RVers Aren’t Just In It For The Drive

On October 24, outdoor recreation leaders from Maine, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico and Virginia signed Outdoor Recreation Industry Confluence Accords, agreeing to standards for how an Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry (OREC office) should engage with the outdoor recreation businesses in their state. These five states join the eight original signatory states of Colorado, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming.

“Because however impressive the view, convenient the amenities or cathartic the hours spent out on the open road, RVers aren’t just in it for the drive,” said RV Industry Association Vice President of Government Affairs Jay Landers. “We’re taking the family in the RV to go camping, hiking, fishing, boating, horseback riding - you name it, RVers are doing it. That is why we applaud more states signing the Confluence Accords. The more opportunity for outdoor recreation across the country, the more opportunities there are for current - and future RVers.”

Because RVers are avid participators in many other facets of the outdoor recreation economy in America, the RV Industry Association has joined other members of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) – the nation’s leading coalition of outdoor recreation trade associations with 29 members serving more than 100,000 businesses – in advocating for the creation of an OREC office in each state.

OREC offices present incredible opportunities for the RV industry by playing a critical role in increasing outdoor recreation participation. These offices work with local communities to improve infrastructure, coordinate recreation efforts statewide, address workforce development issues and promote the benefits of engaging in outdoor recreation among the citizens of their state.

Specifically, OREC offices are able to support the RV industry by:

• Promoting workforce training programs, such as the programs provided through the RV Technical Institute (RVTI);
• Facilitating public-private partnerships to modernize campgrounds and increase access to public lands;
• Including RV industry executives on industry roundtables to discuss barriers to economic growth;
• Advocating for better investment in public park infrastructure in state budgets;
• Inviting leaders in the RV industry to sit on an industry advisory councils or task forces during the development or implementation of new projects affecting outdoor recreation.

“The continued creation of these OREC offices and their core principles of conservation and stewardship, education and workforce training, economic development and public health and wellness, really shows that state governments are recognizing and responding to the significant economic and cultural impact that the outdoor recreation industry has in their communities,” said RV Industry Association’s Director of Government Affairs Mike Ochs.

The RV Industry Association is seeking assistance from member companies to keep up the momentum of this growing trend of state governments creating and developing an OREC office.

We are eager for members to engage in meaningful conversations with OREC offices in existence and in ongoing efforts to create OREC offices in all 50 states.

To date, OREC offices have been established in 16 states: Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.