Summit Schedule
Thursday, October 24
CPR/First Aid/AED Training
1-3 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Downtown Duluth
Lyric Conference Room I & II
Walk away from the summit with tangible new (or renewed) skills by joining us at our hybrid Adult + Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED Certificate training.
This is a blended learning opportunity; all registered attendees must complete the online portion prior to the in-person, instructor-led skills session held on October 24. Upon registration, students will automatically receive the online link for completing the course videos online.
Space is limited + registration necessary.
The Dirtbag Diaries Podcast Live Recording + Social
5-8 p.m. West Theatre
Join us at the historic West Theatre (319 N Central Ave, Duluth) for an evening social and live radio show. Fitz Cahall, creator of the influential podcast The Dirtbag Diaries, 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.
5-6 p.m. happy hour social sponsored by the Minnesota Outdoor Recreation Industry Partnership (ORIP)
6-7 p.m. live podcast recording of The Dirtbag Diaries sponsored by the Minnesota Land Trust
7-8 p.m. Networking
Friday, October 25
Summit Sessions
The full day conference is hosted at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) located at 350 Harbor Drive, Duluth, Minnesota 55802.
Registration, keynote speakers, and sessions will take place in the Harbor Side Ballroom and Horizon Rooms, located in the Harbor Side Convention Center which can be accessed through Door G or through the skywalk system.
Parking is the responsibility of conference attendees; a daily pass is $10 per vehicle with re-entry all day until midnight. Purchase your ticket at the DECC Parking Booth. More parking information available in the links below.
Helpful resources:
8:30-9:30 a.m. Registration
Registration will be located at the entry of the Harbor Side Convention Center starting at 8:30 a.m. We will have a registration sheet so attendees do not have to print a physical ticket.
9:30-10 a.m. Welcome
We will kick off the summit with a warm welcome from DAOA Summit Planning Members, Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert, and honor the 2024 Judy Gibbs ‘Unless’ Award Recipient.
10-11 a.m. Keynote Speaker
Connor Ryan - Indigenous activist and filmmaker, passionate skier, and Patagonia sponsored athlete.
Connor 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.
11:15-12:15 p.m. Sessions
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Session Presenter:
Jenna Yeakle, Senior Field Organizer with the Sierra Club-Duluth
Bret Pence, Greater MN Director, Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light
Session Description:
What comes to mind when you think of lobbying? Is it fancy suits and closed door deals? Or might it be community members with a range of identities, abilities and backgrounds coming together to meet with their public officials and ask for what they need? Hint: showing up with your lived experience and ideas for how things could be better is enough! In this workshop, we'll work together to ensure that our local outdoor advocates and leaders have the tools and skills to effectively engage with those who represent us as elected officials. We'll explore the purpose of meeting with decision makers of all kinds, including elected officials, how meeting with decision-makers can advance our community's goals, and learn tips for planning and holding an effective meeting with a decision maker at any level of government for any issue or campaign. Join us to learn, practice and build power together through lobbying!
Presenter Bio:
Jenna Yeakle is a Senior Field Organizer with the Sierra Club in Duluth, Minnesota. She applies her community organizing experience, public health expertise and passion for social justice to building the movement for climate action in the Northland. Jenna grew up in Duluth and lives in the Denfeld neighborhood with her partner Chris, their dog and backyard chickens.
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Session Presenter:
Quinn Brett, Co-Owner at Dovetail Trail ConsultingSession Description:
Emerging technologies in adaptive recreation are unlocking new possibilities and posing unique challenges for both land managers and users. This session will explore how cutting-edge mobility devices and technological innovations are reshaping outdoor recreational experiences, with a focus on reducing fear and increasing inclusion.We will discuss current laws and standards that affect the implementation of these technologies, while also highlighting a range of new mobility devices designed to enhance accessibility and user confidence.
Presenter Bio:
Quinn Brett was a professional climber, having established first ascents on unknown peaks and speed records all over the globe. She worked technical search and rescue in Rocky Mountain National Park and as a Wilderness Medicine Instructor with Remote Medical International. In 2017, Quinn suffered a permanently disabling spinal cord injury, now paralyzed from the waist down. Even so, movement remains a big part of her life. She has become the first person to hand-cycle the Tour Divide (a +3000 mile bike ride from Jasper, Canada to Antelope Wells, New Mexico) and a few other notable accomplishments as an adaptive athlete. Her personal and work experiences prior to injury in Wilderness, on trails and with visitor use management and search and rescue, have shaped her perspective on recreational opportunities now with a disability. Quinn returned to the National Park Service to head up a newly designed position, Wilderness Accessibility, where she gained momentum educating and advocating on Accessibility and Wilderness laws. She left the NPS last year and now is the Development Director and legislative task force member for a growing spinal cord injury research non-profit, Unite 2 Fight Paralysis. She also started an adaptive recreation business, Dovetail Trail Consulting with Joe Stone. -
Session Presenters:
Rachel Franchina, Executive Director of Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals (SORP)
Lisa Luokkala, Executive Director Superior Hiking Trail Association
Session Description:
Feel alone in your work? Learn about the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals and the power of creating a space for outdoor recreation professionals from around the country to vet ideas, share concerns, brainstorm solutions and learn from one another. For the last 40 years SORP has been bringing together the experiences and ideas from many disciplines including community engagement, resource management, economic development, diversity and inclusion, and facilitated access. Launched at a time when outdoor recreation was not considered a serious profession, SORP has been at the forefront of legitimizing the field of Outdoor Recreation through research, policy change, advocacy and education. This session will explore the various support and tools SORP offers - from training resources, continuing education across disciplines, addressing trends, challenges and best practices in sustainable and inclusive outdoor recreation planning and management. You will walk away with some great resources and likely a new friend.
