Do you know who manages the public lands you visit? Surprise, it isn’t Smokey Bear. Public land management organizations work hard to balance recreation and conservation, and we owe it to them to learn who they are and how they work.

The Great Lakes are the largest group of freshwater lakes by area, containing 21% of the world's surface freshwater by volume. As stated by Pengfei Xue from the Great Lakes Research Center, advanced regional climate modeling systems indicate that Lake Superior, Michigan-Huron, and Erie will experience a baseline water level rise of approximately 20 to 50 centimeters by 2050 due to climate change.

Keystone Species have the greatest impact on ecosystems relative to their abundance and without them, everything falls apart.

Let’s talk about poop! Dog poop, specifically. We can’t pretend that bagging our dog’s waste is fun, but it is an important part of public lands conservation. Click here to read about how our dogs impact the ecosystems we bring them to, and what we can doo (heh) to keep our outdoors clean.

As the Outdoor Community grows to welcome more people to public lands, it is important that we all do our part to keep the land and each other happy and thriving. Maintaining proper trail etiquette is a great place to start! Here are some helpful tips to know when going for a hike.

As the temperatures drop and the trails disappear under the snow, new challenges and circumstances surface for us adventurers. Here's what you need to know about hiking in the snow.

Switchbacks, a word you may have heard thrown around in the world of recreation, as they provide a more straightforward ascent for those traversing up a mountain or hillside, benefiting the hiker while protecting the land. Click to learn more about switchbacks, how they benefit hikers, and what they do for the land.

For the conservation and continued accessibility of our public lands, Outway is bridging the gap between land management agencies and their adventurers. Click to read about the issues facing the outdoor community and how Outway is solving them.

In a technology-centered world, finding ways to escape everyday life to find peace is essential. Forest bathing , a form of mindfulness, can inspire a greater desire to protect public lands while improving mental and physical health.

Old-growth forests make up 34% of the world's forested land. As a home for various thriving and endangered plants and animals, destroying these ecosystems could lead to habitat loss, biodiversity, and an increased carbon footprint. Let's dive into the intricacies that create these lush forests worth protecting.

Naturalists observe the world through a different lens, creating stories that educate and engage people from a new perspective. Their work in the field expands our understanding of the world around us and gives us the knowledge needed to protect the land.

November is coming to an end, but the importance of education and action never ends. Here are some ways to learn about and support Native Americans all year round.

Have you ever been out on a hike, bike, or equestrian trail and wondered who maintained it and how it got there in the first place? Who puts that boulder there, strategically keeping you from entering the non-charted territory? Where are the materials used on the trail coming from, and how is it always so well-maintained? I talked with Greg Jackson, a Conservation Work Skills Instructor for Student Conservation Association, to learn more about my curiosities. He discussed the five main components of trail knowledge and shared personal expertise, spreading awareness about the reality of trail building and maintenance.

You may have heard of Smokey Bear, but have you heard his story? He is an American legend and one that paved the way for education surrounding wildfires and their impacts on the environment.

Ecosystems all over the world are changing. In Colorado’s Front Range, wildfires are becoming more and more frequent, often burning at temperatures so high that the landscape cannot regenerate, and posing a threat to the communities that interface with nature. Outway’s Aaron Kennedy spoke with Chris Dirolf, a Boulder OSMP wildland firefighter, to discuss the rise in fires, the impacts, and how we can restore this ecosystem. Click to read and listen to our full interview with Chris.

The temperatures are rising as spring comes in full swing. Warmer days and more sunshine are wonderful, but they bring complications with them that can pose serious danger if left unaddressed. Click to drink in some of the symptoms, causes, and prevention methods of dehydration.

Next up on our list of featured organizations is the Outdoor Industry Association. With over 200 member companies and organizations, the OIA helps to increase outdoor participation, and is the foremost source of metric data for the entire outdoor industry! Click here to read more about the OIA and their endless contributions to the outdoor community.

Here at Outway, we want to highlight organizations that work hard for the benefit of our environment, ecosystems, and communities. This week we are highlighting the Butterfly Pavilion in Denver, Colorado! Click to read about the work they do and how you can get involved!