The Outdoor Recreation Industry Summit & Celebration is envisioned as an annual flagship event spotlighting the critical role outdoor recreation plays in shaping the Western Slope’s economy, culture, community wellbeing, and public lands. This vibrant, two-day event will unite stakeholders from across the spectrum – industry professionals, public officials, community members, and outdoor rec enthusiasts – in both formal engagement and festive celebration.
West Slope Outdoor Recreation Industry Summit
- Thursday, November 13
- 8:00 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.
- CMU Ballroom (1100 North Ave. Grand Junction, CO 81501)
Program
8:00 - 9:00 a.m
- Registration / Check-In
- Networking
- Exhibitors
- Coffee & Pastries
9:00 - 9:30 a.m
- Opening Remarks
- Sarah Shrader, GVORC Board President
- Outdoor Recreation Master Plan & Feasibility Study Kickoff
- Chandler Smith, GVORC Executive Director
9:30 – 10:15 a.m.
Keynote #1 – I Ling Thompson; Foundation for America’s Public Lands
- Title: The Power of The People in the Future of Our Public Lands
- Description:
Unlike any other country in the world, the United States maintains an extraordinary public lands system spanning 640 million acres — roughly one in every four acres. While many may first think of national parks, our public lands represent much more. They sustain local economies, support the well-being of communities across the nation, provide food and energy, and offer spaces to connect, explore, and find inspiration.
As visitation increases and challenges from drought, wildfire, and invasive species intensify, our greatest hope lies in the people who care for these lands.
10:15 – 10:30 a.m.
- Break
10:30 – 11:45 a.m.
Colorado’s Outdoor Strategy – Tori Manogue & David Whittle, CPW / DNR
- Title: Utilizing Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy for Regional and Local Planning Efforts
- Description: Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy advances coordination, tools, and funding to align, prioritize, and implement strategic actions on the landscape for conservation, outdoor recreation, and climate resilience. It also amplifies regionally rooted efforts to address significant and urgent pressures to the outdoors through close collaboration with the Regional Partnerships Initiative. This workshop will focus on connecting recreation industry partners and stakeholders to the statewide Strategy and Resource Hub. Coordinating partners will go through the Resource Hub, which provides complimentary tools and resources that can help inform recreation industry opportunities and challenges.
11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Break
12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.
- Catered Lunch
Keynote #2 – Conor Hall; Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office
- Title: The State of Outdoor Recreation: Growth, Headwinds, and the Road Ahead
- Description: The outdoor recreation economy continues to outpace the broader U.S. economy, with Colorado seeing some of the strongest growth in the country. Yet challenges — from tariffs and declining tourism to shrinking federal resources — are testing the industry’s resilience. Join Conor for an inside look at the latest SCORP and BEA data, emerging trends, and the statewide strategies positioning Colorado as a national model for a thriving outdoor economy.
12:45 – 1:00 p.m.
- Break
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Help Shape our Outdoor Experiences (Breakout Groups)
An opportunity for the public to share input on the strengths, challenges, opportunities, and needs across different outdoor recreation activities and the infrastructure that supports them.
- Motorized Trails (ATV, Dirtbikes, Jeeps, 4x4s)
- Facilitators
- Jeff Bates, Grand Mesa Jeep Club
- Dave Clapp, Motorcycle Trail Riding Association
- Facilitators
- Non-Motorized Trails (Biking, Running, Hiking, Equestrian)
- Facilitators
- Karen Mahoney, COPMOBA
- Ross Mittelman, Mesa County Trails
- Facilitators
- Water Sports (Angling, Boating, Paddling)
- Facilitators
- James Stover, Grand Junction Adventures
- Haley Collinsworth, Grand Valley Anglers / Trout Unlimited
- Facilitators
- Snow Sports (Snowmobile, Nordic & Alpine Skiing, Snowshoeing)
- Facilitators
- Christie Aschwanden, Grand Mesa Nordic Council
- Meghan Dutch, West Slope Outdoors Alliance
- Facilitators
- Climbing
- Facilitators
- Mike Kimmel, Grip Bouldering
- Nolan Robertson, Western Colorado Climbers Coalition
- Facilitators
- Sport Shooting, Archery, Hunting
- Facilitator
- Kathleen Fischer, Cameo Shooting & Education Complex
- Walt Proulx, Cameo Shooting & Education Complex
- Facilitator
2:00 – 2:15 p.m.
