Wyoming Outdoor Recreation’s Outdoor Recreation Collaboratives Met in February
In February, four of Wyoming Outdoor Recreation’s seven Collaboratives met for their bi-monthly meetings. Conveyed throughout the state by Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, and Trails, these initiatives bring together local community members, recreation stakeholders, businesses, conservation groups, federal and state agencies, and elected officials to identify and prioritize opportunities for the growth and enhancement of outdoor recreation.
During the Northeast Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (NEWORC) member meeting held on February 7th in Gillette, Wyoming, members divided into 3 groups to identify challenges in the outdoor recreation sector, discuss how the collaborative can address these challenges, and which potential projects members would personally like to be involved with. NEWORC represents communities that lie within Campbell, Crook, and Weston counties.
On February 8th, members of the Bighorn Basin Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (BBORC) met in Basin, Wyoming to discuss the recent Sweet Sixteen SnowFest event, the upcoming Bighorn River Blueway Project public meeting sessions, and BBORC’s presence at the Wyoming Governor’s Hospitality and Tourism Conference. Members also enjoyed brief presentations by Backcountry Discovery Routes and the Rails to Trails Conservancy. BBORC represents communities that lie within Hot Springs, Big Horn, and Washakie counties.
Park County Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (PCORC) met February 9th in Powell, Wyoming to finalize the groups official charter. Members also enjoyed a presentation by the Rails to Trails Conservancy on the Great American Rail Trail, and then the Steering Committee members led small group discussions on potential projects in the area. PCORC represents communities that lie within Park County, Wyoming.
The following week on February 17th, Natrona County Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (NCORC) held their first public meeting in Casper, Wyoming. During their first meeting, members of the public were provided an orientation to Wyoming Outdoor Recreation’s Office and the collaborative process and purpose. The group also discussed upcoming meeting topics and were encouraged to invite others for future participation. NCORC represents communities that lie within Natrona County.
Upcoming meeting dates, times and locations for Wind River Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (WRORC - Fremont County), Sweetwater County Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (SCORC), and the Great Divide Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (GDORC - Laramie, Albany and Carbon counties) were announced Thursday, February 24th and can be found here. Members of the public are welcome to attend collaborative meetings in-person or virtually, and there is a designated time for public comment near the end of each meeting.
Established by recommendation of the 2017 Governor’s Outdoor Recreation Task force, the Office of Outdoor Recreation aims to diversify Wyoming’s economy by expanding, enhancing, and promoting responsible recreational opportunities through collaboration, outreach, and coordination with stakeholders, landowners, private industry, and public officials.
Learn more about the Office and future community collaboratives by following us on social media or visiting www.wyorec.com.