Photo courtesy of Julia Breinholt Pappas
With outdoor recreation in Utah reaching unprecedented popularity, the Division of Outdoor Recreation successfully hosted the 10th annual Utah Outdoor Recreation Summit on Sept. 6-7. With more than 300 attendees at Weber State University in Ogden, this year’s event, themed “Outdoors: In Session,” marked the largest gathering in its history, reflecting the continued growth and interest in Utah’s outdoor recreation community.
“The collaborative spirit and dedication demonstrated at this summit emphasize why Utah’s outdoor recreation is unparalleled,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox says. “Together, we’re laying the groundwork to preserve, promote and enhance our incredible outdoor recreation experiences for generations to come.”
Photo courtesy of Julia Breinholt Pappas
Over two days, participants engaged in outdoor activities, panel discussions, keynote speeches and workshops, covering essential themes like conflict management, inclusion, outdoor safety, policy and politics, accessibility, visitation and more. Attendees included outdoor enthusiasts, industry leaders, policymakers, stakeholders and outdoor recreation brands.
“The summit’s success is a testament to the tremendous progress that the outdoor recreation industry has made in Utah over the past decade,” says Tara McKee, deputy director of Grants and Planning for the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation. “Looking back at the last 10 years, it’s astonishing how far we’ve come. Utah has not only maintained its status as a leader in outdoor recreation but has set new standards for access, sustainability and inclusion. Today is a celebration of that journey and a promise to continue our outdoors forward mission.”
Photos courtesy of Julia Breinholt Pappas
During the first day of the Utah Outdoor Recreation Summit, attendees participated in various outdoor activities, including climbing, guided off-highway vehicle rides, paddling, fly fishing and forest bathing. The Weber County Archery Park hosted a kickoff dinner. The second day’s agenda included discussions and workshops featuring speakers such as Alexander Davenport, director of Ogden Valley Adaptive Sports; Amanda King, president of Utah Adaptive Alliance; Gregory Szewczyk, partner at Ballard Spahr; Rebecca Chavez-Houck, chair of HECHO’s National Advisory Board; Mark Ford, shareholder at Maschoff Brennan; Utah State Representatives Jeff Stenquist and Carl Albrecht and more.
This year’s Utah Outdoor Recreation Summit celebrated past achievements and helped lay the groundwork for the future. It served as a collaborative platform for sharing ideas, building connections and inspiring action to continue making Utah a global leader in outdoor recreation.