Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) 2026 Conference: Full Schedule

9:00am CDT

Welcome Announcements & Keynote #1: The 5 'R's: A Journalist's Guide to Words and Wayfaring in Indian Country

Saturday August 22, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT

Longtime journalist and journalism educator Patty Loew comments on how the mainstream media typically cover events in Indigenous communities. She offers practical advice on how to cultivate authentic relationships and report on important environmental issues affecting Native nations and their neighboring mainstream communities. Loew’s keynote reflects 50 years of experience covering climate change, oil pipelines, mining and other critical issues and decades of teaching journalism to the next generation of reporters.

Special guest - Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes Conway

Speakers

Patricia Loew, Ph.D.

Journalism Professor Emerita; Inaugural Director, Center for Native American and Indigenous Research (retired), Northwestern University

Patty Loew, Ph.D., is professor emerita in the Medill School of Journalism and inaugural director of the Center for Native American and Indigenous Research at Northwestern University (retired). She also is professor emerita at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension. A citizen... Read More →

Saturday August 22, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Madison Ballroom

General Session

12:00pm CDT

Announcements & Lunch - Sponsored by Tourism Ireland

Saturday August 22, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT

Madison Ballroom

Lunch is generously sponsored by Tourism Ireland, bringing a touch of the Emerald Isle to our Southwestern buffet.

OWAA's President will share a few words and introduce committees.

Sponsors

Tourism Ireland

Saturday August 22, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT
Madison Ballroom

Meal/Break

1:00pm CDT

Keynote #2: Beyond Recreation: The Parks That Save Us - Sponsored by Destination Cleveland

Saturday August 22, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT

Madison Ballroom

For generations, parks have been valued for recreation, conservation, and beauty. But what if their greatest contribution is something else entirely?

In this keynote, Akiima Price shares the emerging practice of Restorative Park Engagement (RPE), a framework that explores how parks and nature can help address loneliness, chronic stress, community violence, and disconnection. Through powerful stories and examples from the field, she challenges audiences to reimagine parks as essential spaces for healing, belonging, and human connection, and to consider the role that outdoor experiences can play in helping to restore both people and place.

Keynote Sponsor: Destination Cleveland

Speakers

Akiima Price

Akiima Price is a nationally respected thought leader and practitioner advancing the emerging field of Restorative Park Engagement (RPE), a growing practice exploring how parks and nature can support communities impacted by poverty, violence, chronic stress, and disconnection.

Beginning her career as a U.S. Park Ranger with the National Park Service in 1993, Akiima has spent more than 30 years building community-rooted programs and partnerships at the intersection of parks, public health, justice, stewardship, and human development. Her work challenges... Read More →

Sponsors

Destination Cleveland

Saturday August 22, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Madison Ballroom

General Session

9:00am CDT

Announcements & Keynote #3: James Edward Mills - Sponsored by American Sportfishing Association

Sunday August 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT

Madison Ballroom

Keynote Sponsor: American Sportfishing Association

Speakers

James Edward Mills

Executive Producer, The Joy Trip Project

James Edward Mills is a freelance journalist and National Geographic Explorer who specializes in telling stories about outdoor recreation, environmental conservation, acts of charitable giving, and practices of sustainable living. He has worked in the outdoor industry since 1989 as... Read More →

Sponsors

American Sportfishing Association

Sunday August 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Madison Ballroom

General Session

12:00pm CDT

Lunch & Announcements

Sunday August 23, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm CDT

Madison Ballroom

We’re pleased to welcome Special Guests Ellie Westman Chin, President & CEO of Destination Madison, and Dane County Executive Melissa Agard.

During lunch, we’ll also announce the Committee Volunteer of the Year and the Outstanding Board Member of the Year.

Our dinner sponsor, Gunpowder, will share a few words, as well.

Sunday August 23, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm CDT
Madison Ballroom

Meal/Break

12:45pm CDT

Keynote #4: Meet the Editors Panel

Sunday August 23, 2026 12:45pm - 2:15pm CDT

Madison Ballroom

Always one of the most popular sessions at conference, the Meet the Editors Panel brings together editors from leading outoor publications for a candid conversation about how they work with freelancers. Editors will share what they look for in pitches, how they discover new writers and photographers, the kinds of stories and visuals their audiences need right now, and how freelancers can build lasting relationships with their outlets. Panelists will also discuss the practical side of freelance collaboration: what kind of reporting they hope for, how many rounds of edits they expect, who retains the rights, and, most importantly, how much they pay.

Whether you’re new to the beat or an experienced freelancer looking to notch a new byline, this session will give you insight into how editorial decisions are made and how you can position your work to succeed. Come with questions—and leave with a clearer understanding of what editors want and how to stand out in a vast sea of emails.

Speakers

Amy Kapp

Editor-in-Chief, Rails to Trails Conservancy

Amy Kapp focuses on telling the story of America’s trails and their impact as the editorial director of Rails to Trails Conservancy and editor-in-chief of Rails to Trails magazine and the TrailBlog. Since joining RTC in 2013, she has also helped produce and edit 15+ trail guidebooks focusing on different regions of the United States through a partnership with Wilderness Press. Prior experiences include serving as a writer and editor, communications strategist, and print and digital... Read More →

Christiana Roussel

Features Editor, Palomino County

Curious, adventurous and free to move about the cabin, Christiana Roussel is a Birmingham-based podcaster, editor and award-winning food + travel + lifestyle writer. Her writing work has appeared nationally in Garden & Gun, Covey Rise, Good Grit, Shooting Sportsman, The Local Palate... Read More →

