Outdoor News February 9, 2018

More Cabins for Alaska

The State of Alaska has 66 public use cabins available for rent in state parks from Ketchikan to Fairbanks.  The cabins are in increasingly high demand by Alaskans and visitors. Demand for cabins that are American's with Disabilities Act accessible, on the road system and close to major population centers has grown significantly in recent years; cabins built in the last five years meeting these criteria are among the busiest in the park system.

Public use cabins are used by traditional park system users, and additionally encourage different market segments to enjoy the park system. They are considered a low impact entry to camping for those who would not otherwise do so, thus increasing park usership and encouraging different demographics to use the parks. 

Now Alaska Division of Parks and Recreation is seeking $300,000 to build five more cabins.  According to the budget request, the five public use cabins will be strategically deployed throughout the state in high volume areas to address demand and provide reliable revenue. High recreational use areas and existing facilities will also be included in the evaluation for cabin placement. Additionally, the public and local stakeholders will be given opportunities to provide input to park staff and their advisory boards.

You can find more information about the cabins on the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation website.
 

Social Media for Outdoor Businesses

Utah's Office of Outdoor Recreation has announced a new partnership with Snowsports Industries America and the Economic Development Corporation of Utah to launch the Summit Speaker Series. This series will dive into outdoor industry issues through education and insider access to industry experts.

The first event is scheduled for February 21 at the Governor's Office of Economic Development, 60 East South Temple, Third Floor, Salt Lake City.

It is titled "Authenticity Sells: Social Media for Outdoor Businesses."  An expert panel will discuss how to use social media as a marketing tool.   Social media has changed the marketing game. For companies, social media has became "social marketing" and a way to generate buzz, find new audiences and open up two-way communication. The panel will help participants learn how to apply social media to their business marketing efforts.

Get all the details and register for the event on the Eventbrite Website. The event is free, but seating is limited so register now.
 

Email Lead Nurturing

The Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) has released "Email Lead Nurturing for Adventure Travel Businesses.'" The 29-page ebook will help you understand how to use email to most effectively market your outdoor business.

Lead nurturing is the marketing process of developing relationships with customers as they go through the marketing funnel. Email is a useful and effective tool adventure travel marketers can use to push potential clients from the “dreaming” stage to the booking process.

However, according to Hubspot, even though 2.4 million emails are sent every second worldwide, most of them are never opened. Online users have become weary of email scams and spam, and the volume of email in many industries can be unmanageable. Therefore, marketers are challenged with producing the right content at the right time and ensuring it is delivered to the right person.

This free report discusses:

• How to collect email addresses;
• How to segment leads;
• How to set up email workflows;
• How to measure the impact of email lead-nurturing activities.

You can get the report from the Adventure Travel Trade Association website.

 

Hanes Brands Supports National Parks

On Tuesday, the National Park Foundation and Hanes Brands announced a new partnership to inspire people from all backgrounds to connect with, celebrate, and support America's national parks and community-based programs. As the newest National Park Foundation partner for the Find Your Park/Encuentra Tu Parque movement, Hanes Brands' support will benefit America's National Park System.  Hanes makes underwear and related products.

"This tremendous opportunity marries the incredible impact of the National Park Foundation with a leading brand of global recognition," said Will Shafroth, president of the National Park Foundation. "With a commendable record of environmental and social stewardship, HanesBrands will be a powerhouse in helping the foundation carry out its mission to ensure the vitality and promise of America's National Park System for future generations." 

As part of the partnership, Hanes Brands will market officially licensed innerwear and activewear clothing under its leading brands, including Hanes, Champion, Alternative and Gear for Sports. 

"This is a great partnership between two iconic organizations to support an important mission and benefit America's national parks," said John T. Marsh, group president of global activewear for Hanes Brands. "The work of the National Park Foundation matches the spirit of our company values."

The partnership also supports the National Park Foundation's  Centennial Campaign for America's National Parks. To date, this comprehensive fundraising campaign to strengthen and enhance the future of America's treasured national parks has raised more than $470 million in private donations from individuals, foundations and companies.

The National Park Foundation is the official charity of national parks in the United States and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds to help protect more than 84 million acres of national parks through critical conservation and preservation efforts, connect all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture and rich history, and engage the next generation of park stewards.  

 

Expanding Florissant Fossil Beds

On Tuesday, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a legislative hearing on Representative Doug Lamborn's (CO) legislation to expand a national monument in Colorado.

H.R. 835 expands the boundaries of the Florissant Fossil Beds in Colorado by roughly 280 acres.

The National Park Service received a proposed donation of private land to expand the monument in May 2016. The monument size is currently capped at 6,000 acres by an original designation from Congress in 1969. Due to the current size of the monument at 5,992 acres, legislative action is needed to expand the boundaries.

"My legislation seeks to only increase the monument size to allow the NPS the ability to accept this critical donation," Rep. Lamborn stated. "The donated acreage could provide visitors with more recreational opportunities including hiking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing and wildlife watching – all with no supplemental funding or staff needed."

Commissioner of Teller County, Colorado Norm Steen testified that the expansion of the monument will provide critical access for "wildland fire protection and opportunities for completing hazardous fuel mitigation projects, provide a natural buffer from surrounding developed areas, as well as provide additional wildlife habitat to the Monument."

"The entire process which brought us to our hearing today was collaborative, transparent, and was done in the interest of what best serves the residents of our County, and the tens of thousands of guests who travel to Teller County each year to visit the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument," Steen added. 

 

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Video of the Week

This week's video features Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.  It also offers a look at a nearby campground, the programs offered at the monument, and Elevenmile Canyon.  Enjoy!

   

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