- Break
2:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Listen, Share & Inform – World Cafe Style!
Join us for a dynamic world café-style session designed to spark meaningful dialogue around funding, access, and stewardship of our outdoor spaces. Participants will rotate through small-group conversations, sharing experiences and insights to help inform future priorities and collective action.
- Campfire Capital: Fireside Chats on Funding Strategy
- Facilitators:
- Jason Swann, Trust for Public Lands
- Chandler Smith, GVORC
- Facilitators:
Mobilizing Community Stewards: Local Hands, Lasting Impacts
- Facilitators
- Morgan Rossway, Colorado Canyons Association & WSOV
- Wendy Griesan, The Cycle Effect
- Facilitators
- Open Trails, Open Doors: Expanding Outdoor Access for All
- Facilitators
- Jen Mendenhall, Governor’s Disability Task Force
- Greg Weckenbrock, Outdoor Wilderness Lab
- Facilitators
Regular Summit Concludes
4:30 – 5:30 p.m. (INVITE ONLY)
Inside Out: Growing the Outdoors from Within (Industry Roundtable)
Shining a light on the economics of outdoor recreation and strengthening connections between education, business resources, elected officials, and industry to accelerate West Slope growth.
Attendees to include:
- Industry (Retailers,
- Guides & Outfitters, Manufacturers)
- Grand Junction Economic Partnership
- Grand Junction Business Incubator
- Colorado Mesa University
- District 51
- Energize Colorado
- Municipality Leaders (City & Town Managers, etc.)
- Elected Officials (County Commissioners)
5:30 – 7:00 p.m. (INVITE ONLY)
Industry Mixer sponsored by Energize Colorado
A casual networking opportunity to build relationships and foster collaboration across the outdoor recreation industry.
Attendees to include:
- Industry (Retailers, Guides & Outfitters, Manufacturers)
- Grand Junction Economic Partnership
- Business Incubator Center
- Colorado Mesa University
- District 51
- Energize Colorado
- Municipality Leaders (City & Town Managers, etc.)
- Elected Officials
- GVORC Board & Staff
Exibitors
- CMU Outdoor Program | Sponsor
- Colorado Canyons Association
- Compost Junction | Sponsor
- Confluence Center
- COPMOBA
- Friends of Youth & Nature
- Grand Valley Anglers
- Grand Valley Outdoor Recreation Coalition
- Grand Valley River Corridor Initiative
- Grip Bouldering
- Motorcycle Trail Riding Association
- QuikrStuff | Sponsor
- Restore the Balance
- The Wilderness Society
- West Slope Veterinary Dentistry & Oral Surgery | Sponsor
GVORC Celebration & Industry Awards
- Friday, November 14
- 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
- Orchard River View (3926 HWY 6 & 24 Palisade, CO 81526)
Industry Awards
Theme
- Canadian Tuxedo (Denim on Denim!)
The Experience
- Temptation Stations & Pas Hors D’oeuvres
- Dessert Bar
- Cash Bar (1 free drink coupon provided)
- Live Music by Schaffer Brothers Band
- Campfires & S’mores
- Industry Awards (Submit nominations by 10/31)
- Silent Auction
Impact Goals
- Amplify the sector’s role in regional economic development
- Build stronger networks among outdoor recreation stakeholders
- Inspire new partnerships, stewardship efforts, and public engagement
- Celebrate outdoor culture as a unifying force on the Western Slope
- Recognize peers, businesses and organizations who have helped to champion the outdoors
