What we do

Outdoor recreation shapes life in B.C. It supports health and wellbeing, strengthens communities and local economies, and connects people with the lands and waters around them.

ORCBC brings together 130+ member associations and organizations that directly represent more than 200,000 people. We also speak up for the broader interests of the nearly four in five British Columbians who participate in outdoor recreation.

By connecting local knowledge with provincial advocacy, we help improve access, strengthen recreation organizations and ensure outdoor recreation is considered in decisions affecting B.C.’s future.

We speak up for outdoor recreation

Decisions about parks, forests, roads, waterways, infrastructure and land use can have lasting effects on outdoor recreation.

ORCBC brings the experience and concerns of recreation organizations to governments, First Nations, land managers, industry and other decision-makers. We advocate for:

• Continued access to trails, waterways, recreation sites and public lands

• Stable investment in outdoor recreation infrastructure and stewardship

• Early and meaningful consideration of recreation in land use and resource planning

• Practical solutions that balance recreation with environmental, cultural and community priorities

Explore our advocacy and current consultations

We strengthen recreation organizations

Outdoor recreation across B.C. depends on thousands of volunteers and community organizations.

ORCBC helps these organizations build their capacity and respond to shared challenges through:

• Funding information and grant programs

• Guides, webinars, research and practical tools

• Support related to governance, fundraising and volunteer management

• Opportunities to share knowledge and learn from one another

• Resources that support respectful relationships with Indigenous communities

Through the Outdoor Recreation Fund of BC, ORCBC has awarded approximately $840,000 to community-led projects in 94 communities since 2024.

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We bring people together

Many outdoor recreation issues cross activities, communities and jurisdictions. They cannot be solved by one organization working alone.

ORCBC connects recreation groups, First Nations, governments, land managers, researchers, businesses and community partners through conferences, member roundtables, working groups, webinars and collaborative projects.

These connections help the sector identify shared priorities, exchange practical knowledge and develop stronger solutions.

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We support responsible recreation and stewardship

Access to outdoor places comes with a responsibility to care for them.

ORCBC promotes practices that protect natural and cultural values while supporting safe, inclusive and enjoyable recreation. We share information and resources on topics such as:

• Sustainable trail and recreation planning

• Freshwater and shoreline stewardship

• Wildlife-sensitive recreation

• Invasive species

• Climate resilience

• Responsible access

• Working respectfully with Indigenous communities

We also support community-led stewardship through BC Trails Day, BC Rivers Day and the Outdoor Recreation Fund.

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We build the case for outdoor recreation

Outdoor recreation contributes to physical and mental health, community resilience, tourism, workforce attraction and local economies.

ORCBC supports research and data collection that help governments, funders and communities understand these contributions. We share evidence, community examples and practical insights to strengthen planning, policy and investment.

This work helps ensure that outdoor recreation is recognized as essential public infrastructure rather than an optional extra.

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Our current priorities

Our priorities evolve as new challenges and opportunities emerge. Current areas of work include:

• Protecting and improving recreation access to public lands and waters

• Resource roads and backcountry infrastructure

• Forest and land-use planning

• Stable funding for parks, trails and recreation organizations

• Community and volunteer capacity

• Indigenous relations and reconciliation

• Responsible recreation and environmental stewardship

• Better outdoor recreation data

• Youth participation and leadership

Learn about our current advocacy priorities