Leveraging fun: An introduction to the ORCBC’s new guidebook to building thriving outdoor recreation communities

 

Webinar Summary

From Cumberland to Tumbler Ridge, rural towns are embracing outdoor recreation for economic diversification and community building. To get there, each one had to figure out its own formula, but now a breakthrough guidebook produced for the ORCBC offers a blueprint for success.

Our May webinar shows you how to make the most of it. Authors Lauren Rethoret and Sarah Breen, from Selkirk College, joined us to unpack the new resource, Outdoor Recreation for Community and Economic Development: A guidebook for rural British Columbia communities. Hear from the authors about key recommendations and how to use the guide’s features and tools.

The hour-long, interactive presentation included a question and answer session, as well as a case study with Tumbler Ridge, a rural BC community actively working to grow its outdoor recreation economy. For anyone interested in nurturing outdoor recreation, this guidebook is a catalyst for change, offering practical advice, tools, and case studies to inspire and guide rural communities. The webinar will help you make the most of it.

Watch the webinar Recording

Explore and download the Guidebook

Key Takeaways

Introduction: From Cumberland to Tumbler Ridge, rural towns across B.C. are embracing outdoor recreation for economic diversification, community building and healthy living. In the past, each community had to figure out its own formula, but now a breakthrough guidebook produced for the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC provides a blueprint for success. 

What is it: Outdoor Recreation for Community and Economic Development: A guidebook for rural British Columbia communities is an interactive resource designed to help any community build and grow its outdoor recreation ecosystem. Developed by Selkirk Innovates at Selkirk College with input from a technical advisory group, it distills lessons and advice from more than 50 outdoor recreation experts into 10 key elements for success. 

Who is it for: The guidebook recognizes that every community is different. Worksheets, case studies, and links to further readings, resources and tools, makes the guidebook adaptable and scalable to different contexts, capacities and starting points. It is primarily targeted to local governments, but it is equally valuable for anyone who works or volunteers with economic development organizations, outdoor recreation-focused nonprofits, and First Nations. 

10 key ingredients: The heart of the guidebook is a breakdown of the ten common denominators shared by successful outdoor towns. They are:

  1. Build a core team. Most have a local champion who leads the way.

  2. Understand your context. Research what you have, who is using it, who might use it, and what users want.

  3. Work toward reconciliation. Meaningful collaboration with First Nations respects Indigenous rights and knowledge and strengthens relationships between communities. 

  4. Build relationships and partnerships. Broad community support provides a social license to operate. 

  5. Fund outdoor recreation. Adequate funding is key to all phases of development, including planning and maintenance.  

  6. Define a vision, goals and actions. Well-planned outdoor recreation, with input from the community and volunteers, is more likely to succeed.

  7. Protect the environment.  Recreation has an impact, and the best way to limit it is to measure it and then mitigate what you can through stewardship. 

  8. Develop and maintain experiences and assets. Plan the right things, build them to last, and consider maintenance.

  9. Get the word out. Use marketing and branding to attract, inform, and retain users.

  10.  Measure progress. Mix quantifiable data with anecdotes to demonstrate the positive impact of recreation to supporters, funders, and the public.

Want to know more?

If you would like us to present the guide and discuss how it can support your community’s outdoor recreation goals, you can request a session using this form.

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Questions, comments, or webinar topics you would like to see? Email us at info@orcbc.ca

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