Great Lakes Outdoor Summit – Three Days of Learning, Networking, and Adventuring October 24th – 26th, 2024: Right Here in Duluth
By Andrea Busche Here in Duluth, we love our outdoor adventures. And, no matter what activities you’re into, our four wonderful seasons ensure options for everyone. The 2024 Great Lakes Outdoor Summit – featuring 3 days of learning, networking, and adventuring – is a celebration of year-round outdoor recreation in Duluth. The Summit takes place October 24 – 26, 2024, and will offer training sessions, a live podcast recording, field trips, and more. But above all, it’s an opportunity to connect and collaborate, said Hansi Johnson, one of the Summit’s organizers. “It’s really a celebration of the outdoors and outdoor folks,” he noted. “I’ve heard the Summit be compared to a large campfire,” he added with a chuckle. DAOA The Summit is being presented by a group called the Duluth Area Outdoor Alliance (DAOA). This collaborative group started in 2010 when various individuals and organizations gathered to see how the local outdoor recreation community could better represent the existing outdoor recreation opportunities in the region. The original product of these meetings was the creation of the “Outdoor Duluth Recreation Map” that is currently printed and distributed by the City of Duluth Parks and Recreation Department. Over time, DAOA started to meet more regularly and eventually became an alliance that coalesced around helping the City of Duluth envision, plan and eventually create the public support to fund the St. Louis River Corridor Initiative in 2016. DAOA partners/participants: DAOA is a collaborative effort between many local non-profits, outdoor recreation advocates, educators, adventurers, and land managers. The organizations and businesses that are involved and currently support DAOA include:
- COGGS (Cyclists of Gitchee Gummee Shores)
- DCC (Duluth Climbers Coalition)
- DEVO (Duluth Youth MTB)
- Northland Paddlers Alliance
- Superior Hiking Trail Association
- Minnesota Land Trust
- Hartley Nature Center
- DuFTA (Duluth Foot Trails Alliance)
- Northern Minnesota Track Club
- Duluth Rowing Association
- DXC (Duluth Cross Country Ski Club)
- Chester Bowl Improvement
- St. Louis River Alliance
- Duluth Area Horse Trail Alliance
- Duluth Drifttoppers Snowmobile Club
- Team River Runner
- City of Duluth Parks and Recreation Department
- City of Superior Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department
- Ski Hut
- Continental Ski and Bike
- Spirit Mountain
- Duluth Pack
- Frost River
- Trailfitters
- ROMP Bags
- Bent Paddle Brewing
- Ursa Minor Brewing
- Duluth Coffee Company
- Amity Coffee Company
- Earth Rider Brewing
- Lake Superior Brewing
- Warrior Brewing
- Dovetail Café
Key stakeholders of DAOA meet on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 6 pm at Bent Paddle. Johnson, who works as Engagement Director for the Minnesota Land Trust, said, “We get together every month to collaborate and find out where there are shared resources. And, all groups who sit at the table of DAOA have an equal say.” The DAOA has a variety of sub-committees tasked with addressing different challenges. For instance, there is an Adventure Gap Group, which works toward achieving outdoor accessibility for youth. There is a Trail Etiquette Group. This committee discusses how different user groups can safely and effectively share trails, such as snowshoers and skiers. And, there is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Group, who work to make sure that Duluth’s outdoor scene is more welcoming to all. DAOA is also tasked with another giant project: planning and presenting the Great Lakes Outdoor Summit. Great Lakes Outdoor Summit This year will mark the 5th annual Summit, but just the second time it has offered opportunities for the general public to enjoy events related to the Summit, such as the podcast. The 2024 Summit’s schedule is as follows: Thursday, October 24th: Training and Podcast CPR/First Aid/AED Training will be provided from 1 – 3 pm at the Holiday Inn Downtown Duluth. Space is limited, and therefore, pre-registration is required.

Then, from 5 – 8 pm, attendees can attend a happy hour, followed by a live recording of The Dirtbag Diaries podcast at Duluth’s West Theater. Fitz Cahall, creator of this influential podcast, will moderate and record outdoor stories from national icons including Indigenous activist and Patagonia-sponsored skier, Connor Ryan; professional adaptive athlete Quinn Brett; and world-renowned musician Alan Sparhawk, of the band Low.

Friday, October 25th: Summit Sessions The full-day conference will be held at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) located at 350 Harbor Drive. Registration, keynote speaker commentary, and all sessions will take place in the Harbor Side Ballroom and Horizon Rooms.

The Summit kicks off with remarks from keynote speaker, Connor Ryan – an Indigenous activist and filmmaker, passionate skier, and Patagonia-sponsored athlete. Ryan has devoted his life and platform to rediscovering how traditional Indigenous culture and ecological knowledge can shape our relationship to the lands. He will be sharing his story, experiences, and perspective on how we can seek collective paths to a better future. Then, attendees can choose from 12 different hour-long sessions, which all revolve around outdoor recreation, on topics like adaptive recreation, climate change, building a BIPOC-friendly outdoor community, and more. “There will be lots of different viewpoints from many different people’s experiences,” Johnson said of the sessions. “We really tried to plan a good, eclectic mix.” Saturday, October 26th: Field Trips! Attendees can choose from a full menu of Duluth field trips, including mountain biking, hiking, a train ride, and more. Additionally, a Leave No Trace certification course will be offered on Saturday.

Attendees and Tickets As noted, the Summit is open to the public. Everyone is welcome to attend. “It’s really geared for people who are interested in how they can be more engaged in speaking up for the outdoors in their own communities,” Johnson said. Last year, 200 people attended the Summit. Johnson and his team hope to surpass their attendance numbers from last year, and have a goal of 400 attendees. Many local residents are expected to attend. Last year, attendees also traveled from places like Minneapolis, Madison, Chicago, North Dakota, and South Dakota to participate in the Summit. Please click here for info and tickets. Duluth Johnson is passionate about Duluth, and is a huge advocate for outdoor recreation in our city. Although he is originally from Winona, Minnesota, Duluth is now his home. “I’ve lived all over the country, and have always returned to Duluth,” he said. “I love the climate. I love the four seasons, and the ability to be multi-modal when it comes to outdoor recreation. “The amount of open, natural space we have in our city is so important and unusual for our population size,” he added. “Because of that, we have things like these interconnected trail systems which allow us the ability to connect the city as a whole.” For these reasons and many more, Johnson feels Duluth is the best place to host the Great Lakes Outdoor Summit. “In Duluth, we kind of have it all,” he said. “We’re really seeing our outdoor recreational culture grow.” For more information and tickets, go to duluthaoa.org. Please click here for tickets.

. ____________________________________________________________________ Andrea Busche is a Duluth + regional freelance writer and small business owner. She is credited with over 1,000 bylines in local print and digital publications, and has been a frequent contributor to Destination Duluth since 2017.