We work to protect the two things we love most: outdoor recreation and wild places.

Allan Edwin photo

Improving Access to Wild Places

You want to access wild places and so do we! It’s important that we do so safely and responsibly, to protect nature, wildlife, cultural values and ourselves. The Outdoor Recreation Council works to improve legislation and policies, enhance collaboration with stakeholders, and increase funding for outdoor recreation.

Reconciliation and Recreation

We believe that sustainable trail-building work, outdoor recreation projects, and collaboration with Indigenous communities need to go hand in hand. We call this Working In A Good Way.

Through educational efforts, we provide guidance and advice to recreation associations, user groups, and communities involved in trail maintenance and recreation on how to engage and collaborate with Indigenous communities in support of reconciliation and a sustainable path forward together. Our purpose is to ensure that we are not perpetuating practices and actions that harm and undermine the rights of Indigenous peoples.

Download our Working In A Good Way resources:

Guidelines

Guidelines for outdoor recreation groups on engaging with and working more cooperatively with Indigenous communities on trails and outdoor recreation projects.

Resource page

Information and stories about non-Indigenous and Indigenous peoples collaborating as allies and accomplices in recreation and reconciliation.

Community Building & Member Support

ORCBC is what you call an umbrella organization. We support our members by representing the broad interests and concerns of our membership to government, advocating for access and funding, and helping them connect with each other and build capacity. Support includes:

Advocacy & Government Relations

We represent the organized outdoor recreation sector at meetings with BC Government ministers and senior staff where we raise issues of concern, stay informed about the work of the agencies and other NGOs, and keep abreast of issues currently affecting the outdoor sector. ORCBC advocates for better terms and increased funding for public recreation in BC, including for recreation organizations and volunteers.

Education

We keep our members and the public informed about the things that matter in a number of ways. Check out our educational events, subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on social media and read our publications.

funding

Insufficient funding is a critical issue in the sustainable development and maintenance of BC trails and outdoor spaces. This is why we have set up the Outdoor Recreation Fund of BC to give grants to recreation organizations and others for expenses like signage, maintenance work, education programs, and other recreation projects.

Educational Events

Check out an outdoor recreation event near you or host your own event for us to post and share.

bc trails day

Celebrate the trails we all love and learn to recreate responsibly. June 1, 2024.

BC Rivers Day

Join us for Canada's largest river appreciation event. Sept 22, 2024.