Exciting News!
The Washington State Recreation & Conservation Office just published a study that “quantifies the economic contribution of outdoor recreation to Washington State’s economy”. They hired Earth Economics from Tacoma.
Recreation Northwest has also commissioned Earth Economics to do a deeper dive study for the impacts in our home base of Whatcom County. We are able to do this with funding from Whatcom County, City of Bellingham, Port of Bellingham and Bellingham/Whatcom County Tourism.
The Whatcom Recreation Economy report will be available in April 2015.
Download the Economic Benefits of Outdoor Recreation in Washington (PDF)
Executive Director, Todd Elsworth, will be sharing this information at various speaking engagements around the county and the region. Come to the Recreation Northwest EXPO on March 12th for a sneak peak at some of the highlights.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Washington State Recreation & Conservation Office Source documents:
Economic Benefits of Outdoor Recreation in Washington Fact Sheet
Economic Benefits of Outdoor Recreation in Washington

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.