On Friday, June 28th, Todd Elsworth attended his first Big Tent Outdoor Recreation Coalition meeting at their annual Board Retreat in Port Townsend, WA. as a board member. “I was honored to sit at the table with fellow leaders in Washington State’s outdoor recreation landscape,” Elsworth reflects. Elsworth will serve a 2 year term from 2019-2021. The Retreat was held at the Northwest Maritime Center, with a brief overview of the organization provided by Jake Beattie, Executive Director. 

The power of the Big Tent  lies not with any individual or with any shiny advertising or marketing campaigns, but with the combined weight of dozens of organizations and agencies who believe in the collective value of outdoor recreation.

The Big Tent was established September 7, 2012, in the Tacoma program center of The Mountaineers, with 25-30 representatives from outdoor recreation organizations, environmental organizations, and lands and conservancy groups. The Big Tent Coalition is an association of the primary organizations participating in outdoor recreation in Washington State. The more than 45 organizations involve over 200,000 members.

Mission: The mission of the Big Tent Outdoor Recreation Coalition is to raise awareness of the importance of the outdoor recreation sector to Washington State. Working in close collaboration with elected officials, opinion leaders, and community leaders in Washington State, with local governments, and with the business community and the public, the Big Tent will focus on raising the profile of outdoor recreation and the substantial economic, social, and health benefits that come with doing so. The Big Tent will work to ensure adequate funding and access are in place to support the growing role of outdoor recreation, and to reduce or eliminate barriers that limit the right of Washington citizens, businesses, and visitors to enjoy outdoor recreation amenities.

Todd Elsworth

Todd Elsworth is one of the many “Mossy-haired lunatics roaming the dripping peninsulas”, described in “I’m Here for the Weather” by Tom Robbins. As executive director, he works to fulfill our mission to teach the health benefits of nature, promote outdoor recreation, and steward the places where we play.