The Outdoor Wire is reporting that the Council to Advance to Hunting and the Shooting Sports (Council) has decided to reschedule the in-person National R3 Symposium to May, 2021.
“After careful monitoring of the changes brought on by the pandemic, surveying our attendees, and thoughtful conversation among the Council’s Board and partners,” the group said in a prepared statement, “the decision was made to reschedule the Symposium to ensure the event remains a rich and fulfilling event while ensuring the safety and welfare of the participants.”
The 2021 event will remain at the Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center in Broken Arrow, Okla., the group said.
According to the organization’s website, R3 refers to Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation.
“Participation in hunting and recreational shooting has been generally declining since the 1980s,” the website message states. “Hunting license sales produce valuable funding each year for wildlife conservation and habitat restoration, while hunter expenditures generate billions of dollars annually for the national economy and support hundreds of thousands of jobs. Development and use of partnerships and strategic models must continue to be utilized to halt and reverse the declining trend in hunting participation.
“If the downward participation trend continues,” the website notes, “it will result in a diminished capacity to conserve species cherished by hunters and all outdoor enthusiasts. The threat is real. But from the crucible of crisis opportunity emerges — to ensure that wildlife conservation remains fueled by hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts.”
“COVID-19 has disrupted our normal activities and brought many changes to our collective community of R3 professionals,” explained John Frampton, Council president and CEO, in a press release. “While we want to gather, connect, and share our ideas in person, we do not feel it appropriate, nor necessary, to risk the health of our colleagues and friends at this time. We’d rather delay this event and ensure that our community is healthy and comfortable in attending the event.”
In recent months, according to the Outdoor Wire story, the Council “has increased its work in providing a forum for the R3 community to discuss and adapt to the changes presented by COVID-19.” Participation in the National R3 Community and other virtual events has increased significantly since the onset of the Pandemic, the council said.
Recognizing the need to maintain momentum in the R3 movement and focus on retaining participation in outdoor activities, the Council will host a virtual R3 Summit the week of August 24, 2020. In true Council fashion, it will work with partners and members of the National R3 Implementation Workgroup to identify the key topics and trainings needed right now, then build a schedule of events to help R3 professionals continue momentum into the fall months.
Details of the 2021 National R3 Symposium and the virtual R3 Summit in August will be available in the coming weeks. The Council has prepared a list of frequently asked questions regarding registration refunds, hotel arrangements, etc., which may be found at: This website will continue to be updated with the most relevant information as preparations move forward.
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