Events
Southeast Outdoor Opportunity Policy Summit Recap
June 12-13, 2026
Overview
On Get Outdoors Day in June, NCEL partnered with Color My Outdoors to host the Southeast Outdoor Opportunity Policy Summit in Asheville, North Carolina. The exclusive regional convening brought together state officials, outdoor industry experts, and a bipartisan group of five state legislators from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Through site visits, interactive discussions, and expert-led presentations, attendees explored how cross-state outdoor policy collaboration can drive local economic growth, resilience, and wellbeing for all.
- Why Outdoor Opportunities Matter: Outdoor recreation and time in nature provide significant health benefits, foster environmental stewardship, and support local economic and community development. The wide-ranging benefits of outdoor engagement present a unique opportunity to serve diverse constituencies and enact bipartisan policies. However, the benefits of nature are not equally distributed. That’s why more states are working to ensure nature is accessible to all communities.
Day One: Outdoor Equipment, Businesses, and Trends
The Summit opened with a tour of Eagles Nest Outfitters (ENO), an Asheville-based outdoor equipment business. Attendees examined how outdoor businesses balance global supply chains with local economic impact, disaster resilience, and youth outdoor access.
The afternoon sessions covered the role state legislatures can play in supporting local outdoor businesses, insights on regional trends in outdoor programs, and an introduction to the Outdoor Opportunity Coalition. The day concluded with a scenic drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway and a group dinner at 5,000 feet of elevation, bringing one of many stunning and unique Southeast landscapes directly into the group’s discussions.
Day Two: Economic Infrastructure and Expanding Public Engagement
The second day began by examining how state outdoor policy — such as establishing and expanding dedicated outdoor recreation offices — can drive both state and regional economic growth. Discussions highlighted that the national outdoor economy contributes over $1.3 trillion in economic output (2.4% of U.S. GDP) and supports over five million jobs nationwide — an economic footprint that surpasses traditional legacy sectors like agriculture, mining, and utilities.
Legislators walked away with a clear sense of how to frame outdoor opportunity as a tool for continued state economic growth, and the Summit concluded with a robust discussion of bipartisan relationship mapping and replicable policy approaches to drive outdoor opportunity for all in the Southeast.
Post-Summit Tour: Regenerative Agriculture and Community Connection
While the formal Summit concluded at midday, North Carolina State Representative Eric Ager offered a tour of Hickory Nut Gap Farm — his multi-generational family farm in Asheville focused on regenerative agriculture. The farm hosts Project HNG, a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating confident people through accessible farm experiences, including a summer camp, horseback riding lessons, veterans programs, and workdays to encourage the community to work hard, get dirty, and have fun.
Looking Ahead
The Southeast Outdoor Opportunity Policy Summit highlighted how cross-sector and cross-state collaboration can foster resilient regional economies and healthier communities. Throughout the convening, participants exchanged actionable strategies to support local businesses, enhance public lands, and drive sustainable economic development grounded in regional heritage, landscapes, and expertise.