The Pennsylvania Outdoor Recreation Association (PORA) emerged from the Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association (PSAA), representing a strategic evolution to meet the changing needs of our state's outdoor recreation industry.
The Catalyst for Change
In spring 2022, twenty Pennsylvania ski areas gathered at Bear Creek Resort in Macungie for a pivotal strategic planning session. As more ski areas expanded into four-season destinations, it became clear that our mission needed to evolve as well. The session identified key priorities:
- Enhanced education and employment initiatives
- Unified lobbying efforts across outdoor recreation sectors
- Collaboration with neighboring industries
A Unanimous Decision
The PSAA membership voted unanimously to rebrand and expand our scope. As board president Lori Phillips noted, "We knew we had to give up some of our ego in order to make this happen." This decision reflected our commitment to strengthening Pennsylvania's entire outdoor recreation community while maintaining our strong foundation in the ski industry.
Expanding Our Impact
As PORA, we've built a robust partnership network to support outdoor recreation businesses and workforce development. We partner with Basecamp, the leading outdoor recreation jobs platform, securing Pennsylvania's first state-specific page on their site. We collaborate with local and regional workforce development boards, destination marketing organizations across the state, the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association, the Outdoor Business Alliance of PA, and local chambers of commerce. These partnerships create multiple pathways for job seekers to connect with employers and for outdoor recreation businesses to access the support, resources, and collective voice they need to thrive.
"We're not leaving the ski industry. We want to make sure we maintain the strength of the association as it has been for the ski areas. But there's also value in expanding our network... I think there's always a fear of diluting the ski message, but a rising tide raises all ships."
- Ladora "Lori" Phillips, PORA Board President