June is Great Outdoors Month. Americans are encouraged to go fishing, boating, hiking, and to “Find Your Park” at a National Park, especially in honor of America’s upcoming 250th birthday celebration.
This month-long celebration was first commemorated during the Clinton administration as “Great Outdoors Week.” Succeeding presidents elevated the celebration to a month-long affair, and governors have joined in to highlight the benefits of spending time outdoors and on the water. To learn about its importance, let’s play “Two Truths and a Lie.”
A. Outdoor recreation plays an important role in the U.S. economy.
B. The Trump administration is restricting outdoor opportunities.
C. Americans can easily access the Great Outdoors.
A. TRUE. Per the most available Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) data, the outdoor recreation economy comprises 2.4% of the gross domestic product (GDP)—or $696.7 billion. In total, the outdoor industry employs 4.3 million people (3% of all U.S. employees).
Boating and fishing are the most popular conventional activities, followed by RVing, hunting/shooting/trapping, and snow activities. Participation in outdoor recreation has slightly increased post-COVID pandemic. The most recent U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service report assessing fishing, hunting, and wildlife-associated recreation—the 2022 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (FHWAR)—determined that 202.6 million U.S. residents 16 years and older participated in wildlife-related recreation. Most people were engaged in wildlife watching (148.3 million), followed by fishing (39.9 million) and hunting (14.4 million). Angler, gun owner, and hunter expenditures generated a historic $1.2 billion haul for conservation funding last year.
B. LIE. The Trump administration has prioritized keeping existing public lands open while expanding new hunting and fishing opportunities to previously inaccessible areas.
Biden administration-era closures and restrictions on hunting, fishing, and shooting sports opportunities have largely been reversed. Conservation, not climate, is influencing policies related to outdoor recreation. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) repealed a mandatory lead ammunition and tackle phaseout. In January 2026, the Department of the Interior unveiled Secretarial Order 3447 that prioritized hunting and fishing on agency lands and waters across 480 million acres. Last month, Secretary Burgum announced that 95% of NWRs—92 million of 95 million acres—will now open to hunting and fishing in accordance with wildlife science, highly-regulated management, and seasons.
C. TRUE. Regardless of geography, Americans can easily access recreational opportunities. There are 430 sites managed by the National Park Service (NPS)—including 63 official National Parks. If a National Park is too far, state parks are great alternatives.
Fishing and boating opportunities are available in cities, suburbs, and rural areas. Just get a license ahead of time. New to fishing? States host Free Fishing Days to hook in new or lapsed anglers into the sport.
Camping and hiking opportunities can be mapped out online and by using apps.
There’s no shortage of opportunities to get closer to nature and support conservation while doing so.
Bottom Line:
Our economy benefits from having access to public lands and public waters while also supporting millions of livelihoods. True conservation practices allow this sector to flourish.
There are many innumerable health benefits associated with time outdoors. Being on or by the water is shown to improve well-being, just as immersion in green spaces is a boon to mental health.
To learn more about true conservation, go here.