The Opportunity Board — Edition 5 (May 21, 2026)
Your bi-weekly roundup of concession bids, RFPs, permits, jobs, and certifications for outdoor recreation business operators. Published by Adventure Business Pro.
New This Edition
Channel Islands National Park — Guided Water Tours, Retail & Snorkel Rentals (CHIS004-27)
Location: Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park, CA
Contract: 10-year concession for guided kayak tours, limited retail (sunscreen, etc.), and snorkel equipment rentals. Optional snorkeling instruction and guide service.
Projected Revenue: $3.03M–$3.35M in Year 1 (based on 16,600–18,400 kayak riders at $165–$182/rider, plus $150K–$160K from retail and snorkel rentals)
Investment Required: $715,000 (personal property, working capital, start-up costs, inventory)
Franchise Fee: Minimum 15.6% of gross revenues
Notice of Intent to Propose: May 28, 2026
Full Proposal Due: June 25, 2026, by 12:00 p.m. PT
Details: NPS Concessions — CHIS004-27
Connecticut — Lake Waramaug State Park Food, Beverage & Campground Concession
Location: Kent and New Preston, CT
Contract: 3-year concession with optional 1-year extensions for food, beverage, and campground store services. Exclusive right to operate the concession building.
Park Traffic: ~50,000 day-use visitors and 10,000 campers annually
Proposals Due: May 22, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. EST ⚡
Solicitation: DEEP-2026-016-MM on the CTsource Bid Board
Contact: [email protected]
Details: CT DEEP News Release
Sarasota County — Glamping Concession at Turtle Beach Campground
Location: Turtle Beach Campground, Siesta Key, Sarasota County, FL
Contract: Concession for glamping services within Turtle Beach Campground. Contract term subject to negotiation; similar concessions typically run 5 years with option for renewal.
Sealed Bid Process: Yes (Bids Sealed / Pricing Sealed)
Question Deadline: June 4, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. ET
Proposals Due: June 29, 2026, by 2:30 p.m. ET
First Evaluation Meeting: July 10, 2026
Project ID: 262873MN
Details: Sarasota County OpenGov Portal
California — Old Town San Diego State Historic Park Specialty Retail
Location: Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, San Diego, CA
Contract: 10-year concession for historic-style specialty retail operations
Proposals Due: June 5, 2026, by 2:00 p.m.
Submit To: Department of Parks and Recreation, 715 P Street, 13th Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814
Contact: Megan Boisvert, Concessions Specialist — [email protected]
Details: CA State Parks News Release
California — Sonoma State Historic Park Event Space & Lodging (50-Year Contract)
Location: Blue Wing Inn, Sonoma State Historic Park, Sonoma, CA
Contract: 50-year concession for the operation and development of historic-style event space and lodging services
Pre-Proposal Meeting: May 18, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at the Presidio of Sonoma (Sonoma Barracks), 36 East Spain St., Sonoma, CA 95476 (mandatory)
Proposals Due: September 15, 2026, by 2:00 p.m.
Submit To: California State Parks, 715 P Street, 13th Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814
Contact: Sasha Tokas, Concession Program Manager — [email protected]
Details: CA State Parks News Release
California — San Clemente State Beach Restaurant & Catering (20-Year Contract)
Location: Lower Calafia area, San Clemente State Beach, CA
Contract: 20-year concession for restaurant and catering services
Proposals Due: July 2, 2026, by 2:00 p.m.
Submit To: California Department of Parks and Recreation, 715 P Street, 13th Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814
RFP Available: Cal eProcure
Details: CA State Parks News Release
NPS Contract Extensions — Big South Fork & Fire Island
The National Park Service published a Federal Register notice on May 18, 2026, announcing intent to extend existing concession contracts at Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area (TN/KY) and Fire Island National Seashore (NY). Extensions prevent interruption of visitor services while new contracts are developed. These extensions signal upcoming prospectus releases — watch the NPS Prospectus Releases page for new opportunities at both parks.
Details: Federal Register Notice 2026-09904
Regulatory Updates
BLM Streamlines Special Recreation Permits Under EXPLORE Act
Effective February 2, 2026, the Bureau of Land Management rolled out updated Special Recreation Permit (SRP) categories under Title III of the EXPLORE Act. The changes reduce administrative barriers, streamline permit processing, and improve consistency for outfitters, guides, campground operators, and glamping businesses on federal lands. Applications are now processed through the RAPTOR (Recreation And Permit Tracking Online Reporting) system.
More info: BLM Special Recreation Permits | BLM Blog Post
Oregon Waterway Access Permit — Now Required for All Non-Motorized Boats
As of 2026, Oregon requires a Waterway Access Permit for all non-motorized boats — including SUPs, kayaks, rafts, and inflatable versions. Cost: $20/year or $35/2-year. Outfitters and guides operating on federally designated stretches with BLM/USFS permits may be exempt, but all rented boats must display the business name. Youth 13 and under are exempt.
