Outdoor Alliance and its second cohort of Grasstops Collective advocates urge lawmakers to prioritize outdoor recreation, public lands, and waters amid ongoing government funding challenges.
The gathering comes as the government shutdown underscores the impact of limited staffing and funding on trail maintenance, park operations, and recreation access nationwide.
Outdoor Alliance, a coalition representing the human-powered outdoor recreation community, organized the advocacy trip to strengthen support for recreation and conservation priorities in Congress.
The coalition also launched a public action alert, encouraging outdoor enthusiasts to contact lawmakers about maintaining balance between recreation and conservation efforts.
“The government might shut down, but Outdoor Alliance doesn’t,” Adam Cramer, CEO of Outdoor Alliance, said in a press release. “Our team is taking advantage of a quieter Capitol to meet with dozens of lawmakers this week and keep public lands front of mind.”
“Our full schedule of lawmaker meetings this week will keep attention on keeping public lands public, defending agency capacity, and securing long-term funding for the outdoors,” Cramer added.
During the meetings, Outdoor Alliance and its Grasstops Collective members are emphasizing four primary issues: keeping public lands public, protecting outdoor recreation resources, supporting federal land management agencies, and securing long-term funding for outdoor spaces.
The coalition is calling on policymakers to reject efforts to sell off or reduce protections for public lands. It is also emphasizing the importance of the Roadless Rule, which safeguards 58 million acres of National Forests that serve as vital recreation and conservation areas.
In addition, the group is advocating for sufficient funding and staffing for federal agencies such as the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service. These agencies play a critical role in maintaining trails, restoring landscapes, and managing responsible recreation opportunities.
Outdoor Alliance is also working to secure continued funding through initiatives like the Legacy Restoration Fund, ensuring long-term investment in parks, rivers, and outdoor spaces that support millions of visitors annually.
The Grasstops Collective, a leadership and advocacy development program established by Outdoor Alliance, is central to these efforts. The group trains community leaders from across the country to engage with policymakers and champion recreation and conservation causes at the national level.
“These people are the unofficial mayors—the ones who know everyone at the crag, trailhead, or river put-in,” Taylor Rogers, who coordinates the Grasstops Collective program for Outdoor Alliance, said.
“As such, they’re not only widely respected people in their respective communities, but they’re also immersed in the public lands issues in their own backyards. That makes them very effective voices for conservation,” Rogers added.
Applications for the 2026 Grasstops Collective program are open through November 2, offering another opportunity for leaders to join the growing advocacy network.
Outdoor Alliance continues to play a leading role in uniting outdoor recreation groups to achieve long-term conservation and access gains. Over the past decade, the organization has helped secure $5.1 billion in outdoor funding and protect 40 million acres of public land through its advocacy and coalition efforts.