Past Projects
FUTURE FOCUSED EDUCATION’S X3 INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
ORD has collaborated with Future Focused Education to provide high school students with paid internship opportunities that build career pathways in the outdoor recreation industry. This innovative program connects youth with employers in areas such as outdoor education, conservation, grassroots agriculture, and watershed health, offering real-world experience while strengthening New Mexico’s outdoor economy.
Since its inception in 2021, the program has grown steadily, placing dozens of students with employers across the state, including Taos, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Las Cruces. With funding support from ORD and contributions from employer partners, the program leverages resources to create impactful opportunities for youth while addressing workforce needs in the outdoor sector.
The program fosters lasting partnerships with employers, encouraging them to invest in future generations. Several partners have transitioned to fully funding internships on their own, demonstrating the program’s sustainability and long-term impact. New employers continue to join, expanding the network of opportunities for students and ensuring the program’s reach continues to grow.
By offering paid internships, the program reduces barriers to entry for youth, especially those from underrepresented communities, and aligns with ORD’s commitment to equity and workforce development. These internships provide students with hands-on learning experiences and skills that prepare them for meaningful careers, building a pipeline of talent to support the outdoor recreation industry in New Mexico.
For more information: https://futurefocusededucation.org/x3-internships/
NM MAINSTREET COLLABORATION
In April 2021, an innovative New Mexico MainStreet (NMMS) and Outdoor Recreation Division (ORD) collaboration launched to connect communities’ downtowns with their natural resources. NMMS and ORD will create the “Outdoor Recreation Asset Atlas” to study five counties. The end result will identify up to five trail creation or improvement projects connected to MainStreet districts. Outdoor recreation development, when connected to MainStreet community downtowns, has great potential to support local, asset-based economic development.
NM UPLIFT INITIATIVE
“How do we plan and develop an outdoor recreation economy that’s right for our community?” That’s the most common question we get from local partners. Dozens of New Mexico Tribes, counties, and towns are interested in growing their outdoor economies – prioritizing environmental, public health, educational or tourism gains (or all the above). How to pull it off sustainably and in a way that benefits residents is the hard part. And many communities are simply strapped for time and resources when it comes to intentional, proactive strategic planning.
That’s why ORD hired Public Land Solutions (PLS) in 2022 to work with every region of the state to develop bespoke outdoor rec strategic plans, compile data, and prioritize outdoor projects so they’re funding-ready. PLS is a nationally respected non-profit dedicated to providing comprehensive recreation planning and stakeholder coordination. Working with ORD, they’ll provide expert technical assistance to every community that wants it to create custom action plans to grow local outdoor rec economies and prioritize specific outdoor rec projects.
Starting in 2022, PLS is scheduling in-person and virtual meetings and workshops throughout the state as part of the NM Uplift Initiative. They’ll develop strategic plans for each of the six Economic Development Department regions. Ultimately, the goal is to foster regional collaboration around an area’s outdoor economy, develop a cohesive vision of the region’s outdoor brand and its future, and prioritize specific projects to advance that vision. Visit the Outdoor Recreation Stakeholder portal to get involved and stay informed for the NM Uplift Initiative.
OUTDOOR MARKETING GRANT
The Outdoor Recreation Division launched the Outdoor Marketing Grant program in 2023-24 to expand participation in New Mexico’s outdoor recreation industry. This program empowered communities and nonprofits to enhance their outdoor recreation marketing efforts and increase outdoor participation, promote ecosystem stewardship, and improve access to outdoor opportunities. This was a one-year program funded through the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) implementation of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in partnership with the New Mexico Tourism Department, highlighting a collaborative effort to support outdoor recreation and tourism
Eligible expenses included event sponsorships, brochures, maps, guidebooks, digital and print advertisements, videos, and other marketing materials that showcase the region’s outdoor recreation offerings. The highly competitive grant cycle ran from October 15 to December 31, 2023, attracting 60 applications.
In March 2024, 39 grantees were awarded a total of $846,872. Over 63% of recipients were from rural areas across 17 counties, with grants ranging from $10,000 to $30,000. These funds supported 10 events and 29 comprehensive marketing campaigns by New Mexico nonprofits, counties, and municipalities, strengthening local economies and outdoor recreation initiatives statewide.
To view a complete list of the programs and events funded by the Outdoor Marketing Grant, visit the Grant Recipient Database.
At this time, there is no ongoing funding stream to continue the Outdoor Marketing Grant program. The EDA/ARPA funding was a one-time allocation, and additional resources are required to sustain this impactful initiative in the future.
THE CRADLE-TO-CAREER OUTDOOR INDUSTRY STRATEGY
In 2020, the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program awarded the ORD a technical assistance grant to create a statewide outdoor education and industry strategy. The plan builds a pathway from pre-K through higher education for students interested in working in and for the outdoors, and emphasizes early outdoor access through programs like the Outdoor Equity Fund, climate education, and real-world paid experience that opens doors to solid New Mexico careers in tribal and rural areas.