Documents

America Outdoors strives to deliver resources that outfitter need to run a smooth, compliant business. Below you will find resources for risk management and mitigation, human resources, permitting regulation and more.

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Apr 09, 2025 PDF Document Using the 4Ds - Risk Management
Cornerstone Safety Group risk management resource (members only)

Apr 09, 2025 PDF Document Knowledge Byte - Risk Management
Cornerstone Safety Group risk management resource

Apr 09, 2025 PDF Document Interviewing Guidelines - Risk Management
Cornerstone Safety Group risk management resource (members only)

Apr 09, 2025 PDF Document Child Protection Policy - Template - Risk Management
Cornerstone Safety Group Risk Management resource (members only)

Apr 09, 2025 PDF Document Hypothermia - Risk Management
Cornerstone Safety Group Risk Management Resource (members only)

Apr 09, 2025 PDF Document Heat Illness - Risk Management
Cornerstone Safety Group Risk Management Resource (members only)

Apr 09, 2025 PDF Document Anaphylaxis and Allergic Reactions - Risk Management
Cornerstone Safety Group Risk Management Resource

Apr 09, 2025 PDF Document AAO Refusal for Medical Treatment Form - Risk Management
Cornerstone Safety Group Shared Risk Management Resource (members only)

Mar 03, 2025 PDF Document AO Brief - Federal RIF Effort Taking Toll on Public Land Agencies - Bureau of Land Management, Department of Labor, US Forest Service, National Park Service
Two executive actions, the January 10 Hiring Freeze and the Feb. 11 DOGE Workforce Optimization Initiative, have combined to create a crisis in access to public lands. The impacts from the termination of 800 Bureau of Land Management employees, 1,000 National Park Service employees, (about 5% of the workforce) and 3,500 USFS employees (about 10% of the workforce), have yet to be fully realized.

Feb 26, 2025 PDF Document NPS Field Memo: Concessioner Insurance Deductibles and Self-Insured Retentions - Risk Management, National Park Service
This memorandum revises National Park Service (NPS) policy for concessioners regarding deductibles and self-insured retentions. The NPS is removing the requirement that concession contracts specify deductible and self-insured retention limits for liability and property insurance. This action is being taken to address insurance availability and cost impacts, streamline processes, and better align NPS policy with industry and other Federal agency practices.

Feb 12, 2025 PDF Document NPS Field Memo - Exculpatory Agreements for Commercial Use Authorizations, Concession Contracts and Leases - Risk Management, National Park Service
According to the revised policy, "all CUA holders (regardless of the level of risk associated with the services being provided) and concessioners and commercial lessees providing high-risk recreation services (as determined by the NPS) will be permitted to ask visitors (i.e., their customers) to sign exculpatory agreements that include VARs, WoLs, and indemnification clauses."

Feb 03, 2025 PDF Document AO Briefing for President Trump's 2025 Transition Team - Bureau of Land Management, Department of Labor, US Forest Service, National Park Service
MEMBER ONLY RESOURCE - Enhancing Efficiency in the Administration of Permits for Outfitting and Guiding Activities and Enhancing Recreation Access and Economic Benefits from Lands Administered by Federal Agencies presented to President Donald J. Trump Transition Team by Aaron Bannon, Executive Director America Outdoors Association.

Feb 03, 2025 PDF Document Outfitters Seek Trump Order to Reverse Biden/Obama Minimum Wage Requirements - Department of Labor
MEMBER ONLY RESOURCE - The outfitting and guiding industry is facing unprecedented challenges that threaten its viability and adversely impact public access to outdoor recreation experiences on Federal lands. Substantially increasing labor and insurance costs, in many cases driven by government regulation, have created a dynamic that is unsustainable for the industry.

Nov 14, 2024 PDF Document ORR Memo: Natural Disasters and Solutions for Supporting Resilient Outdoor Recreation - US Forest Service
ORR Memo - Outdoor Recreation Community Severely Impacted by Hurricane Helene. The Southeast’s outdoor recreation business community has been severely impacted by Hurricane Helene. Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) and its members have been working diligently to convene state and local stakeholders and federal land agencies to inventory the impact of the hurricane on businesses and how recreationists can play an important role in the response, recovery, and rebuilding efforts in the region.

Nov 12, 2024 DOCX Document AOA Proposed Amended Bylaws with proposed changes - Human Resources
Substantive, non-technical amended bylaws proposed for 2024 general membership meeting

Nov 12, 2024 DOCX Document AOA Proposed Amended Bylaws (clean) - Human Resources
Amended bylaws for 2024 membership meeting.

Oct 01, 2024 PDF Document 2015 Wage and Hour Guidelines for Employers - Department of Labor
These Guidelines are intended to provide outfitters with guidance on the wage and hour provisions under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Executive Order No. 13658, which is applicable to federal contractors. Please note that in certain states stricter wage and hour requirements may apply. Compliance with federal law does not absolve an employer from liability under applicable local and state laws. Always check with state laws before implementing any of the following employment practices.

Oct 01, 2024 PDF Document DOL New Wage and Hour Rules Slideshow - Ericka Fleetwood, Akerman LLP - Department of Labor
Addressing impact of Executive Order 14026 increased minimum wage on outfitters. Focusing on elimination of exemption for recreational services on Federal Lands (EO 13838) and elimination of tip credit. Understanding federal agency Implementation, extensions, and mitigation. Addressing impact of new Wage & Hour Salary Threshold for White Collar Exemptions.