Presenter Bios:
Rachel Franchina is the Executive Director, and former board member, of the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals. She has 25 years of experience in outdoor recreation and conservation planning and management. She is passionate about supporting and engaging outdoor recreation professionals from across North America to create opportunities for all people to connect to the outdoors. Rachel has a B.S. in Recreation Management form the University of Montana and a M.S. in Natural Resources Recreation from Virginia Tech. She lives in Evergreen, CO with her husband and two sons and enjoys hiking, camping, skiing, rafting, and SUPing.
Lisa Luokkala joined the Superior Hiking Trail Association as the Executive Director in 2020. A resident of Duluth for 18 years, Lisa has worked locally in both the nonprofit and public sector. She currently serves on the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals' Board of Directors, along with the Duluth Tourism Advisory Council, Duluth Area Outdoor Alliance. Prior to her time with the Superior Hiking Trail Association, Lisa served as Senior Parks Planner for the City of Duluth, leading the planning of parks and trails and implementation of capital infrastructure projects as part of a larger city-wide outdoor recreation renaissance. Lisa holds her Master's in Advocacy and Political Leadership from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and her Bachelor's in Travel and Tourism from Eastern Michigan University.
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Session Presenter:
Asha Shoffner, Convener for BIPOC Outdoors Twin CitiesSession Description:
BIPOC Outdoors Twin Cities (OTC) has built an incredible BIPOC community in the metro over the last four years. Come learn about the community engagement process, challenges and roadblocks they had to push against or work around, as well as how they've found funding and built a robust community of BIPOC Outdoor Leaders. This session will be relevant and supportive to BIPOC folks looking to start or grow their own community, as well as white-led organizations looking to be better partners with BIPOC folks and communities. Attendees will leave with tangible ways to support BIPOC folks in growing their own skills and narrative in the outdoors.Presenter Bio:
Asha (she/her) is an educator, photographer, and lover of outdoor adventures both near and far. She is based in Imnizaska, Mni Sóta Makoce (Saint Paul, Minnesota), the ancestral and contemporary homelands of the Dakota people.As an outdoor educator in Saint Paul, and a convener of BIPOC Outdoors Twin Cities, Asha facilitates safe and empowering outdoor programs by listening to community, leveraging resources, and centering the wisdom, experience, and joy of those who are most marginalized.
Asha drinks hot chai or iced cold press every morning, catches sunsets most evenings, and paddles local water as often as she can. She is the cat mom of Slay, and the proud auntie of three nephews, whom she affectionately refers to as her Lil’ Homies.
12:30-2 p.m. Lunch
**Lunch is included with all conference registrations.
1:00-1:30 p.m. Bringing Music Off the Page and Into the North Woods
Young-Nam Kim + Northern Lights Chamber Music Institute Students
The sounds of nature have, forever, inspired classical and chamber music. Join us for a very special presentation and performance from Northern Lights Chamber Music Institute (NLCMI) as we experience and appreciate the many parallels between a string quartet and a living ecosystem. Young-Nam Kim, Artistic Director at NLCMI, will take the stage with some of his students and share the profound power in making music immersed in the natural beauty of the North Woods. Learn about NLCMI’s 10-day intense chamber music study summer program set in the pristine and breathtaking Boundary Waters.
