The National Cross Country Ski Education Foundation has added "Nordic Combined" to its roster of supported Nordic disciplines. Adding Nordic Combined to its sport’s rosters allows NCCSEF’s proven fundraising and development support program to better compliment the entire USSA Nordic development pipeline.

Senate bill S. 1069, the Affordable Footwear Act, has been introduced in the United States Senate by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), a longtime champion for the outdoor industry, and Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO). The legislation would lower costs for outdoor industry footwear manufacturers and their customers while supporting U.S. production of outdoor shoes and boots.

According to The Outdoor Foundation’s 2011 Outdoor Recreation Participation Topline report, the rate of participation in outdoor activities in the United States remained solid in 2010 and at the same level seen in 2008. Nearly half of Americans ages 6 and older, or 137.9 million individuals, participated in at least one outdoor activity in 2010, making 10.1 billion outdoor outings. The research shows significant increases in adventure sports such as kayaking, backcountry camping and climbing as well as slight increases in youth participation among those individuals ages 13–24.

Unlike many other sports, outdoor participation among Americans has remained remarkably stable over the last several years—demonstrating impressive resiliency during challenging economic times. According to The Outdoor Foundation’s latest annual top-line report, the rate of participation in outdoor recreation in the United States remained solid in 2010 and at the same level seen in 2008. Nearly half of Americans ages 6 and older, or 137.9 million individuals, participated in at least one outdoor activity in 2010, making 10.1 billion outdoor outings.

Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) today introduced the U.S. OUTDOOR Act (S. 704) to the upper chamber of congress. The legislation is OIA’s signature trade initiative and the realization of several years of consultation between OIA, apparel manufacturers like Columbia and Kokatat, the U.S. textile industry and the bill’s Senate sponsors.

Last year Outdoor Nation made history by hosting the largest national Youth Summit on the outdoors, bringing more than 500 young people representing every state together to address the growing disconnect between youth and the outdoors. In 2011, the youth-led movement will grow even larger in an effort to empower a generation to reconnect with the outdoors. This year's plans were unveiled at a kick-off event co-hosted by The Outdoor Foundation and America's State Parks.

Following the earthquakes and tsunamis in Southeast Asia and the earthquake in Haiti, the members of Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) responded with an amazing demonstration of support and provided critical supplies for emergency disaster relief. Working with AmeriCares, OIA is once again calling on members to dig deep to support those areas devastated by earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Outdoor Industry Association has both welcomed and lauded the formation of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and its adoption of the work of the outdoor industry Eco Index. The Sustainable Apparel Coalition is an industry-wide group of leading apparel and footwear brands, retailers, manufacturers, non-governmental organizations, academic experts and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency working to reduce the environmental and social impacts of apparel and footwear products around the world. As a founding member of the coalition, OIA is committed to the creation of a single, common index for apparel that drives change within the outdoor industry supply chain and broadens the Eco Index work to allow for adoption in the broader apparel and footwear sectors.