We all know that our nation’s forests and grasslands offer some of the most readily available and valuable outdoor recreation settings in the country—it goes without saying! As Forest Service employees, we serve the public by connecting people to the outdoors daily. This month, we are joining local, state, federal and tribal land management agencies to celebrate Great Outdoors Month. Working with public and private outdoor recreation partners, Forest Service employees continually discover creative ways to deliver recreation experiences that meet the needs of visitors and support local communities and economies.

Not only does outdoor recreation improve our physical and emotional well-being, but it also plays a significant role in the financial growth of communities. Last year, Forest Service recreational facilities served 160 million visitors, supported 167,300 jobs and generated $16 billion in economic activity nationwide.  

Recreation is an economic powerhouse that would not be possible without our valuable and highly experienced recreation staff and volunteers who maintain, service, protect, and uphold these precious sites every day.

So, to that sentiment, I want to personally recognize and thank our recreation frontline employees and volunteers—from recreation technicians to interpretive services to visitor center staff to campsite hosts and many others—for their professionalism, talent and dedication to showcasing the beauty of the great outdoors to the public each and every day.  

I had the opportunity to visit high-use recreation sites in the Intermountain Region last week to see first-hand the recreation pressures and capacity issues our frontline employees are facing. My profound thanks extend to our many partner organizations for their expertise and assistance with customer service, maintenance and other related issues. Thanks for teaching hundreds of kids to fish, canoe, ride horses and enjoy camping…all while growing conservation stewards for the future.

Throughout June, your national forests and grasslands will be offering a variety of events tied to Great Outdoors Month commemorative holidays. We hope you take the opportunity to recharge outside—from biking to boating to hiking and beyond—there's something for everyone.

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