Recreation leaders and others who understand the benefits arising from recreation in America will have an extraordinary opportunity to shape the future of recreation opportunities through participation in a series of Recreation Forums to be held across the nation in March and April, 2007. The national Recreation Forum will be held in April in Washington, DC. The national forum is expected to generate discussions among national leaders in the public and private sectors that will unify public policy efforts by those seeking to sustain recreation's positive contributions to life in America.

Regional forums will be held in Colorado, Georgia, California, Oregon and Illinois, convened by the American Recreation Coalition and the National Forest Foundation. The Forest Service and other federal agencies will play an active role in the series of meetings. The single day forums are free, open to all and will seek to:

1. Document the importance of recreation to important societal goals ranging from improved physical, mental and spiritual health to improved educational systems, from local and regional economic vitality to deterrence of crime;
2. Identify key needs and challenges to meeting the recreation needs of the nation; and
3. Local and regional successes increasing the quality and quantity of recreation opportunities which deserve consideration for expansion and replication.