Dear Members, Partners, and Supporters of AORE -
We're roughly halfway through 2026 and fully into the summer season. I hope this letter finds you on vacation, or better yet, out in the field leading trips and running outdoor programs. I started as AORE's new Executive Director in January, and the Board and I felt it was high time to share an update on how things are going, what's ahead, and why we are so excited about AORE’s future.
For the past six months I've been listening and learning, thinking deeply about where AORE has been, and where we need to go next. I've talked with hundreds of you individually, and I've loved hearing about the work you do to help students, clients, and communities experience the outdoors. The commitment, joy, creativity, and care within each of you is extraordinary, and I am more excited than ever to be working here, with all of you!
What’s also becoming increasingly clear is just how much this organization is needed right now. Outdoor recreation, higher education, and public lands are all navigating extraordinary changes and challenges. And at the same time, the need for providing meaningful outdoor experiences and strong professional leadership has never been greater. AORE holds a unique position nationally because of its direct connection to each of you: the professionals, student workers, and programs doing this work every day.
AORE was formed over 40 years ago by people who understood that outdoor professionals needed a place to learn from each other and to strengthen a field that was still being defined and finding its footing in the professional landscape. The need to bring this field of work and the network of programs together nationally has not gone away, and is, in my view, more urgent than ever. The world has changed, and we have an opportunity to sharpen our focus, reconnect with our core purpose, and become more useful to the people and programs we exist to serve.
I believe AORE’s next chapter will need to be grounded in both true ambition and, in some ways, a return to our roots. We need to strengthen the organization from within and make careful choices about where we invest our resources. And we also need to deepen our relationships with members and partners, and work to expand the national network of outdoor programs and professionals AORE represents. Above all, we need to stay focused on developing outdoor professionals and building the next generation of leaders in AORE and the broader field.
If you want to know more about our 2027 plans, why you should join us at the Outdoor Professional Conference in Florida, or how to find AORE's 2025 Annual Report, I've included some notes below. Thank you all for your continued support and I look forward to seeing you in Orlando!
Lee Davis
Executive Director
Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education
Additional Notes from the ED and Board to Members, Partners, Donors, and Supporters:
Come to the Outdoor Professional Conference in Orlando, Florida this November! Join us in Orlando to reconnect with colleagues, learn from one another, and help shape AORE's future. This year's conference is held in partnership with the Athletic Business Show, and features a keynote from Lonnie Bedwell. Our classic educational sessions will feature a technical session on how the EXPLORE Act is affecting higher-education and community-based outdoor programs, along with sessions from leaders and peers across the outdoor recreation industry that you can apply directly to your own personal and professional development. Register Here!What did AORE do in 2025? Our 2025 Annual Report goes out later this month with a full look at AORE's programs, finances, and impact. You can also review AORE's 2025 Form 990, or watch the recording of the Annual Business Meeting, which had nearly record attendance.
What has AORE done so far in 2026? Lee Davis started as Executive Director in January and has been working with the Board to build AORE's 2027 plan and make sure this year's OPC is a success. Much of the rest of the work this year has been behind the scenes: stabilizing operations, improving systems, and building a stronger financial foundation for what comes next.
What's happening with the podcast? We're rethinking the podcast's purpose and format so it can better serve members. Two amazing AORE volunteers, Candace Brendler and Bay Bennet, are still producing regular episodes and testing some new ideas along the way.
Where is AORE going in 2027 and beyond? The Board and staff are shaping 2027 around three priorities: building an engaged membership community, strengthening the systems that let us scale, and communicating AORE's impact more clearly. We'll share more as those plans come together.
How you can help? We need you. Renew your membership if you haven't already, join us in Orlando, tell someone in your program or community about AORE, and consider a gift to support our work in 2026 and 2027. Renew Here! Donate Here!