Summary:
In this episode of the Bentonville Beacon Podcast, Danny Collins joins host James Bell to discuss Bentonville’s booming outdoor recreation industry. Danny is the founder of 37 North Expeditions, which focuses heavily on making the Ozarks more accessible for everyone. On the show, James and Danny discuss how 37 North helps people fall in love with the outdoors, the importance of equity and inclusion in the outdoor recreation industry, and why the Ozarks have become the next outdoor recreation hot spot.
Thanks for tuning in!
Show Notes:
(0:27) Introducing Danny Collins and 37 North Expeditions
(4:36) Falling in Love with Northwest Arkansas
(6:57) Helping Everyone Fall in Love with the Outdoors
(14:36) Prioritizing Diversity and Equity in the Outdoors
(18:56) What Business Owners Need to Know about the Ozarks
(25:33) Advice for Outdoor Recreation Entrepreneurs
(30:12) What’s Next for 37 North?
(33:34) The 37 North Team
(35:57) Choosing a Superpower and Closing Thoughts
Links:
JAMES BELL
DANNY COLLINS
NORTH EXPEDITIONS
Quotes:
“Our very simple goal and aspiration is to get as many people outside as humanly possible and to make it really simple and convenient to do so. And really, a byproduct of that is helping people fall in love with our beautiful natural landscapes and therefore want to protect it.” (2:01) – Danny Collins
“Northwest Arkansas is growing at such an incredibly rapid rate, and there’s so many exciting aspects to that…It’s a really vibrant combination of these people that are moving in from really everywhere with a community that is putting everything into the outdoor connection.” (15:11) – Danny Collins
“For so long, [outdoor programming for youth] was just about teaching your kid how to fish, teaching your kid how to kayak, and the list goes on…For us, we are like, ‘Teach your kid how to love the outdoors. Teach your kid how to feel comfortable in the outdoors and how to slow down.’ So we lead with the connection to self, connection to others, and connection to nature.” (32:05) – Danny Collins
Blog:
In this episode of the Bentonville Beacon Podcast, Danny Collins joins host James Bell to discuss Bentonville’s booming outdoor recreation industry. Danny is the founder of 37 North Expeditions, which focuses heavily on making the Ozarks more accessible for everyone. On the show, James and Danny discuss how 37 North helps people fall in love with the outdoors, the importance of equity and inclusion in the outdoor recreation industry, and why the Ozarks have become the next outdoor recreation hot spot.
37 North Expeditions
After stints in New York City and Quito, Ecuador, Danny returned to the Ozark region and promptly fell in love with the natural landscapes he had grown up with. He saw the area’s potential and wanted to share his passion for the outdoors with others who may not feel as comfortable on a hike or in a kayak. Danny founded 37 North with the goal of making the Ozarks more accessible for all people, no matter their gender, race, abilities, or interests.
“Our very simple goal and aspiration is to get as many people outside as humanly possible and to make it really simple and convenient to do so. And really, a byproduct of that is helping people fall in love with our beautiful natural landscapes and therefore want to protect it.” (2:01) – Danny Collins
37 North’s primary avenue for sharing the gospel of the outdoors is leading guided expeditions through the Ozarks. While they offer everyday adventures like hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, they have an affinity for adding a unique flair to each trip. What if you could kayak a few miles downriver and then jump on your bike to ride 10 miles of trails before enjoying a brewery crawl on your bike? A trip like that would require a significant amount of planning, not to mention hours of preparation to place the necessary equipment along your path. With 37 North, trips like this are routine.
Throughout his time in the area, Danny realized that the Ozarks haven’t necessarily been welcoming to everyone. Originally, the Ozarks catered to white men that wanted to hunt and fish, but the region is much more than that now. Danny is helping to ensure that other demographics feel comfortable in the outdoors as well.
“For so long, [outdoor programming for youth] was just about teaching your kid how to fish, teaching your kid how to kayak, and the list goes on…For us, we are like, ‘Teach your kid how to love the outdoors. Teach your kid how to feel comfortable in the outdoors and how to slow down.’ So we lead with the connection to self, connection to others, and connection to nature.” (32:05) – Danny Collins
Why Bentonville?
Because he grew up in the area, having a presence in Bentonville was a no-brainer. The community in Bentonville has welcomed 37 North with open arms, and it shares the company’s sentiments about making the outdoors a more inviting space for everyone.
“Northwest Arkansas is growing at such an incredibly rapid rate, and there’s so many exciting aspects to that…It’s a really vibrant combination of these people that are moving in from really everywhere with a community that is putting everything into the outdoor connection.” (15:11) – Danny Collins
The infrastructure dedicated to the growing outdoor community is a crucial advantage for other outdoor recreation businesses considering a presence in Bentonville.
Get Connected!
Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Bentonville Beacon podcast! Join us weekly for more stories from entrepreneurs and business leaders who are making a positive impact on Bentonville’s culture, community, and lifestyle. Don’t forget, Bentonville is a place where you can have more of what you want and less of what you don’t!
Are you interested in learning more about Bentonville and the growth of its outdoor recreation community? Check out the BENTONVILLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEBSITE.
