The 2021 Recap on Wisconsin's Outdoor Economy

Mornin' to every 'Scon doing the Snow Dance (different from the dance you do when the supper club's single-stall bathroom is occupied). This is the Wiscampsin Weekly - the email that gets you in the know on the Wisconsin outdoors in 5 minutes or less. New reader? Subscribe here.

*Speaking of, did you know Wiscampsin founder and supper club aficionado Kevin put together an interactive map of every supper club in the state? It can be yours for just 1 referral, see your referral link below. Now pass the rolls, Grandma Jean...

What we're stoked about this week:

• Wisconsin's growing outdoor sector 💰

• Ultrarunner breaks record on northern trail 🏃‍♂️

• New Wisconsin Ice Age Trail license plate 🐘

The Outdoor Industry's Big Year in Wisconsin

Here's something worth celebrating in the New Year: Wisconsin's outdoor sector (worth about $8.7 billion now), had a record year - in 2021.

Yup, we had to jump into our Delorians to get the scoop on this steamy story. Which reminds us, we need a new camping trowel...

We're not sure why it takes so long to capture this data, but we're hoping it's 'cause the people in charge are too busy gettin' out der in the outdoors all the time. Can't blame 'em.

To save you from reading the entire press release, we broke it down for you guys.

WI outdoor economy (2021, that is...)

We'll start with the what's, then dive into the potential why's:

• Wisconsin’s outdoor economy grew by 14.1 percent, compared to the state's total economy, which grew by 4.6 percent

• The outdoor sector supported nearly 90,000 jobs, in everything from apparel to gear sales to guiding and more

• Wisconsin ranked 4th in the country for manufacturing jobs, which make up 10% of the state's outdoor sector (more employment data here).

• Fishing took the cake as one of the highest growing categories, both in 2020 and 2021. Multi-use apparel and accessories ($961 million), Motorcycling and ATVing ($882 million and #1 nationally), Boating and Fishing ($602 million), and Bicycling ($451 million, #2 nationally) were also moonshotting categories.

The 'why'

Our governor said it best:

"From hunting and fishing to boating and paddling to snowboarding and skiing, outdoor recreation is part of who we are as a people and a state—it improves our quality of life, draws visitors from all over the world, supports tens of thousands, and serves as a major economic driver for communities across Wisconsin."

While the rest of the world queued up Netflix and dove into another Pandemic Pizza, us 'Scons took to the natural world during 2021.

Why? A simple Google search will yield hundreds of studies that show how outdoor recreation is great not only for your physical health, but your mental health as well.

AKA - it just felt good to be outside.

And with the year we just had in 2022... well, we wouldn't be surprised if we added even more to these already impressive numbers.

So get out 'der, breathe in some fresh air, and spend a little green on the state's greenest industry.

Happy New Year!

Wiscampsin Weekly Poll

Welp, only 31% of you got this one right! On average January is the month we get the most snowfall, however with this trend continuing January snowfall may become February snowfall!

NEW: Wisconsin Events

Butt glued to the couch? Here are some great Wisconsin events to get you out 'der:

Winter Tracking Workshop: Sat. January 14th at Sandhill Wildlife Area Outdoor Skill Center (must register to attend) - learn how to track and identify wildlife in the snow!

Bald Eagle Watching Days: January 14th and 15th at the Overlook, 490 Water St, Prairie du Sac WI 53578 - the state's longest running eagle watching event!

Candlelight snowshoe at Devil's Lake: January 14th at Devil's Lake State Park - snowshoe through this great state park and warm up afterwards with a s'more around the campfire

Know a WI Outdoors-related event happening? Reply to this email with the details and we will share the week before the event!

Nuts and Seeds 🌰

🐘 Pimp my ride: ... with the coolest license plate frame known to 'Scon-kind. Behold! The Ice Age Trail License plate frame! Guaranteed to make the FIBs jealous, it features warm colors and a woolly mammoth (and supports the Ice Age Trail with a $25 annual donation). Look good, feel good.

🏃‍♂️ Run Bradley Run! Ultrarunner Brad Birkel from Middleton just set the Fastest Known Time on the North Country National Scenic Trail. Barely sleeping and running day and night, Brad completed the 200 mile Wisconsin section of the 4,800-mile trail in 3 days, seven hours and 23 minutes. Hope they had a cold beer waiting for him at the finish!

🦌 Oh deer: A whitetail deer found itself in a bit of a chilly situation after falling through the ice up nort'. Luckily, the Green Bay Metro Fire Dept. donned their cold weather gear and ventured out into the East River to save the poor fella. Hopefully it walks under our stand next fall...

Meme of the Week 😂

A review from the Trail... our thoughts exactly when reading the Wiscampsin Weekly