As Outdoor Chattanooga celebrates two decades of enriching the lives of its residents, they are embarking on a visionary gaze of making the community’s future promising. A four-year strategic plan outlines their mission, highlights past achievements and introduces the five key goals that will shape the organization’s trajectory in the coming year.
1. Community Health and Wellness
It aims to become a catalyst for overall wellness by advocating the mental, physical, and emotional benefits of outdoor activities. They plan to focus on streamlining access to outdoor spaces, offering entry programs for those with low or fair health, emphasizing the healing power of nature and the commitment to maintaining healthy lands and water resources.
2. Connecting People and Nature
As it targets to get recognized as a regional leader in outdoor adventure and sports, they will continue to foster the community’s connection to nature. In completing a 10-year visionary framework, they will position themselves as thought leaders in the impacts of nature, supporting like-minded initiatives as a force multiplier, designing educational resources, and establishing two annual events.
3. Access to the Outdoors
The core of its mission is Inclusivity and safe access to all outdoor programs for everybody. Through outreach and introductory programming, the department aims to prioritize representation, take accountability actions, and plan with climate change in mind, particularly in Equity Investment zones.
4. Regional Outdoor Economy
One of its visions is to foster entrepreneurial opportunities that promote a thriving outdoor industry by focusing on small businesses, nonprofits, startups, and more. Serving as an advocate and informational hub, they want to support spaces within the outdoor economy, attract industry events, build a next-generation outdoors workforce, and assist in the development of the Tennessee Office of Outdoor Recreation.
5. Building a Solid Foundation
They are preparing for a larger vision by highlighting the importance of a sustainable and successful foundation through team building, supporting Friends of Outdoor Chattanooga, aligning funds with the One Chattanooga plan, creating an industry roadmap, and expanding community partners’ benefits. By solidifying its base, this will ensure a robust framework to fulfill its goals.
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