AORE Inclusive Summit

The Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education (AORE), in partnership with DEI Outdoors, is excited to share our virtual Inclusive Summit will be back this April, but with a new format based on feedback from previous attendees.

Our new format focuses on allowing our attendees time to do session pre-work on their own time and at their own pace. We will provide registered participants with three pre-recorded mini-workshops to watch ahead of our live workshops. Along with the education, participants will get a workbook to help walk them through the pre-recorded and live workshops. We will convene together on April 24 from 10 am to 4:30 pm ET (with plenty of breaks) to do two live workshops, a panel, and informal networking with industry professionals.

AORE has hosted the Inclusive Summit every year since 2021 to provide attendees with a wider recognition of exclusionary practices within outdoor recreation and education and to help them gain better understanding of how they can actively work to make change as leaders in the industry. In partnership with Rachel Hailey of DEI Outdoors, we have worked to create a positive and unique experience for outdoor facilitators who not only currently hold positions of influence, but those that aspire to as well. And to those that are ready to do the work within themselves and in the programs they lead.

To kick off this Inclusive Summit attendees will receive access to the following ondemand workshops:

Transcending Barriers: Navigating Outdoor Spaces, led by Justin Adkins (he/him)

Identity-Inclusive Practices in the Outdoors, led by Kenjah O'Donnell (they/them)

Let's talk about Burnout - Understanding mental well-being in the workplace, led by Jordan Marino (they/them)

When we gather on April 24th to do our two live workshops with Rachel Hailey of DEI Outdoors, we will dive into topics centering around belonging in outdoor organizations. These workshops aim to empower participants with theoretical knowledge and practical skills and plans to actively contribute to creating inclusive outdoor environments. The two live workshops are 1.5 hours and are formatted to be engaging and will feature breakout rooms for more intimate conversations.

To wrap up our day AORE Executive Director Jeannette Stawski will speak with industry leaders as they share their experiences, impact and lessons learned, of implementing inclusive practices within their programs and organizations. Panelists include:

• Elyse Rylander, Outward Bound

• Sherman Neal II, Sierra Club

• Chris Anderson, REI Experiences

Once the panel is over we will open the floor to attendees to ask questions and connect with others.

If you guide, train or encourage people to get outdoors, this Summit is designed for YOU! We encourage everyone to register to help learn more about how we can all be more inclusive in our practices when recreating in the great outdoors. We also recognize that organizations that learn together can grow and change together - so we have intentionally built group pricing options to help with learning and accountability. Rates start at $99 for AORE members.

Hosted online for ease and accessibility, we encourage you to register and treat this as a typical professional development opportunity by prioritizing the time for participation and by reducing distractions.

Learn more about the upcoming event, see the event schedule and secure your spot by visiting aore.org/inclusive_summit.

Location

This is a virtual training. See the event website for more details.

Trail Competencies

• Program Administration
• • Education and Public Outreach

Relevant Trail Types

General. All trail types are relevant.