What is America Outdoors?
America Outdoors is the national trade association dedicated to the success of outfitting businesses and outdoor recreation providers. Our mission is to grow, protect, and serve the industry through powerful advocacy, valuable business resources, and a strong, connected community.
For more than 30 years, we've helped outfitters stay ahead of industry trends, navigate complex regulations, and build resilient, thriving businesses. From guiding policy at the federal level to sharing best practices among peers, we exist to ensure the future of outdoor recreation is bright and sustainable.
Join Us - This is Where Outfitters Thrive
Questions about membership or online registration? Contact Caryn Short cshort@americaoutdoors.org for personalized support.
America Outdoors has three membership types:
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Outfitter Organization- This includes all outfitters and outdoor recreation companies whose primary operation is in the United States.
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Outfitter International Organization- This includes all outfitters and outdoor recreation companies whose primary operation is outside of the United States.
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Commercial Organization- This includes those who manufacture or distribute gear and other goods as well as those who provide services to the outdoor industry.
When you join the association, you will be prompted to choose your membership type from this list, then choose your dues rate based on your annual revenue:
2025 Outfitter Dues Rates
Up to - $250,000: $480
$250,001 - $500,000: $960
$500,001 - $1,000,000: $1,570
$1,000,001 - $2,000,000: $2,410
$2,000,001 - $5,000,000: $3,630
$5,000,001 - and up: $4,845
2025 International Outfitter Dues Rates
Up to - $300,000: $225
$300,001 - $500,000 : $300
$500,001 +: $450
2025 Commercial Dues Rates
All Commercial Members: $350
America Outdoors members are professional outfitters - both for-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations - who provide exceptional outdoor recreation experiences across the country.
Our members offer a wide ranges of services, including guided adventures like whitewater rafting, aerial adventures, climbing, horseback riding, hunting, and heli-skiing as well as unguided rentals such as kayaks, bikes, and snowmobiles. Whether operating on public lands or private property, our members are united by a commitment to safety, stewardship, and unforgettable outdoor experiences.
Policy, Protection, & Progress Powered by Membership
When you join America Outdoors, you strenghten the collective voice of the outfitting industry. Your membership helps to ensure that guides and outfitters are represented in Washington D.C., where America Outdoors actively monitors and responds to federal policy changes impacting transportation, labor, permitting, access, taxes, and fees.
see a few examples of Government Affairs work AO has done to keep our industry Thriving
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EXPLORE Act Passage & Implementation. After more than a decade of persistant effort, this act passed congress on the Unanimous Consent calendar in December of 2024 and was signed into law by President Biden in January of 2025. Implementation work continues in collaboration with the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, and the National Park Service.
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Removal of Public Lands Sale Provision from Budget Reconciliation. Through coalition advocacy, AO helped block proposals to sell off public lands in both the House and Senate budget drafts.
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President Trump Revokes Biden-Era Minimum Wage Order for Outfitters. This order imposed federal minimum wage on permitted outfitters that was much higher than local wages.
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NPS Reverses Ban on Liability Waviers. After advocacy from AO and allied associations, NPS changed policy to allow outfitters and concessionaires to use exculpatory waivers - restoring a vital risk management tool and allowing for potential for reduced insurance rates.
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Short-haul Exemption. In 2021, America Outdoors successfully advocated for a short-haul exemption for operators providing recreational activities, who cross state lines in 9-15 passenger vans with or without trailers, and who operate within a 150 air-mile radius of the outset of the trip, compliance with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules and regulations is no longer required.
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Paycheck Protection Program. In 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, AO successfully pushed to adjust the Paycheck Protection Program so it sustained seasonal recreation establishments, dramatically increasing the size of the loan that outfitters were able to obtain.