VA MTNS Outdoor Collective

08/29/2026

The Summer Gear Guide was too much fun to only do once.

So, we’re working on a Fall Gear Guide and looking for recommendations from the businesses and people who know Virginia’s outdoors best.

What’s the piece of gear you reach for when fall gets here? Favorite layer? Trail shoe? Bike gear? Camp setup? Fishing gear? Something completely unexpected? We want the things you actually use and would recommend to someone else.

Collective members, we want your picks.

Not a member yet? Join us and this is one of the opportunities you’ll have to put your business, expertise, and recommendations in front of a bigger audience.

Interested? Send us a message or email [email protected].

08/18/2026

Most small outdoor businesses will never have a lobbyist or government affairs department but I can assure you that policy still finds them.

Tariffs. Public lands. Trail funding. Recreation infrastructure.

This week’s The Bend looks at why organizations willing to advocate collectively can make such a difference.

08/04/2026

Strong businesses rarely grow in isolation. This week’s The Bend looks at the advisors, training programs, and peer networks available through organizations such as the Greater Roanoke and NRV SBDC and MADE X MTNS.

Knowing when to ask for help may be one of the most useful skills an entrepreneur develops.

Oxbow

07/29/2026

Family time outdoors doesn’t have to involve a major trip. A walk in the park, a picnic, a paddle, or an afternoon on a local trail can create the same room to slow down and reconnect.

This week’s The Bend focuses on those shared moments and looks at the coastal recreation economy supported by family vacations like this one.

Oxbow

07/21/2026

This week’s The Bend looks at the people and communities behind American-made outdoor gear.

Darn Tough Vermont Socks still knits every pair of its socks in Vermont, keeping production, knowledge and jobs rooted in the place where the company began.

Oxbow

07/14/2026

Strong outdoor communities are built over time. This week’s The Bend looks at one piece of that story and why it takes all of us to keep moving it forward.

Oxbow

07/07/2026

Healthy outdoor communities don't happen on their own. They're built one business, one partnership, and one investment at a time.

Oxbow

07/02/2026

A little more than a year ago, the VA MTNS Outdoor Collective was just an idea.

Today, it's a small but growing network of businesses, organizations, and individuals working together to strengthen Virginia's outdoor economy.

We recently caught up with Roanoke Outside to share why it all started, where we're headed, how folks can join, and why collaboration matters more than ever.

If you've wondered what we're building or how you can be part of it, this is a great place to start.

Thanks to Roanoke Outside for featuring us.

Read the full interview here: https://roanokeoutside.com/5-questions-with-va-mtns-outdoor-collective/

Join the Collective here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/va-mtns-outdoor-collective-memberships

📸: Roanoke Angler

06/30/2026

Communities don’t become outdoor destinations by accident. It takes people who know where to start.

Oxbow