Outdoor Alliance members posing for photos outside the United States Capitol.
Captured in Washington, D.C., on October 21, 2025. — (Kevin Lowery, @kevloweryphoto / Collection Media @collectiondotmedia
Earlier this month, the American Canoe Association (ACA) joined our partners at Outdoor Alliance for the annual DC Fly-In—a week of advocacy on Capitol Hill to represent paddlers and outdoor recreationists nationwide. Each year, Outdoor Alliance, its member organizations, and partners meet with congressional offices to advocate for policies that protect and enhance access to our public lands and waters.
This year’s Fly-In looked a little different due to the federal government shutdown, but we were grateful to still have the opportunity to take more than 70 meetings with members of Congress and their staff on both sides of the aisle. Despite the unusual circumstances, the collective message from the outdoor community remained strong: our public lands and waters need protection, investment, and stewardship.
The ACA and our partners focused on four key priorities during this year’s meetings:
- Keeping public lands public
- Protecting federal land manager capacity and securing critical funding through agency appropriations
- Defending the Roadless Rule and the backcountry experiences it protects
- Reauthorizing the Legacy Restoration Fund to continue vital deferred maintenance projects on federal lands
Building Local Voices for National Advocacy
This year’s Fly-In was especially meaningful for the ACA, as two ACA Instructors joined staff members Brett Mayer (Policy Director) and Kaycee Maas (Communications Manager) on Capitol Hill as members of the Outdoor Alliance Grasstops Collective.
The Grasstops Collective is a leadership and advocacy development program that trains local recreation and conservation leaders to engage with policymakers and advocate for Outdoor Alliance’s conservation priorities from an authentic, community-based perspective. Participants—known as “grasstops” advocates—are often the unofficial mayors of their outdoor communities: the ones who know everyone at the crag, trailhead, or put-in.
Through the program, advocates learn how to:
- Build trusted relationships with lawmakers and their staff
- Identify and create opportunities for others in their communities to take action
- Understand legislative processes and the nuances of outdoor policy
These leaders bring valuable local insight to national conservation and recreation discussions, ensuring policies reflect the experiences and needs of people who live, work, and recreate on the ground.
ACA Representation within Outdoor Alliance’s Grasstops Collective
Jon Stamper – ACA Instructor and River Cleanup Coordinator, Mountain True
Jon works with Mountain True, a North Carolina–based nonprofit dedicated to clean waters, healthy communities, and resilient forests. He oversees the organization’s expanding response to Hurricane Helene as the region recovers from the storm’s impacts. A military veteran and longtime outdoor recreation professional, Jon is passionate about ensuring wild places remain accessible for everyone to enjoy and protect.
Philip Darden, Executive Director at Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association (left) and Jon Stamper (right) with a member of Senator Ted Budd’s staff.
Adrianne Burke – ACA Instructor, Kayaking and Yoga Instructor
Based in the Washington, DC area, Adrianne brings a mindful and community-centered approach to environmental awareness. She blends her background in leadership development theory with her ancestral connection to the waters of the East Coast, inspiring others to engage in nature-based activities and climate adaptation. Adrianne’s work focuses on fostering deeper relationships between people and the natural world to inspire lasting environmental stewardship.
Katie Day, Senior Manager of Science and Policy at Surfrider (left) and Adrianne Burke (right) outside the office of Adrianne’s Representative Jen Kiggans
Continuing the Momentum
From meeting with congressional offices to connecting with fellow advocates from across the outdoor community, ACA’s participation in the DC Fly-In underscores our ongoing commitment to protecting the places we love to paddle. By working together—nationally through policy and locally through grassroots and grasstops advocacy—we can ensure our public lands and waters remain open, healthy, and accessible for generations to come.
