Advocating for Public Lands: RecPak in Washington D.C.

Conservation is core to RecPak. It directly impacts the people who use our product and the places they rely on. That's why in May, we sent Joy Seward, our head of brand partnerships, to Washington D.C. with The Conservation Alliance for their annual fly-in to Capitol Hill.

Why We Went

Public lands are at the heart of what we all have access to. Our representatives need to know what matters to outdoor brands and the communities we serve. In mid-May, we joined The Conservation Alliance, an organization at the heart of outdoor advocacy, to bring the outdoor industry's voice to the Hill.

Here's the reality: RecPak only works because public lands exist. Our product saves weight, time, and ultimately helps our customers achieve success in the backcountry. But all that means nothing if hunters, mountain adventurers, and backcountry athletes lose access to the landscapes they depend on. Conservation is not abstract for us. It directly impacts the people who use our product and the places they rely on.

The Roadless Rule: What's at Stake

The Roadless Rule has been protecting 50 million acres of national forest land for nearly 25 years. For backcountry users, this matters. A lot.

The rule protects landscapes like some of Wyoming's most prized wilderness areas. It keeps millions of acres roadless, which means they stay wild. They stay accessible to recreationists on foot, horseback, and packraft. They stay intact for wildlife. They stay available for hunters pursuing elk, mule deer, and pronghorn.

But the Roadless Rule is under attack. The Agriculture Department is considering rescinding protections, arguing that removing roads would somehow threaten forest management. The counterargument is straightforward and backed by data: 88% of wildfires are started by people. More roads equal more access, more access equals more people, and more people means more fire. The logic doesn't hold up.

What makes this worse is the timeline. Federal agencies are providing the smallest window for public comment, even as millions of Americans depend on these lands and want their voices heard.

15 Meetings on the Hill

Joy and a coalition of outdoor brands spent the week talking to their elected representatives. Fifteen meetings. House and Senate members from states where public lands matter most: Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, and beyond.

These weren't intimidating encounters with distant politicians. They were conversations. Joy walked into offices and said what needed saying: "Colorado has one of the largest groups of RecPak users, and we want those customers to continue having access to well-managed public lands for recreation."

That connection mattered. It was the difference between abstract policy and real impact on real people.

What struck Joy most was working alongside established outdoor brands. The North Face. Patagonia. As well as athletes like Conrad Anker, who has been lobbying for conservation for years and whose relationships with elected officials run deep, built on years of trust. Joy reflected, “It felt impactful to be in the room where decisions get made, representing our customers, representing the backcountry.”

The other revelation was watching High Street Strategies, a lobbying group working with The Conservation Alliance, coordinate messaging across dozens of meetings. They had a bird's eye view of how to move bills through Congress, which representatives needed which asks, how to build pressure for permanent protections. That kind of coordinated advocacy, at scale, is how change happens.

Conservation Is Bipartisan

One powerful takeaway: conservation mattered across party lines. It is bipartisan. Hunters and rock climbers, fishermen and mountain bikers all care about the same thing: access to wild, well-managed public lands.

Meeting Senator Heinrich from New Mexico made this clear. His office was covered with photos of elk, pronghorn, and deer. He's a hunter, a dad, a husband. His mission is to protect ethical conservation not just in New Mexico, but across the United States. He's public about it. He's been a team member of The Conservation Alliance for years. That's the kind of long-term commitment we need.

What was encouraging to see is that conservation is one of the top issues Americans care about. Ninety percent of Western voters said conservation influenced their voting decisions. This transcends politics. It's about protecting the places we need to live the lives we choose.

Our Commitment

RecPak's involvement with The Conservation Alliance is not a one-off. We're members. We're committed to this work for the long run. That's why we also partner with Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, support 1% for the Planet, and participate in The Conservation Alliance's Brands for Public Lands coalition.

The Roadless Rule is just one fight. There's work ahead on public lands grab defense, wilderness protections, and ensuring the places our customers adventure into stay accessible.

As Joy said after returning from D.C.: "We are still a small brand, but that made the work feel even more meaningful. Being able to go into Senate offices and represent our customers' voice matters. Watching people show up year after year, improving how they communicate, persuade, and speak the language of the Capitol, made it clear this is important work, and work we want to commit to for the long run."

Leading outdoor brands flew into Washington to advocate. Now it's your turn. Continue to call your representatives. Make noise.