Outdoor NC empowers communities to champion responsible outdoor recreation through education, accessibility initiatives, and destination stewardship practices.
TIS was contracted by Visit North Carolina to develop statewide programs that engage local destination partners, steward natural resources, and enhance the visitor experience.
Leading a statewide stewardship movement
Comprehensive Planning, Trail Town Development, and Accessible Outdoor Recreation Initiatives
Official NC Trail Town Guide
Outdoor NC Blueprint
Case Study
Outdoor NC Global Trends Report
With record-breaking outdoor visitation and growing strain on natural resources, Visit North Carolina sought a statewide solution to promote responsible recreation, foster community stewardship, and enhance the economic vitality of trail towns across the state.
Our Approach:
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Conducted extensive research to define strategic pillars and identify stewardship programming opportunities.
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Developed the Outdoor NC Trail Town Stewardship Designation Program and Trail Town Visitor Guide
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Created the Accessible Outdoors Toolkit to help destination partners identify and promote inclusive outdoor recreation opportunities.
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Built statewide a quality management system, learning modules, partner toolkits, and visitor-facing educational materials.
Impact:
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Over 100 destination partners educated on destination stewardship, accessible outdoor recreation, and responsible travel.
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55 destination partners enrolled in the Outdoor NC program, the most active of any partner program offered by Visit North Carolina
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30 Trail Town partners complete a series of stewardship designation activities, expanding local communications and visitor experience initiatives.
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Over 5,000 local businesses engaged in responsible travel practices.
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Trail Town Visitor Guide has reached tens of thousands of visitors showcasing trails and accessible outdoor attractions across the state.
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North Carolina emerged as a national leader in responsible and accessible outdoor recreation.