State Cohort and State Cohort RICA

Project Description: The goal of the State Recreation and Tourism Cohort was to meet over the 16 months of the Catalyst phase of the California Jobs First initiative and draft a road map/white paper/tool outlining a direction for the future of sustainable outdoor recreation and tourism in California. "Recreation and Tourism" was placed in the "strengthen" category of the State of California’s Economic Blueprint, which means it is important but not a priority sector for direct investment. The Recreation and Tourism Cohort brought together organizations, regions, and other entities from across the state working in these sectors because they remained critical to regional economic vitality, as identified in the Jobs First Regional plans. This group was especially important because of changes occurring at the federal level. Historically, California has relied on federal public land systems and institutions to manage and maintain recreation infrastructure and programming on federal public lands, which make up over half of the state’s geography.

State Cohort RICA (Recommendations for Implementation and Collaborative Action)

Draft State Cohort RICA Feedback - Revised - August 4th, 2026

• Revised State Cohort RICA Companion Guide - August 4th, 2026

Draft RICA Feedback - July 13th, 2026

• Companion Guide for Draft RICA Review

Recreation and Tourism Symposium of Practice

MLTPA and Redwood Region RISE, with support from California Jobs First, hosted an in-person “Recreation and Tourism Symposium of Practice” event in Sacramento on April 23rd, 2026. This full-day facilitated session was held at the California Natural Resources building and focused on lessons learned during the Catalyst phase of California Jobs First in our respective regions, the barriers to success for developed projects, and recommendations to the state to encourage the implementation of Catalyst projects developed through California Jobs First.

Meeting Materials

• View the Meeting Agenda

View the Meeting Presentations

• View the complete Symposium meeting presentation
• View the Redwood Region's “Arts Nature Trails Constellation Project” presentation
• View the Sierra Region's “Towns to Trails Project” presentation

Project Interview Summaries by Region

• Capitol Region – Nevada County
• Inland So Cal Region – Discover Inland Empire
• North State - Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship
• North State Region – Siskiyou Outdoor Recreation Alliance
• Orange Region – Orange County Micro Tourism
• Redwood Region – Arts Nature Trails Project
• Redwood Region – Redwood Trail Alliance
• Sierra Region - Campgrounds
• Sierra Region – Towns to Trails
• Southern Border Region – San Diego State University

Project "Opportunities" and “Challenges" by Symposium Filters

• Assets - Opportunities and Challenges
• Policy and Regulation - Opportunities and Challenges
• Funding - Opportunities and Challenges
• Data - Opportunities and Challenges
• Climate Change - Opportunities and Challenges
• Workforce - Opportunities and Challenges
• Collaboratives - Opportunities and Challenges
• Branding and Marketing - Opportunities and Challenges

Project Discussion Guide

• View the combined "Opportunities" and “Challenges” for all projects in a single document

Recommendation Labs Outputs

• Assets and Policy & Regulation
• Climate Change and Workforce
• Collaboratives and Branding
• Funding and Data

Related Meeting Materials

• California Jobs First Regional Map for Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
  • Download the California Jobs First Regional Map for Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
• California Jobs First
  • Download the California Jobs First "State Economic Blueprint”
  • Download the California Jobs First "The Playbook"
• Visit California
  • Download Visit California's "Strategic Tourism Plan Statewide Opportunities March 2025"
• California Natural Resources Agency
  • Download California's "Outdoors for All - Providing Equitable Access to Parks and Nature"
• California Wildfire Taskforce
  • Download "California’s Joint Strategy for Sustainable Outdoor Recreation & Wildfire Resilience"
• California Arts Council
  • Download "California’s Future Is Creative"
• MLTPA Foundation
  • Download the CALREC Vision

View the Event Photos

• Photo Gallery

Event Information:
April 23rd, 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA)
Room 02-302 A&B
715 P St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Directions and Parking

• Walking Directions
• CNRA Building Map
• CNRA Parking Options

Recreation and Tourism Cohort Meeting - August 14, 2026

• View the Meeting Summary
• View the Meeting Presentation
• View the Meeting Recording

Recreation and Tourism Cohort Meeting - June 12, 2026

• View the Agenda
• View the Mariposa Arts Presentation
• View the Blue Sky Center Presentation
• View the Meeting Recording

Recreation and Tourism Cohort Meeting - May 1, 2026

• View the Meeting Summary
• View the Agenda
• View the Meeting Presentation
• View the Meeting Recording

Recreation and Tourism Cohort Meeting - April 3, 2026

• View the Meeting Summary
• View the Agenda
• View the Symposium Preview Presentation
• View the Meeting Recording

Recreation and Tourism Cohort Meeting - March 6, 2026

• View the Meeting Summary
• View the Agenda
• View the Arts in California Parks Presentation
• View the Bay Area Trails Collaborative Presentation
• View the Meeting Recording

Recreation and Tourism Cohort Meeting - February 6, 2026

• View the Meeting Summary
• View the Agenda
• View the Meeting Presentation
• View the Orange County Business Council Presentation
• View the Meeting Recording

Recreation and Tourism Cohort Meeting - December 5, 2025

• View the Agenda
• View the Meeting Presentation
• View the Siskiyou Outdoor Recreation Alliance Presentation
• View the California Outdoor Recreation Partnership Presentation
• View the Meeting Recording

Recreation and Tourism Cohort Meeting - November 7, 2025

• View the Agenda
• View the Meeting Presentation
• View the UCANR Cooperative Extension Presentation
• View the Meeting Recording 

Recreation and Tourism Cohort Meeting - October 3, 2025

• View the Meeting Summary
• View the Agenda
• View the Meeting Presentation
• View the Agritourism in Sierra San Joaquin Presentation 
• View the Sierra San Joaquin Regional Strategy
• View the Explore Nature Presentation
• View the Meeting Recording

Recreation and Tourism Cohort Meeting - September 5, 2025

• View the Meeting Summary
• View the Agenda
• View the Coachella Valley Association of Governments Presentation
• View the HipCamp Presentation
• View the HipCamp Letter of Support
• View the Meeting Recording

Recreation and Tourism Cohort Meeting - August 1, 2025

• View the Meeting Summary
• View the Agenda
• View the Meeting Presentation
• View the Intro to UC SAREP Agritourism Work Presentation
• View the Meeting Recording

Recreation and Tourism Cohort Meeting - July 7, 2025

• View the Meeting Summary
• View the Agenda
• View the Meeting Presentation
• View the Nevada County Presentation
• View the Meeting Recording

Recreation and Tourism Cohort Meeting - June 6, 2025

• View the Meeting Summary
• View the Agenda
• View the Meeting Presentation
• View the Meeting Recording

Last updated August 25, 2026

This project was funded by Sierra Jobs First and created to support the initiative’s mission of creating a community-led, climate-neutral, inclusive future for our industry in the Sierra region. Through our partnership with Sierra Business Council, regional conveners and fiscal administrators for California Jobs First in the Sierra region, we provided industry-specific assistance that supported job growth, inclusive workforce development, and economic resilience, while protecting our region’s natural lands and vibrant communities.