Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy
Request Info
three-sisters-from-west

Where Are We Now?

Innovative Approaches to Education

Formal degrees are not always the right answer for people already working in their field, and many leaders have identified workforce development as a strategic need to mature and grow the outdoor recreation economic sector. But it isn’t always clear what that path looks like for the current and future workforce.

In an effort to best support the industry, we are currently identifying, testing and iterating non-degree credentials and trainings that will complement existing degree programs at Oregon State University. The Outdoor Recreation Economy Initiative is responding rapidly to these evolving sector needs and working to allow greater access to the outdoors for all.

These trainings will be built in such a way to make them as accessible as possible, fitting around the learner’s busy schedule and providing stackable credentials that encourage them to pursue as much or as little training as needed or required.

30

Organizations
Representatives from over 30 organizations and companies attended our recent retreat in Bend, Oregon.
hills

Industry Partnerships

Industry support and strategic partnerships are a necessary part of helping us identify current and future workforce needs of the industry. Together, we will develop a workforce that integrates business, environmental and technological considerations to advance a sustainable and accessible future of the outdoors.

We are currently building a cohort of organizations that will collectively identify the most critical workforce gaps and provide support to test and expand training solutions that accelerate innovation and progress for our people, organizations and communities.

OREI Companies Logos

REI, LOGE, The National Park Service and The Corps Network are some of our key partners in this initiative.

Retreat in Bend, Oregon

We recently hosted a retreat in Bend, Oregon that included stakeholders from:
 
Adventure Not War 
The Avarna Group 
Bare, LLC
Bend Outdoor Worx
Brown Folks Fishing
The Corps Network
Columbia Sportswear
evo
Governor’s Office
Greening Youth Foundation
The Joy Trip Project
KEEN
LOGE Camps
National Park Service
Oregon Office of Outdoor Recreation

Oregon Outdoor Alliance
OUT There Adventures
Outdoor Asian
Outdoor Policy Outfit
Outdoor Recreation Roundtable
Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association
REI Co-op
Ruffwear
She Moves Mountains
Songlines Communications
State of Oregon
Travel Oregon
USDA Forest Service
Wallowa Resources
The Wilderness Society

people
$16.4 BILLION
in Oregon consumer spending
money%20(1)
$5.1 BILLION
in wages
+28%25
$749 MILLION
in state and local tax
revenue
icon02
175,000
in Oregon jobs
Design_02

Discover What's Out There for You

About OREI

The outdoor industry is a powerhouse of meaningful job creation and a driving force of Oregon’s economy, creating a unique quality of life in rural and urban areas and attracting new businesses and professional talent to our communities.

Workforce Training

Oregon State University has a proven track record of building custom and non-credit workforce trainings, from self-paced learning opportunities to online continuing education classes, and is uniquely positioned to do this work for the outdoor recreation economy.

Career Pathways

There are many job opportunities in the outdoor recreation economy for those with the right skills and experience. We are currently building a database of job openings along with various pathways to help you build out your credentials and get to work.