Outdoor recreation is more popular than ever (yay!) but more people can equal more poop – and that’s a problem. In this event, will learn why this is a problem, communication strategies currently in use (such as Gotta Go Utah), and takeaways to implement in your community.

This Summit Speaker Series’ experts are:

• Hope Braithwaite, Assistant Professor for Watershed Quality with Utah State University
• Bekee Hotze, Forest Service District Ranger for the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Salt Lake Ranger District
• Stephanie Wacha, Education Director for Friends of Cedar Mesa

Your online channels are now the front door to your brand or business. Kristin will walk through the consumer decision journey for consumers today and how you can rise above the noise to grow your online community.

This Summit Speaker Series expert is:

• Kristin Carpenter, Founder, CEO, and Partner at Verde Brand Communications

The spread of COVID-19 throughout Utah has dramatically altered how the state’s residents, as well as visitors, participate in outdoor recreation. This panel discussion provides insights into how outdoor recreation participation within the state has changed throughout the pandemic. We bring together perspectives from a municipal park and trail system, Utah State Parks, and university researchers looking into visitation patterns and behaviors in Arches National Park. The discussion will focus on: (1) How the amount and type of outdoor recreation within the state has changed as a result of the pandemic; (2) What outdoor recreation planners and managers have done to respond to these changes; and (3) The unintended consequences of early policy and planning decisions (e.g., regional or county-wide visitation restrictions, facility closures, etc.).