Outdoorists, today is a new beginning.
The last OAP newsletter was intended to hit your inbox two weeks ago, on January 6th––and every day since then, we’ve opened up the draft, stared at it, attempted to focus, and ended up in a fury of doomscrolling instead. Today, as our country prepares to officially inaugurate our next President today, we’re committing to hitting send and moving towards good changes ahead.
As the first weeks of 2021 have shown us, we are not out of the woods––we are still deep in it––but the transition of power today is a major fork in the trail, pointing us towards a brighter tomorrow. It’s going to take all of us, and everything we’ve got within, to get through this time and to move forward. We can do this, together.
Amidst the chaotic news cycles of the last few weeks (and months? and entire last year?), a lot has happened in the outdoor and environmental spaces––and as we step into a new era for outdoor advocacy, we want you to feel informed, empowered and ready to take action.
Outdoorsy news you oughta know right now––this week is a doozy, lace up your boots:
- We joined 200+ organizations in urging the incoming President to include an emergency investment of $500 million for local parks in any stimulus or economic recovery packages.
- Our friends at Outdoor Alliance launched a 100 First Days Checklist for Public Lands, outlining objectives and actions you can take to support the Biden administration in taking action for public lands and climate during the first 100 days in office.
- Speaking of the first 100 days, Biden is expected to cancel the Keystone XL Pipeline in an Inauguration Day Executive Order (via NY Times)
- Learn more about what Biden’s appointees mean for climbers and outdoorists in this piece by OAP co-founder and American Alpine Club Senior Policy Associate Amelia Howe
- Our colleague Dani Reyes-Acosta, founder of Equanimity Outdoors, teamed up with San Juan Expedition guides Erin Laine and Sarah MacGregor to lead a COVID-safe, all-women’s AIARE Level 1 Avalanche course + Equanimity Workshop building community, cultivating individual agency, and supporting lady leaders in the backcountry. *Scholarships available!
- Remember the lease sale in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge we advocated against? It was a big failure for oil & gas. Backpacker Magazine explains why.
- In Utah, San Juan County and local Tribal leadership ask the incoming President to immediately restore Bears Ears National Monument (and we hope to see this happen!)
- Proposition 114 recently passed in Colorado and now the planning process begins. What does 2023 look like for gray wolf reintroduction? The Outbound explains the pros and cons.
- REI holds vendors accountable for climate and DEI practices with new product standards (via SNEWS)
Phew, that’s a lot–and a wrap for this week. Stay safe out there, and take extra care of yourself + the community around you. Don’t let this moment pass without taking a pause to reflect on how hard you’ve worked the last four years, and how much more work we have ahead. We’re proud of you.
Got the beta on an outdoor advocacy issue, event, or rad content we ought to know about? Give us the scoop: team@outdooradvocacy.com – we want to hear from you and amplify your nooks of advocacy + the outdoors!
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