About the Office of Outdoor Recreation

Uniting Wisconsin's diverse outdoor industry stakeholders and providing support and resources to position Wisconsin as a top outdoor recreation destination and grow the industry to ensure the economic health and overall well-being of the state and its residents. Learn More.

Webinar Posted

Learn accessibility criteria and considerations to incorporate into your next outdoor recreation project. View the webinar.

Business Directory

A comprehensive directory of the businesses and organizations of Wisconsin's outdoor recreation industry. Search the Directory or Add your Organization.

Economic Impact

Get the latest economic impact data for Wisconsin's $8.7 billion outdoor industry. View the full report. For more reports and research related to the benefits and trends of outdoor recreation. View the Research Library.

Workforce Attraction Tool

Get your copy of the new publication, Live + Work Where You Play: Outside in Wisconsin, that leverages outdoor recreation to give Wisconsin employers a competitive edge in the job market. Learn more.

Uniting an Industry

The Office of Outdoor Recreation acts as a central hub for Wisconsin’s outdoor industry, drawing connections between the brands that call Wisconsin home, the outdoor recreation activities they support and the communities in which we recreate.

With over 15,000 lakes, 84,000 miles of rivers and streams and 6 million acres of public land, Wisconsin's natural assets are remarkable. It’s no wonder outdoor recreation is a top reason people visit Wisconsin, as well as a key factor in relocation, second home purchases and business attraction. There is a direct connection between these natural resources, how we enjoy them, and the economic health and overall well-being of our state and its residents. The Office of Outdoor Recreation works with partners to support and uplift this essential industry.

Aligning Around Four Key Tenets

The Office partners with a variety of stakeholders to create engagement and alignment around four key tenets:

Invite residents, visitors, businesses, and workforce talent to live, work and play in Wisconsin – to experience the state’s natural places and vast outdoor recreation offerings – to stimulate economic development.

Connect people to Wisconsin’s natural places and outdoor recreation opportunities through access and education with a focus on inclusion.

Thrive when active lifestyles and outdoor recreation are promoted to create healthy individuals and communities.

Sustain Wisconsin’s invaluable natural assets by encouraging outdoor recreation, the connection to place and the preservation of healthy lands and waters.