Great Lakes Outdoor Summit Takes Place at the DECC

DULUTH, Minn. — An event for outdoor recreation enthusiasts took place at the DECC on Friday.

The Duluth Area Outdoor Alliance hosted the Great Lakes Outdoor Summit.

The summit draws in people from across the Upper Midwest, allowing for businesses, advocates and other organizations to connect, build community and learn more about the great outdoors.

The summit had 12 engagement sessions, led by outdoor recreation specialists.

“I hope that people come here and they just realize just the vibrant and welcoming that we have around outdoor recreation, and that they feel like they can come back here and that they are always welcome and we’re happy to have them,” said Hans Johnson,  Engagement Director for Minnesota Land Trust.

Over 40 local and national organizations had vendors at the summit, including BIPOC outdoors, who focuses on making the outdoors available for everyone.

“Our number one message is that you belong here you belong outside, you belong in nature no matter what your background is, no matter what you look like,” said Cory Maria Dack. “We want to see more diversity in body sizes, skin color, ability levels, more immigrants, more queer people, more people from financial backgrounds that are difficult. We want everyone to have access to nature and all of the healing that nature brings.”

Sessions included outdoor advocacy, climate change discussion and access solutions.