The Utah Outdoor Recreation Summit will be held Oct. 22 to 24, 2019, at the Dixie Center in St. George, Utah. This three-day event in Washington County — the fastest growing county in the U.S. — provides opportunities for attendees to engage with local stakeholders, industry professionals and land managers who play vital roles in Utah’s outdoor recreation community.
The theme of this year’s summit is Roots & Routes: Preserving Our Past and Forging Our Future.
“We’re excited to announce the lineup of keynote speakers for the sixth annual Utah Outdoor Recreation Summit. There’s something of interest for everyone. We invite you to come get inspired, learn and connect with these phenomenal leaders in the outdoor recreation community,” says Tom Adams, director of the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation.
Summit attendees will hear from an impressive lineup of speakers including:
- Tom Adams (director of the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation) — Will lead discussions around this year’s theme, Roots and Routes: Preserving our Past and Forging our Future, and introduce 14 directors of offices of outdoor recreation from across the country. They are gathering to celebrate the launch of the National Governors Association’s Outdoor Learning Network and to sign the Confluence Accords, a nationwide document guiding outdoor recreation decisions.
- Kevin Lewis (director of the Greater Zion Convention & Tourism Office) — Will emcee the Summit on Oct. 24. He’ll address the Washington County Tourism Office’s rebranding to the Greater Zion Convention & Tourism Office.
- Mike and Lilliana Libecki (dad and daughter explorers with National Geographic) — The Libeckis will take Summit attendees on a journey to some of the most remote climbing expeditions possible. Hear about their latest adventures from Antarctica to Afghanistan, and from Greenland to the deepest jungles on the planet. Conference attendees will also learn about their recent efforts to start a nonprofit organization, The Joyineering Fund, that focuses on conservation and humanitarian work around the world.
- Billy Palmer (co-host and associate producer of RadioACTive) — Will emcee the Summit on Oct. 23. He’s a community organizer and advocate for youth empowerment, civil rights and neighborhood reinvestment. Palmer is the chairperson for the YouthWorks Steering Committee at NeighborWorks SLC where he also sits on the board of directors as the organization’s outgoing president.
- Mark Preiss (director, Zion National Park Forever Project) and Kacey Jones (assistant director of development at Zion National Park Forever Project) — Will preview a snippet from their new film about Zion. Preiss and Jones will also discuss the work Zion Forever Project does focused on the community, environment and education.
For a complete speaker lineup, breakout sessions, activities and to register for the Summit, visit UtahOutdoorSummit.com.
