Washington Trails Association Strategic Plan

HIKING STEWARDSHIP COMMUNITY

Photo by Andrew Bertino

Strategic Plan 2015 – 2020

VISION: Washington Trails Association celebrates the joy of hiking and its power to transform lives.

We work to harness that power to build a bright future for the world we live in.

We envision a world where trails connect communities, and people are empowered stewards of Washington’s wild places.

THE PATH FORWARD Washington is projected to grow by 1.8 million people over the next 25 years. Our state will benefit from new perspectives and new resources while trails and natural areas will face tremendous pressures. Washington Trails Association is ready to meet this challenge head on. Over 50 years, WTA has established itself as a trusted voice for hikers.

We have mobilized a thriving volunteer community dedicated to building and maintaining trails.

We have opened new pathways to the outdoors for youth. The growing network of members, volunteers and partners who share our vision is stronger than ever. This is WTA’s time.

VALUES: We believe that being out in nature has a positive impact on people’s hearts, minds and bodies. We value stewardship and volunteerism; cooperation and partnership; community and inclusion. And we like to have fun!

WTA is pursuing three bold goals that will result in a Washington transformed by hikers. Within five years, we will dramatically increase the number of quality trails ranging from urban areas to remote wilderness, driven in part by a greater investment in our public lands. We will empower a broad coalition dedicated to protecting Washington’s wild places for future generations to enjoy. And, we will see Washington’s youth embracing the outdoors and trail experiences as dedicated environmental stewards.

MISSION: WTA’s mission is to preserve, enhance, and promote hiking opportunities in Washington

WTA is committed to building the capacity and raising the resources to meet our goals.

We recognize our success is due to our members, supporters and volunteers and invite everyone to help us shape the future of Washington.

state through collaboration, education, advocacy and volunteer trail maintenance.

Everyone in Washington will have access to local trails and opportunities to enjoy quality hiking experiences.

WHY: Exploring a natural place can have a powerful impact on a person’s life. WTA wants to ensure that these experiences are available to everyone. Washington’s expansive trail network offers an extraordinary array of hiking opportunities and deserves stewardship to match. Yet Washington falls short of meeting the growing demand for outdoor recreation across the state.

We face a backlog of trails and roads requiring maintenance and repair, and declining public funding for recreation on public lands. Only with a significant increase in public and private investment can we ensure that everyone has the opportunity to access the outdoors. WTA mobilizes volunteers to build and maintain trails, amplifies the voices of hikers and connects people to trails.

Photo by Meagan MacKenzie

OBJECTIVES: Protect Washington’s most heavily used and iconic trails.

Enhance Washington’s frontcountry and backcountry hiking experiences.

Create more urban hiking opportunities.

Improve access to Washington’s trails and wild places.

New generations will connect with, explore and conserve the outdoors.

WHY: Our future depends on it. A growing number of people are moving to Washington and embracing an outdoor way of life. More folks on trail means that it is vital that we each do our part to protect these special places.

Today’s young people are the most socially engaged generation ever, and they want to give back to their community. Yet WTA recognizes that significant social, structural and institutional barriers have prevented many communities from enjoying Washington’s amazing natural areas. We are committed to reducing the adventure gap in our state, and to ensuring that Washington’s new generations of outdoor explorers embrace a conservation ethic.

OBJECTIVES: Empower new generations of responsible trail users.

Invest in organization-wide diversity and equitable access to trails.

Impact more youth statewide.

Leverage technology to make hiking information more accessible.

Photo by Jake Johnson

Washington will be the nation’s strongest voice for hikers and trails.

WHY: Outdoor recreation is vital to our state’s economy and quality of life. Thanks to the voices of our members and supporters, WTA has become a powerful force. Our voice is amplified by the sweat equity of every volunteer who helps to build and maintain trails. WTA provides fun volunteer experiences that empower a growing community of stewards. Together our advocacy, youth, volunteer and education programs are helping Washington residents become the nation’s strongest voice for trails.

OBJECTIVES: Change the conversation in the state to embrace recreation and trails as a priority.

Elevate WTA as a national model for protecting trails and empowering hikers.

Build a statewide community of advocates.

Foster a national

Photo by Svitlana Imnadze

network of trail stewards.

Photo by Dean McMullin

THANK YOU Washington Trails Association is looking forward to the next 50 years of protecting trails and sharing the joy of hiking. Exploring the opportunities and challenges ahead, WTA’s board, staff, volunteers and members worked together to develop this five-year strategic plan. It represents the combined efforts of more than 200 direct participants and 2,700 survey respondents. Thank you to all who contributed to this effort. We invite everyone to join us on this journey.

Photo by Rich Young

COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS Jean Akers Dan Asher Rob Axlerod Dick Axon Les Baddgor Andrea Baines* Jana Banjanin Marty Barney Mary Bean Mike Bellis Marc Berejka Carole Bianquis* Fraser Black Lisa Black* Richard Blackburn Carol Blunck Kathy Bogaards Peter Bose Mark Boyer Amy Brockhaus TJ Broom Bruce Burger* Perry Burkhart* McKenzie Campbell Ted Capell Leda Chahim Barbara Chapman Belinda Chin Alan Colburn Lezlie Cox Kitty Craig Amy Csink* Pete Dewell Darrel Dochow Michael Dunning* Peter Dykstra Nigel Ellis Ethan Evans Jennifer Faubion* Colin Foster Greg Glass Glenn Glover Thomas Goldstein* Joe Gregg* Ben Greuel

Martinique Grigg Mike Griswold Gregg Grunenfelder Jeroldine Halberg Cynthia Hammer Don Hammon Jon Hemingway Craig Jackson Sam Jarrett Dave Kimmett Ted Klump Frank Lacey Terry Lamp Rich Landers Charlie Lieu Pat Limberg Jim Livingston Darinee Louvau Tom Lucas Ann Marshall Gordon McHenry Craig McKibben Scott Metzler Brock Milliern Karen Millward Damien Murphy* Cindy Nguyen Jon Nishimura Chuck Nordhoff Janice O’Connor Mike Owens Henry Panter Steve Payne* Richard Pedersen Christine Peterson John Privat Weston Prouty Susan Queary* Titti Ringstrom* Kate Rogers* Charlotte Romine Adam Rynd* Chukundi Salisbury Joe Sambataro Susan Saul

Marta Sheridan Rob Shurtleff* Bud Silliman Marcia Stone Herb Stusser Wen-Li Su Stephen Tan* Aaron Theisen* Richard Tipps Janice Van Cleve Ken Vandver Doug Walker Maggie Walker Rebecca Wanagel Karen Wang Wendy Wheeler Jacobs* Mason White* Lee Young Rick Zitzmann *WTA Board of Directors STRATEGIC PLANNING FACILITATORS Brian Douglas Scott Christine Lyons BDS Planning & Urban Design GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kathi ‘george’ Wheeler Noise w/o Sound

STAFF Laura Baron Kristin Blankenheim Arlen Bogaards Eli Boschetto Aaron Brackney Kim Brown Alan Carter Mortimer Frances Chiem Kara Chin Karen Daubert Krista Dooley Loren Drummond Jen Gradisher Erik Haugen-Goodman Andrea Imler Charles Kahle Marjorie Kittle Rebecca Lavigne Andrea Martin Zachary McBride Steven Moore LeeAnne Nawrot Kate Neville Ryan Ojerio Andrew Pringle Kindra Ramos Anna Roth Elliott Skopin Allie Tripp Tim Van Beek Holly Weiler

705 2nd Ave, Suite 300 Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 625-1367 wta.org