Details: Oregon State Marine Board
Rolling / Ongoing Programs
- NPS Concession Prospectuses — The Commercial Services Program updated projections on April 6, 2026, with releases planned through September 30, 2027. Check the full list
- BLM Special Recreation Permits — Apply via the RAPTOR system. Contact your local BLM field office for 2026 application windows. Moab Field Office dates
- USFS Special Use Permits — Outfitter/guide permits for National Forest lands. Application info
- California State Parks Future Concessions — Upcoming opportunities across CA parks. Future Concession Opportunities
On the Radar
- Olympic National Forest Concessions — The USFS announced on May 19, 2026, that it is considering offering new concession contracts for Olympic National Forest. Watch for upcoming prospectus releases. Details
- Outdoor Hospitality Conference & Expo (OHCE) 2026 — OHI is featuring a Prospective Owners Workshop for anyone looking to enter the campground/glamping/RV park business. Details
- Shenandoah National Park — New 15-year concession contract with Shenandoah Hospitality, LLC takes effect January 1, 2027. Concession fees will add $2.5M+ annually to the park’s budget — a benchmark for operators evaluating NPS contract scale.
- ACA River Kayak Instructor Changes — Effective October 1, 2026, new instructor candidates in the River Kayak Discipline will enter at Level 3 as the highest entry level and must complete the corresponding ACA River Kayak Skills Award before admission to an IDW or ICE. Plan ahead if you’re pursuing ACA certification. ACA Changes
Job Opportunities
- Adventures Without Limits (Forest Grove, OR) — Full-time year-round roles, $43,000–$50,000 with benefits. Summer seasonal positions (June–August/September), $17–$20/hr with housing. More info
- CoolWorks Summer 2026 — River guides (no experience required), zip line guides, and horseback tour guides at Glacier National Park and other locations. Browse positions
- The Road Less Traveled — Hiring Trip Leaders for summer 2026 adventure programs. Occupation Wild job board
- Charleston Outdoor Adventures — 2026 season hiring now open for paddling and outdoor guide positions in Charleston, SC. Apply
- NPS Seasonal Positions — Seasonal roles across multiple parks paying $19.52–$31.43/hr. Check USAJOBS regularly — applications often cap at 200 applicants and close fast.
More outdoor job boards: Occupation Wild | Conservation Job Board | CoolWorks | Adventure Job Board
Certifications & Training
ASI (Academy of Surfing Instructors) — SUP & Surf Instructor Certifications
ASI is the leading global organization for surfing, SUP, and bodyboarding instructor certification. Whether you’re launching a paddleboard tour business, adding SUP lessons to your outfitter services, or building credentials for a national park concession bid, ASI certification gives you internationally recognized qualifications.
- ASI Level 1 SUP Instructor (Enclosed Flat Water) — Foundation certification for teaching and guiding paddle sessions on inland waters (rivers, lakes, canals). This is your starting point for SUP instruction.
- ASI Level 2 SUP Instructor (Exposed Waters) — For coastal and open-water instruction in conditions up to 2-foot swell. Requires Level 1 + SUP Wise + ASI SUP Rescue (or equivalent).
- ASI SUP Fitness Instructor — Certification to teach SUP fitness classes. Great add-on for tour operators looking to diversify offerings.
- ASI Level 1 Surfing Instructor — Entry-level certification for teaching surfing.
- ASI SUP Tour Guide — Specialized certification for guiding SUP tours.
ASI courses are offered through authorized Instructor Training Centres (ITCs) worldwide, including locations in the US, Australia, UK, and Bali. ASI’s unique modular format lets you combine multiple courses — complete Level 1, SUP Wise, and SUP Rescue simultaneously to fast-track your coastal certification.
Find upcoming courses: ASI Course Search | Learn more: How to Become an ASI SUP Instructor
ACA (American Canoe Association) — Paddlesports Instructor Certification
The ACA offers Instructor Development Workshops (IDW) and Instructor Certification Exams (ICE) for canoe, kayak, and SUP instruction through providers nationwide. Note: New river kayak prerequisite changes take effect October 1, 2026 — candidates will enter at Level 3 and must complete Skills Awards first. Find ACA courses
NOLS Wilderness First Aid (WFA)
- June 20–21, 2026 — Park City, UT via Idaho Rescue Training. Register
- June 20, 2026 — Michigan via Midwest Outdoor Skills Training. Register
2-day hands-on course covering patient assessment, first aid treatments, and evacuation decisions. Certification valid for 2 years. Required by many outfitter/guide operations and NPS concessioners. Find more dates on NOLS Coursefinder
Have a tip for The Opportunity Board? Know of a concession bid, permit, or certification we should feature? Email us at [email protected].
