UW and CSU Partner to Offer Free Webinar Series on Outdoor Recreation

The University of Wyoming has partnered with Colorado State University to offer monthly webinars addressing opportunities and challenges in the outdoor recreation industry.

Titled “Outdoor Recreation Knowledge Exchange: Wyoming and Colorado Roundup,” the inaugural five-session series is a collaborative effort organized by the University of Wyoming Extension, the University of Wyoming’s Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality (WORTH) Initiative, and Colorado State University’s Office of Engagement and Extension. The Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation and Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office are also involved in the project.

mountain biker wearing a yellow long-sleeve jersey rides down a rocky slope toward the camera. A valley with small outcroppings of trees spreads out toward the mountains behind him. — UW student mountain biking in the Pilot Hill Recreation Area east of Laramie. This public land allows easy access from trails on the edge of town all the way to Medicine Bow National Forest. Photo by Kyle Spradley, University of Wyoming.

The webinar series, which begins later this month and runs through February 2025, is designed to share resources and facilitate networking opportunities for outdoor recreation providers, outdoor retailers, local nonprofits, public land managers and policymakers. Outdoor recreationists, volunteers, and students are also welcome to attend.

“This series offers valuable insights that can benefit anyone involved in or passionate about outdoor recreation projects,” says Hailey Sorg, WORTH Initiative Extension educator. “Attendees can gain a deeper understanding of industry trends, network with professionals, and discover collaborative opportunities to enhance outdoor recreation in their communities. There is something for everyone.”

Discussion topics include workforce development, public-private partnerships, resources for launching new outdoor recreation projects, and the future of outdoor recreation in the West.

Speakers include representatives from Wyoming State Parks, the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation, the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, Colorado Workforce Center, and the Bureau of Land Management as well as industry experts and university professionals.

The first webinar will be held Thursday, Oct. 24, from noon to 1:30 p.m. Subsequent sessions will be held Thursday, Nov. 14; Thursday, Dec. 12; Thursday, Jan. 9; and Thursday, Feb. 13. Details are provided below; registration can be completed at https://bit.ly/outdoor-rec-knowledge-exchange-2024. Participants must register for each webinar individually.

Dates and topics for the five webinars are as follows. All sessions begin at noon and conclude at 1:30 p.m.

— Oct. 24, 2024: Workforce Development in Outdoor Recreation

— Nov. 14, 2024: Public-Private Partnerships in Outdoor Recreation

— Dec. 12, 2024: Getting Your Outdoor Recreation Idea from Concept to Fruition: Resources, Tips, and Tricks

— Jan. 9, 2025: Lessons Learned in Outdoor Recreation Development

— Feb. 13, 2025: Research and Resilience in Outdoor Recreation

For more information on the upcoming webinar series, visit https://bit.ly/outdoor-rec-knowledge-exchange-2024. Contact Sorg at hsorg@uwyo.edu or (307) 235-9400 with questions.