REPORTS
WORKING GROUP PROGRESS REPORTS: HARD TRUTHS AND A WAY FORWARD
We’re pleased to share the 2025 End-of-Year Working Group Reports, reflecting mid-point findings from member-led working groups. These reports offer insight into where the outdoor industry is today—and what it will take to move forward. Both working groups will continue their work in 2026, with final resources and guidance planned for completion early next year.
Taken together, these reports make one thing clear: lasting change requires shifting power, resources, and accountability—not just representation.
REPORT SUMMARIES
FAIR PLAY IN PARTNERSHIPS
The Fair Play in Partnerships Working Group Report brings together survey insights from ambassadors, athletes, influencers, and brand employees to reveal how partnerships are experienced on the ground. Drawing on survey data and best-practice research, the report surfaces persistent challenges around compensation, transparency, and power imbalances—while also identifying what fair, mutually beneficial partnerships can look like in practice.
TALENT WORKING GROUP
The Talent Working Group Report focuses on organizational culture as the foundation for attracting and retaining a diverse workforce. Grounded in community-informed research, the report introduces the T.R.A.I.L. framework, a culture-first approach designed specifically for the outdoor industry. It highlights how performative values, misaligned systems, and unexamined assumptions continue to undermine belonging—and offers a practical path toward cultures that are inclusive, accountable, and sustainable over time.