The California Outdoor Recreation Partnership Virtual Summit May 17-19, 2021

Last week, CalTrout attended the California Outdoor Recreation Partnership Virtual Summit. Over the span of 3 days, we heard from industry speakers, connected with other outdoor professionals, and met with our state legislative offices to advocate on behalf of several bills for equitable access to the outdoors. 

CalTrout staff Analise Rivero, Policy Associate and Megan Nguyen, Education and Outreach Coordinator met with the offices of Assemblymembers David Chiu and Buffy Weeks and State Senators Nancy Skinner and Scott D. Wiener. These meetings provided a chance for us to advocate for equitable access to California’s wild and scenic rivers. 

Below are three bills CalTrout supports and advocated for with our state representatives.

Bills CalTrout Support

AB 30 – Human Right to Nature Act

Supporting The Human Right to Nature Act would establish that the State of California recognizes that access to nature and the benefits of nature are human rights. This bill will allow departments under the California Natural Resource Agency to use expenditures to improve access to nature for all.

SB 45/AB 1500 – The Climate Bond

These bills will finance future drought, water, parks, wildfire prevention, and coastal protection. This bill will also fund outdoor recreation projects, including projects that provide access to nature for urban and disadvantaged communities. 

SB 624 – Environmental Equity and Outdoor Access Act

This bill would add a new division to the Public Resources Code that explicitly establishes promoting environmental equity and outdoor access as a goal for all state agencies and departments that manage natural resources. 

About the Partnership

CalTrout is a proud member of the California Outdoor Recreation Partnership.

CORP’s mission is to power a voice for the outdoor recreation industry to shape policy, support investments, and engage an inclusive community of outdoor participants in California around the benefits of outdoor recreation. As practitioners and leaders in the greater outdoor recreation industry, CORP is dedicated to ensuring that lawmakers and land managers recognize and promote the economic, educational, environmental, public health and social benefits that the outdoor recreation economy brings to California.