From Outdoor Retailer:
Outdoor Retailer, Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), The Conservation Alliance and Outdoor Alliance today announced that cooperatively they will host a march to the Utah State Capitol to celebrate public lands on Day Two, Thursday, July 27, at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market. The This Land is Our Land march will provide show attendees with a platform to express their support for the outdoor industry’s backbone and foundation: federal public lands.
“The This Land is Our Land march at summer Outdoor Retailer spotlights that public lands across America are truly the foundation of the outdoor industry, providing incredible landscapes and waterways for people to come together and experience the awe of the outdoors,” said Amy Roberts, OIA executive director. “We aim to communicate that America’s national treasures require investment and effective management today and for generations to come—and they must remain accessible for all Americans.”
The march will convene in the South Plaza of the Salt Palace Convention Center at 4:30 p.m. and will proceed along a designated route to the Utah State Capitol. Confirmed route information will be available soon. The walk to the Capitol is expected to take approximately 30-45 minutes. At the Capitol, industry leaders and experts will hold a 45-minute rally to raise issues that spark further public lands discussion and action. Speakers include Utah tribal leaders, outdoor industry leaders, athletes and policy makers. All show attendees as well as interested citizens are welcome to attend. All march participants are asked to abide by the established Code of Conduct.
Outdoor Retailer is the only gathering where the entire outdoor industry comes together to conduct commerce, share best practices and exchange ideas. Outdoor Retailer 2017 will continue to serve the industry’s business needs while also serving as an important observance of public lands and our industry’s values. The show will remain open for normal business for those attendees wishing to conduct meetings. The show floor will close at its standard time of 6:00 p.m.
“The outdoor community has been in the national spotlight because of its fervent passion for protecting the public lands we all enjoy,” said Marisa Nicholson, show director for Outdoor Retailer. “This is not a one-and-done issue. While Bears Ears National Monument status has been a catalyst for our community, it’s just the most currently visible example of what will be a long, hard series of national debates. This march will harness that passion by providing a responsible yet energized path to celebrate what is so important to all of us, and about which we need to be heard.”
“Protecting public lands is central to The Conservation Alliance’s mission, and the Outdoor Retailer tradeshows provide a great venue to connect with the tribe and share our passion for this mission. At this pivotal moment, it is important that we join forces with Outdoor Retailer, the Outdoor Industry Association and Outdoor Alliance to rally the industry around a long-term agenda to protect and preserve the mountains, deserts, forests and waters that grace our nation’s public lands,” commented John Sterling, executive director of The Conservation Alliance.
In addition to the march, Outdoor Retailer, OIA, The Conservation Alliance and Outdoor Alliance are exploring additional ways to highlight public lands during the show. Updates will be shared on unity.outdoorretailer.com.
“Outdoor Alliance works on behalf of millions of paddlers, mountain bikers, hikers, climbers, and backcountry skiers who get outside on public lands each year. Public lands are the foundation of this large and passionate community, and we’re excited to lend our voice to this effort to unify the industry around this important issue,” said Adam Cramer, executive director of Outdoor Alliance. “We have been working for two years to unify outdoor business and advocacy groups to protect public lands. Summer Market is the perfect opportunity to rally together as a community to protect the landscapes that are home to our adventures.”
Registration for Summer Market for retailers and media is now open. Exhibitor and rep registration will open mid-May. To join the This Land is Our Land march and add your voice to the conversation, click here to RSVP to the Facebook invite, and use #MarchForPublicLands and #KeepPublicLandsPublic to continue the conversation on social media.
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About Outdoor Retailer
Outdoor Retailer brings together retailers, manufacturers, industry advocates and media to conduct the business of outdoor recreation through tradeshows, Outdoor Retailer Magazine, product demo events, media events and web-based business solutions. The Outdoor Retailer tradeshows are the premier outdoor industry events for North America, providing platforms for critical face-to-face business initiatives, line previews, innovations launches, networking and retailer education. Visit outdoorretailer.com for more information.
Outdoor Retailer is owned by Emerald Expositions, the largest operator of business-to-business trade shows in the United States, with its oldest trade shows dating back over 110 years. The company operates more than 50 trade shows, including 31 of the top 250 trade shows in the country as ranked by TSNN, as well as numerous other events. Emerald Expositions’ events connect over 500,000 global attendees and exhibitors and occupy over 6.7 million NSF of exhibition space. The company has been recognized with many awards and accolades that reflect industry leadership as well as the importance of its shows to the exhibitors and attendees they serve.
About Outdoor Industry Association
Based in Boulder, Colo., with offices in Washington, D.C., Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is the leading trade association for the outdoor industry and the title sponsor of Outdoor Retailer. OIA unites and serves over 1,200 manufacturers, supplier, sales representative and retailer members through its focus on trade and recreation policy, sustainable business innovation and outdoor participation. For more information, visit outdoorindustry.org.
About The Conservation Alliance
The Conservation Alliance is an organization of outdoor businesses whose collective contributions support grassroots environmental organizations and their efforts to protect wild places where outdoor enthusiasts recreate. Alliance funds have played a key role in protecting rivers, trails, wildlands and climbing areas. Membership in the Alliance is open to companies representing all aspects of the outdoor industry, including manufacturers, retailers, publishers, mills and sales representatives. The result is a diverse group of businesses whose livelihood depends on protecting our natural environment.
Since 1989, The Conservation Alliance has contributed more than $17 million in grants that have helped protect 50 million acres, 2,991 river miles, remove or halt 29 dams, acquire 12 climbing areas & designate five marine reserves. For complete information on The Conservation Alliance, see conservationalliance.com.
About Outdoor Alliance
Outdoor Alliance is a nonprofit coalition of organizations that include American Whitewater, American Canoe Association, Access Fund, International Mountain Bicycling Association, Winter Wildlands Alliance, the Mountaineers, and American Alpine Club. We are backcountry skiers, hikers, paddlers, mountain bikers, boaters, and climbers who share a commitment to protecting public lands. In uniting our voices, we are building and nurturing a conservation constituency for the 21st century. For more information, visit outdooralliance.org.
