programs today. 🏗 Wednesday, April 24: Workforce Wednesday. Meet our incredible workforce of employees, interns, fellows, volunteers, contractors, partners, and more. Consider joining our team! 🙋♀️ Thursday, April 25: Youth Engagement. Calling the rising generation of stewards! Learn about the opportunities for youth and young adults to get involved and see what your peers are up to. 👥 Friday, April 26: Community Connections. Learn about the important work our programs and partners are doing in communities across the country both within and outside of our park boundaries. 👩🌾 Saturday, April 27: Junior Ranger Day. For kids (and kids at heart), become a Junior Ranger through in-person or online activities to learn about special places or topics. You may even earn a Junior Ranger badge! 🎨 Sunday, April 28: Arts in Parks. Home of many arts past and present, find your muse creating arts within parks. Also learn about preserving and practicing arts in your communities through the work of our programs and partners.