Sep 27, 2024 PDF Document AOA Comments on FMCSA Notice of Guidelines Review - Federal Motor Carrier
On September 25, 2024, America Outdoors submitted comments to the Federal Motor Carrier Vehicle Administration asking them to update their 2020 brochure on 9-15 passenger van compliance. In 2021 Congress passed a provision exemption recreation experience providers from federal jurisdiction when operating within 150 air miles of passenger pick-up. The FMCSA has not yet provided guidance on how they intend to implement the law. AO also asked the FMCSA to consider challenges for outfitters to comply with the new Entry Level Driver Training Requirements.

Sep 06, 2024 PDF Document Social Media Strategy Guide for Tour Operators - Marketing and Business Development
Social media has become a crucial tool for tour operators like yourself to connect with your audience, build brand awareness, and drive engagement. Whether you currently have a presence on social media and post consistently, don’t have social channels at all and don’t know where to begin, or are somewhere in the middle, this guide will offer valuable insights for you!

Jul 15, 2024 DOCX Document Brand Sheet - Marketing and Business Development, Administrative & Financial Tools

Jul 12, 2024 PDF Document Chevron Is Dead - but modified agency deference may exist - Department of Labor, Federal Motor Carrier

Jun 07, 2024 PDF Document EXPLORE Act brief - Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, National Park Service

Apr 23, 2024 PDF Document Transportation Safety Assessment Form - Risk Management

Apr 17, 2024 XLSX Document Vehicle Daily Pre-Trip Inspection - Risk Management

Apr 17, 2024 PDF Document Campground Safety Assessment - Risk Management

Apr 17, 2024 PDF Document Incident Report Form Template - Risk Management

Apr 17, 2024 PDF Document HR Compliance Checklist - Risk Management

Apr 17, 2024 PDF Document Kayak and Canoe Safety Assessment - Risk Management

Apr 17, 2024 PDF Document Sexual Harassment Policy Sample - Human Resources, Risk Management

Apr 15, 2024 PDF Document Crisis Response Plan - Risk Management

Mar 25, 2024 PDF Document Traumatic Exposure Protocol - Responder Alliance - Risk Management

Mar 25, 2024 PDF Document Stress Continuum- Responder Alliance - Risk Management

Jan 18, 2024 PDF Document 2023 Outfitter Trends Report - Administrative & Financial Tools

Dec 04, 2023 PDF Document 2022 U.S. Commercial River Use Report - Marketing and Business Development

Sep 06, 2023 PDF Document BWCAW Towboat Prescoping Notice Final - US Forest Service

Apr 07, 2023 PDF Document SOAR Act HR1527 118th Hearing Testimony - Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, National Park Service

Mar 14, 2023 PDF Document AORA Brief March 2023 - Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, National Park Service

Feb 14, 2023 PDF Document 2022 Outfitter Trends Report - Administrative & Financial Tools

Jun 07, 2022 PDF Document 2022 Short-haul Exemption Brief - Federal Motor Carrier

Jan 14, 2022 PDF Document 2021 Outfitter Member Trends Report - Administrative & Financial Tools


Jan 07, 2022 PDF Document SOAR Act Brief Updated 1.7.2022 - Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, National Park Service

Jan 07, 2022 PDF Document Testimony for Senate ENR Recreation Package 12.14.21 - Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, National Park Service

Jan 07, 2022 PDF Document Daily Wage for Outfitters and Guides Brief - Department of Labor

Aug 27, 2021 PDF Document Outfitter Comments on DOL Federal Contractor Min Wage - Department of Labor

Jun 14, 2021 PDF Document AO Testimony on House Subcommittee Hearing, 6-8-2021 - Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, National Park Service
Written Testimony by America Outdoors on the Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Ac (SOAR), Environmental Justice in Recreation Permitting, on the Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development Act (SHRED), and on the Modernizing Access to our Public Land Act (MAP Land).


Dec 17, 2020 PDF Document 2020 Outcome for Active Travel Survey Results - Administrative & Financial Tools


Jul 21, 2020 PDF Document Risk Management Manual for Outfitters - Risk Management

Jun 18, 2020 PDF Document Economic Injury Disaster Loan Reopened - Administrative & Financial Tools


May 19, 2020 PDF Document Sample Affidavit 14-day Quarantine Requirement - Risk Management

May 13, 2020 PDF Document US Forest Service Guidance During COVID-19 Updated - US Forest Service

May 13, 2020 PDF Document Paddlesports and Rafting Instruction Videos - Risk Management

May 06, 2020 PDF Document Status of State Park Systems During COVID-19 - Risk Management, Administrative & Financial Tools

May 06, 2020 PDF Document NPS- Minimizing Risk of COVID-19 Exposure in Shared Housing - Risk Management, National Park Service

May 06, 2020 PDF Document Template for Outfitter Operations Plan During COVID-19 - US Forest Service
Bridger Teton National Forest Operations Plan BLANK


May 05, 2020 PDF Document Q&A PPP Loan Forgiveness: Manage Outcomes - Administrative & Financial Tools

Feb 10, 2020 PDF Document Outfitter & Guide Compliance Manual - US Forest Service

Jan 15, 2020 PDF Document Love Contract- Consensual Relationship Form - Risk Management

Sep 04, 2019 PDF Document Guide Training Checklist - Risk Management

Feb 18, 2019 PDF Document Forest Service Playbook Index - US Forest Service

Dec 09, 2017 PDF Document Sexual Harassment in the Outdoor Industry - Risk Management


Results: 67 Records found.