Plan your Grassroots Advocacy Conference experience with our daily panels, networking opportunities, outdoor activities, and jam sessions with colleagues, partners, new friends and allies. You can look forward to three days of the latest developments in public lands policy and planning, grassroots success stories, meetings with land managers, new advocacy tools and insights, and quality connection and outdoor time.
Bring a musical instrument for spontaneous (and planned) jam sessions, recreational gear for the Colorado backcountry in the fall, and your outdoor spirit!
*Schedule subject to change*
(Day One) Thursday, Sept 14
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Check-In & Airport Shuttle
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Social Hour & Dinner
6:45 PM – 7:00 PM
Opening Remarks
- By David Page, Winter Wildlands Alliance Executive Director
7:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Recognition: “Spirit of the Peaks, Levels of Obligation”
- By Connor Ryan
7:30 PM – 8:15 PM
Keynote: “Silence: The Beauty of the World’s Most Quiet Places”
- By Pete McBride
8:30 PM – 9:15 PM
Film Screening: “Spirit of the Peaks”
- By Connor Ryan
(Day Two) Friday, Sept 15
7:30 AM – 8:45 AM
Breakfast (Wild Rose Dining Hall)
7:45 AM – 8:45 AM
Coffee Cohorts (Various Locations)
- “Nonprofit Strategic Planning” with Katie Davis, 5 Branches Consulting (Lodge Living Room)
- “JEDI Consulting” with Carmela Montenegro, Not Mad Just Misunderstood (Megaron)
- “Outdoor Education” with Kerry McClay, WWA National SnowSchool Director (Dining Hall – Outside)
- “Events and Engagement” with Melinda Quick, WWA Marketing and Events Director (Dining Hall – Outside)
8:45 AM – 9:00 AM
Opening Remarks (Megaron Building)
- By David Page, Executive Director at Winter Wildlands Alliance
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Panel: Wildfire, Forest Health and Winter Recreation (Megaron Building)
- Moderated by Jamie Ervin, Outdoor Alliance
- With: Hilary Franz (Commissioner of Public Lands, Washington), Jason Kuiken (Stanislaus National Forest Supervisor), and Matt Williams (Executive Director, Catamount Trail Association)
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM
Break
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM
Panel: Sustainable Recreation Planning for Public Lands (Megaron Building)
- Moderated by David Page, Executive Director at Winter Wildlands Alliance
- With: Hilary Eisen (Policy Director, Winter Wildlands Alliance), Jamie Ervin (Policy Associate, Outdoor Alliance), Samantha Rider (USFS National Outdoor Recreation Planner)
11:15 AM – 11:30 AM
Break
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Panel: Transit to Trailhead (Megaron Building)
- Moderated by David Page, Executive Director at Winter Wildlands Alliance
- With: Gary Kofinas (Steering Committee Member, Teton Backcountry Alliance), Jason Erickson (Board Member, Wasatch Backcountry Alliance), Anthony Cupaiuolo (Executive Director, Tahoe Backcountry Alliance)
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM
Lunch (Wild Rose Dining Hall)
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Panel: Ski Resort Policy (Megaron Building)
- Moderated by Hilary Eisen, Policy Director at Winter Wildlands Alliance
- With: Cindy Riegel (County Commissioner, Teton County, ID), Erik Lambert (Bluebird Backcountry), and Chris Pitcher (Wolf Creek Ski Area)
3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Outdoor Activities (TBA)
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Dinner (Wild Rose Dining Hall)
7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Keynote: “Policy and Mountaineering”
- By Luis Benitez
8:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Live Music (TBA)
(Day Three) Saturday, Sept 16
7:30 AM – 8:45 AM
Breakfast (Wild Rose Dining Hall)
7:45 AM – 8:45 AM
Coffee Cohorts (Various Locations)
- “Nonprofit Strategic Planning” with Katie Davis, 5 Branches Consulting (Lodge Living Room)
- “Fundraising” with Kate Thorpe, WWA Membership Director (Dining Hall – Inside)
- “JEDI Consulting” with Carmela Montenegro, Not Mad Just Misunderstood (Megaron)
- “Outdoor Education” with Kerry McClay, WWA National SnowSchool Director (Dining Hall – Outside)
- “Events and Engagement” with Melinda Quick, WWA Marketing and Events Director (Dining Hall – Outside)
8:45 AM – 9:45 AM
Panel: Athlete Advocacy (Megaron Building)
- Moderated by Nicole Brown, Outdoor Alliance
- With: Caroline Gleich (Ski Mountaineer and Athlete) and Connor Ryan (Skier, Athlete, and Natives Outdoors staff)
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM
Break
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM
Panel: Strength in Numbers: Winter Recreation Data (Megaron Building)
- Moderated by David Page, Executive Director at Winter Wildlands Alliance
- With: Nicole Budine (Conservation Policy Director, Colorado Mountain Club), Chelsea Phillippe (Wasatch National Forest), and Will Sladek (General Manager, onX Backcountry)
11:15 AM – 11:30 AM
Break
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Panel: Wildlife and Winter Recreation (Megaron Building)
- Moderated by Hilary Eisen, Policy Director at Winter Wildlands Alliance
- With: Mike Crosby (Wintering Wildlife Conservation Initiative), Kurt Hellmann (Wildlife Recreation Senior Coordinator, Conservation Northwest), and Sarah Dewey (Wildlife Biologist, Grand Teton National Park)
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM
Lunch (Wild Rose Dining Hall)
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
- Panel: Stewarding Winter (Megaron Building)
- Moderated by David Page, Executive Director at Winter Wildlands Alliance
- With: Shane Tulp (former Colorado Mountain Club Snow Ranger), Anne Gaspar (Vail Pass Program Manager, White River National Forest), and Tyler Ray (Granite Backcountry Alliance)
3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Outdoor Activities (TBA)
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Dinner (Wild Rose Dining Hall)
7:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Backcountry Buskers Jam and Dance Party
(Day Four) Sunday, Sept 17
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Breakfast Goodbyes and Airport Shuttle
10th Biennial Sponsors