Lisa John Rogers

News Editor, Great Lakes Now

Lisa John (like Mary-Kate without a dash) is a journalist and art critic from the Midwest. Currently the News Editor for Great Lakes Now, an Emmy award-winning regional environmental program from Detroit PBS. Most recently a producer for Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson. Formerly... Read More →

Jesse Hirsch

Editor, Offrange

Jesse Hirsch is head editor of Offrange, a publication exploring farming, ranching, hunting, fishing, public lands, and conservation in the U.S. Every week Offrange produces 3 original stories and a newsletter for 150k+ subscribers, as well as a periodic podcast and print publication. Previously Jesse worked at The Counter... Read More →

Alex Robinson

Editor In Chief, Outdoor Life

Alex Robinson is the Editor-in-Chief of Outdoor Life, a legacy publication that covers hunting, fishing, firearms, public lands, and conservation. Robinson oversees a team of editors and writers who publish new articles daily, along with newsletters, YouTube videos, and weekly podcast episodes. He studied Journalism at the University... Read More →

Andy McGlashen

Senior Editor, National Audubon Society

Andy McGlashen is a senior editor at Audubon magazine, where he has covered conservation, public lands issues, birding culture and more since 2018. He writes and edits features and news stories in print and online and has been part of teams that have won two National Magazine Awards. Andy holds a master’s degree from the Knig... Read More →

Sunday August 23, 2026 12:45pm - 2:15pm CDT
Madison Ballroom

General Session

9:00am CDT

Special Guest, Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR-04): America’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act

Monday August 24, 2026 9:00am - 9:15am CDT

Madison Ballroom

Special guest, Representative Bruce Westerman (AR‑04) will share remarks on the America’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act, highlighting his proposal to expand habitat restoration, strengthen collaborative conservation efforts, and support long‑term stewardship of America’s wildlife resources.

Speakers

Congressman Bruce Westerman

Bruce Westerman represents Arkansas’ Fourth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he serves on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and as Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources.A Hot Springs native, Westerman is an engineer and... Read More →

Monday August 24, 2026 9:00am - 9:15am CDT
Madison Ballroom

General Session

9:15am CDT

Announcements & Keynote #5: Hunters and Anglers, Public Lands, and the Future of Conservation - Keynote Sponsor: Rails to Trails Conservancy

Monday August 24, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT

Madison Ballroom

Chris, President & CEO of Trout Unlimited, will speak about the vital role sportsmen and sportswomen play in advancing conservation efforts. He will also emphasize the central importance of public lands—both as essential habitat and as shared spaces that sustain outdoor traditions, recreation, and the broader conservation mission.

Keynote Sponsor: Rails to Trails Conservancy

Speakers

Christopher Wood

President & CEO, Trout Unlimited

Before coming to Trout Unlimited in September 2001, Chris Wood served as the senior policy and communications advisor to the chief of the U.S. Forest Service where he helped protect 58 million acres of publicly owned land. Chris began his career as a temporary employee with the Forest... Read More →

Sponsors

Rails to Trails Conservancy

Monday August 24, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Madison Ballroom

General Session

12:00pm CDT

Lunch & Announcements - Sponsored by NSSF

Monday August 24, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT

Madison Ballroom

We’re glad to share this midday pause with you—full of good food, great company, and even better conversation. This lunch is sponsored by our friends at the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), whose commitment to industry leadership and responsible practices continues to make a lasting impact.

Announcement of Jade of Chiefs Award!

Sponsors

NSSF

Monday August 24, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT
Madison Ballroom

Meal/Break

1:00pm CDT

Keynote #6: Stories with Impact: Strategic Storytelling for a New Travel Era - Sponsored by Travel Wisconsin

Monday August 24, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT

Madison Ballroom

Join Rob Holmes, Founder and Chief Strategist of GLP Films, for an engaging presentation demonstrating the power of visual storytelling to address some of the leading trends that are shaping tourism today: Sustainable and Regenerative tourism, Stewardship and Conservation, Inclusion and Accessibility, and the role Indigenous communities play in leading local conservation and cultural heritage initiatives.

Inspiring, educational and emotional award-winning videos that spark meaningful dialogue, inspire action, and drive real solutions.

Keynote Sponsor: Travel Wisconsin

Speakers

Rob Holmes

Founder & Chief Strategist, GLP Films

Rob Holmes is the Founder & Chief Strategist of GLP Films -- an award-winning, full-service content marketing agency dedicated to sustainable and regenerative tourism. GLP helps destinations reposition as leaders in this new travel era via award-winning sustainability storytelling... Read More →

Sponsors

Travel Wisconsin

Monday August 24, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Madison Ballroom

General Session

6:00pm CDT

Closing Night Dinner & Awards: A Roaring Start to OWAA’s Centennial Year - Sponsored by Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge

Monday August 24, 2026 6:00pm - 8:00pm CDT

Madison Ballroom

Closing Night Dinner: A Roaring Start to OWAA’s Centennial Year

Step into the spirit of the 1920s as we celebrate the kickoff to OWAA’s 100th year. This elegant, era‑inspired evening honors excellence, achievement, and the remarkable contributions of our community. Guests are invited to dress in their finest Gatsby‑era attire as we toast to a century of storytelling, adventure, and outdoor communication.

Our celebration also pays tribute to our gracious host, Destination Madison, whose hospitality has elevated this week’s experience. The night is proudly sponsored by Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge, adding a touch of mountain‑region charm to this unforgettable finale.

Sponsors

Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge

Monday August 24, 2026 6:00pm - 8:00pm CDT
Madison Ballroom

Meal/Break

9:00am CDT

12:00pm CDT

1:00pm CDT

9:00am CDT

12:00pm CDT

12:45pm CDT

9:00am CDT

9:15am CDT

12:00pm CDT

1:00pm CDT

6:00pm CDT

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