Destination Stewardship
Hocking Hills Stewardship Collaborative
Our community. Our Future. Our Shared Responsibility.
Working Together for the Future of the Hocking Hills
Hocking Hills is a special place to live, work, and visit. Its natural beauty, small-town character, and welcoming communities are important to both residents and visitors. As tourism continues to shape our region, it is essential that residents have a voice in decisions affecting their communities.
The Hocking Hills Stewardship Collaborative was created to bring residents, businesses, community organizations, and local partners together to identify challenges, develop solutions, and help protect the quality of life in Hocking County.
Our goal is to balance the needs of residents, our natural environment, and visitors, ensuring that the Hocking Hills remains a wonderful place for generations to come.
Where We Started
The Collaborative grew from the Hocking Hills Tourism Association's (HHTA) stewardship planning efforts and community feedback.
Residents identified concerns and opportunities related to tourism growth, traffic, infrastructure, environmental protection, visitor behavior, public safety, and the local economy.
Rather than developing solutions without community involvement, HHTA brought residents together to discuss these issues and identify areas where they could make a difference.
During our March and July 2026 meetings, participants shared experiences, discussed possible solutions, and began identifying priorities.
Ideas included improving transportation information, encouraging respectful visitor behavior, expanding conservation activities, strengthening safety education, and helping residents better understand tourism's economic and community impacts.
These discussions helped establish the foundation for five resident-led working groups.
Where We Are Today
The Stewardship Collaborative has moved from gathering ideas to organizing community action.
Five working groups have been established, with volunteer chairpersons helping organize meetings, recruit participants, identify priorities, and develop projects.
Our Five Working Groups
1. Resource Management
Exploring visitor management, transportation, traffic, infrastructure, and communication among community partners.
2. Environmental & Community Impact
Identifying opportunities for conservation, recycling, litter prevention, community beautification, environmental education, and protecting our natural resources.
3. Responsible Tourism
Encouraging visitors to respect local residents, private property, natural areas, and community expectations through education and partnerships.
4. Safety
Exploring ways to improve safety education, parking concerns, emergency preparedness, and communication with emergency service providers.
5. State of the Hills
Working toward a community-focused report that shares information about tourism, the local economy, employment, community conditions, and the challenges and opportunities facing Hocking County.
Each group is developing its own priorities and identifying practical ways to make progress.
The Collaborative is resident-led. HHTA provides organizational support, helps connect participants with resources and community partners, and assists with coordination.
What's Next?
Our focus is turning community conversations into meaningful actions.
Working groups will meet independently throughout the year to develop projects, research opportunities, build partnerships, and report their progress.
The full Stewardship Collaborative will gather twice each year to share updates, celebrate accomplishments, discuss challenges, and welcome additional community participation.
Upcoming Stewardship Collaborative Meetings
All residents and interested community partners are encouraged to attend.
Date | Time | Location |
Thursday, November 19, 2026 | 7:00 PM | Logan Theater |
Thursday, May 20, 2027 | 7:00 PM | To be announced |
Thursday, November 18, 2027 | 7:00 PM | To be announced |
2027 meeting dates and times are planned and subject to confirmation. Working groups also meet independently throughout the year.
How You Can Get Involved
You do not need to be an expert or have previous committee experience to participate. We welcome residents who care about the future of Hocking Hills and want to contribute ideas, time, experience, or community connections.
You can participate by:
Attending a full Stewardship Collaborative meeting.
Joining one of the five working groups.
Sharing your experiences and ideas.
Helping with community projects and activities.
Encouraging others to become involved.
Whether you have a few hours to volunteer or simply want your voice to be heard, your participation matters.
Help Shape the Future of the Hocking Hills
The best solutions come from the people who know and love this community.
Together, we can protect what makes the Hocking Hills special while building a stronger, more sustainable future for residents, businesses, and visitors.
Interested in participating?
Contact the Hocking Hills Tourism Association to learn more about the Stewardship Collaborative and how to connect with a working group.
Hocking Hills Stewardship Collaborative
A resident-led initiative supported by the Hocking Hills Tourism Association.
