In 2024, five teams completed the pilot DIY Economic Impact Report Workshop presented by the Office of Outdoor Recreation and The Harbinger Consultancy. The final reports found that outdoor recreation in Dodge County, Eau Claire, Lafayette County, Marathon County and at WinMan Trails generates nearly $27.3 million in economic activity.
If your community or organization is interested in conducting a DIY economic impact study, Conducting and Using Visitor and Recreational User Research from the Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation is a free tool to walk you through the steps. Learn more.
Workshop Details
This workshop has passed. Stay tuned for details on future opportunities.
The Office of Outdoor Recreation compiled this list of businesses and organizations that may be able to help you understand the economic impact of your outdoor recreation activity or asset.
Create your own economic impact report without hiring an economist or spending a fortune. In the Do-It-Yourself Economic Impact Report Workshop, you will learn how to gather relevant data and calculate economic figures specific to outdoor recreation activities and assets. Organizations, agencies and partnerships that manage trails, recreation areas or outdoor destinations are invited to participate in a one-of-a kind opportunity hosted by the Office of Outdoor Recreation. The free technical guidance and one-on-one coaching in this series will help you develop a custom report illustrating the economic value outdoor recreation provides your community.
Program objectives:
- Learn what types of data are needed to estimate economic impacts.
- Understand how and when to use data from comparable studies.
- Understand the basics for how and when to survey users or visitors to collect information.
- Calculate estimated economic contributions using data gathered.
- Learn how to organize and analyze available data to tell a compelling story.
- Receive support from the Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation to produce a report based on findings.
Contact
About The Harbinger Consultancy
For 30 years,
The Harbinger Consultancy has worked as guides, partners and knowledge builders. Harbinger helps communities, regions and supporting organizations harness, protect and expand the power of their places. Harbinger expands its capacity through an extensive network of collaborators, and engages local partners,
researchers, photographers, videographers, social media pros, storytellers and other creative types for an even bigger local impact.
Michele Archie is a principal of The Harbinger Consultancy, leading its work in
collaborative regional economic analyses, economic impact projections, visitor and resident surveys and outdoor recreation assessments. Michele has led more than three dozen such studies for national and state parks, World Heritage Sites, trails and other recreational and protected areas across the United States.
She develops and conducts online courses for land trusts, trail advocates, outdoor recreation economy builders, community leaders and community economic development professionals.