Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy
Request Info
fog-in-trees-at-sunset

ABOUT US

The Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy is delivering a new kind of workforce development to meet the unique needs of the vast, extremely entrepreneurial, and rapidly growing outdoor recreation industry. 

As a partnership of OSU’s Division of Extension and Engagement, the College of Forestry, and OSU-Cascades, the Center is fueled by both the resources of an R1 research university and deep ties with policy makers and industry leaders across the country.

Our work
  • Research: We are connecting industry and higher education to undertake research aimed at understanding outdoor recreation workforce needs.
  • Program development: We are uniting industry expertise, academic rigor, and innovative instructional design to deliver engaging and relevant training for every point along the learner’s career journey.
  • Industry engagement: We are partnering with industry stakeholders to identify and respond to workforce training, leadership development and research needs.
  • Higher education outreach: We are spearheading the creation of a national consortium designed to support and coordinate  industry-responsive research & development at  universities and colleges nationwide.

VALUES

RELEVANT, ALWAYS
Everything we do is grounded in the practical needs of our industry partners and the learners we serve. We look for gaps to fill, weak links to strengthen and opportunities to identify and deliver the skills and applied knowledge needed to move the industry forward.
BUILD FOR TOMORROW
The Outdoor Recreation Industry is changing fast. It’s becoming more dynamic, technologically advanced and customer-centric. So we build change into everything we do: embracing innovation and experimentation, and equipping learners to thrive for years to come.
MAKE THE TENT BIGGER
The outdoors are for everyone, so we seek out opportunities to make the industry more welcoming to all people, especially members of underrepresented populations. We do the work to ensure that the pipelines and pathways we support result in a more diverse and equitable workforce.
REMEMBER WHY WE'RE HERE
Spending time outdoors makes people healthier and happier. It deepens their connections to each other, to their communities and to this beautiful world. Outdoor recreation makes life better for everyone, so a thriving outdoor recreation industry has benefits that extend far beyond its contribution to the GDP. That’s our big picture. That’s why we’re here.
BE THE CONNECTOR
The Outdoor Recreation Industry is uniquely entrepreneurial, with thousands of independent businesses serving the market in distinct ways that reflect the character of their communities. We connect the dots. Providing thought leadership and a core curriculum to make the industry as a whole greater than the sum of its parts.
SEE OUR VALUES IN ACTION
Explore programs