2:00-3:00 p.m. Sessions
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Session Presenter:
Rebeka Ndosi, Founder and Keeper of the Vision at Maji ya Chai Land SanctuarySession Description:
Outdoors and nature enthusiasts hold stories about why we are drawn to and the depth of connection we feel with the earth and the natural world. Oftentimes these stories are deeply personal and carry a lot of emotion. Come share one of your stories as a way to form deeper community connections and “recreate” your love for land, lakes, and the earth. The session will be led by the Founder and Firekeepers of Maji ya Chai Land Sanctuary who will share their own stories as examples, including the origin story of how the Land Sanctuary, a black-led, nature-based healing retreat created to provide rest, reconnection, and rejuvenation of mind, body & soul for Black, Indigenous, and communities of color across generations, came to be. Holding story circles is a primary way in which the Land Sanctuary builds and engages with the community to help guide our work, and support all of us in building a thriving future together. We can’t wait to meet and learn more about you.Presenter Bio:
Rebeka Ndosi, M.S., L.Ac., is a board-licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, teacher of child, adult and family yoga & meditation, a certified community coach in healing justice and a certified soul answer healer. She is founder of the Youth Healing Justice Network as well as Maji ya Chai Land Sanctuary. Dedicated to building a culture and practice of mind-body well-being for youth of color and the adults in their everyday spaces and places, her work recognizes, honors, and nurtures the individual + collective wisdom that we hold. Rebeka’s practice is driven by the firm belief that lasting, revolutionary, change and healing starts from within. She focuses on practical, relevant, and integrative healing modalities to support children and youth, especially indigenous youth and youth of color, in addition to the adults and communities who surround them in relieving stress, processing and healing from trauma, and affirming greatness. Rebeka was named 2019 “Artist in Healing” by Minnesota Women’s Consortium. -
Session Presenters:
Ian Meeker, Associate Professor, Department of Youth Development University of Wisconsin Madison, Division of Extension
Micah Leinbach, Executive Director for Bus for Outdoor Access & Teaching
Sam Luoma, Programs & Operations Director at Chester Bowl
Scott Pilate, School Psychologist, Duluth Public Schools
Thurman Tucker, MN Quail Forever
Session Description:
Join us for a panel discussion where we dive into the critical mission of fostering community-wide commitment to connecting youth with the outdoors. From introductory exposure activities to cultivating mastery in specialized outdoor sports, we'll explore the pivotal steps needed to bridge the adventure gap. Our discussion will confront barriers that hinder access, while unveiling innovative ‘vehicles’ to mobilizing organizations and inspiring resilient and empowered youth to embrace the outdoors. Moreover, we'll shine a spotlight on impactful successes from the vibrant landscapes of the Great Lakes region, celebrating initiatives that have sparked joy, learning, and lasting connections with nature. Join us as we ignite a movement towards a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive through outdoor exploration and adventure!
Presenter Bios:
Ian Meeker has been a Youth Development Educator for the University of Wisconsin Extension in Bayfield County since 2000. Utilizing a 12 passenger van, two trailer’s full of kayaks and canoes, Ian partners with local school districts and the community to facilitate outdoor adventure experiences for youth at no cost. Whether it is canoeing the Brule River, kayaking the shores of Lake Superior or exploring single track bike trails, these experiences build self-confidence, personal awareness, decision making skills and develop an appreciation for remote wilderness locations in Northern Wisconsin.
Micah Leinbach grew up in a city, and discovered wilderness travel - like many - through a summer camp. But that camp shut down, alongside many others - and he started to ask "what will the gateways to outdoor access look like in 50 years?." Now, through the Bus for Outdoor Access & Teaching, he tries to help other organizations become the answer to that question. Micah is an experienced wilderness guide with several hundred days of field experience across the United States. He spans the worlds of outdoor access and talent development, helping build the connections that will get more youth outside both personally, and as a professional pursuit.
Sam Luoma is a snowboarder, XC skier, skateboarder, mountain biker who develops and implements the programming at Chester Bowl. Sam has three kiddos ages 10 years, 3 years, and 10 months as well as an amazing wife (Lizzy) that makes sure the whole family outside. Sam is a member of the Spirit Mountain Ski & Bike Patrol (which includes Chester Bowl's patrol group), a Wilderness First Responder, and has been working at Chester since 2004 but has served in his current role since 2014.
Scott Pilate has been a committed member of Duluth's outdoor community for 25 years. He helped establish the Duluth Climbers Coalition, Northland Paddlers Alliance, and is a nordic/downhill ski patroller. Over the last 30 years he has worked in many different professional and volunteer capacities to get kids outside.
Thurman Tucker’s lifelong passion has been working with different youth groups, educating and hands on experience. His goal is to educate and maintain interest in the outdoors. The first nature group he established was called Bobwhite Quail Society and his second nature group was WTCN (We’re Taking Care of Nature). Thurman started the first Quail Forever Chapter in Minnesota headquartered in Caledonia, and then went to the cities and started the second Quail Forever Chapter, known as the Metro Chapter.
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Session Presenter:
Kenneth "Kenny" Blumenfeld, Sr. Climatologist, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Katie Frerker; Climate Adaptation Specialist, Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science (NIACS)
Session Description:Climate change is affecting opportunities for outdoor recreation with extreme seasonal variations, climate-driven changes in user preferences, and threats to recreation infrastructure. In the first half of this session, Kenny Blumenfeld, Senior Climatologist for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, explains what science is telling us about climate change in terms of what we’ve observed, and what the “new normal”—if there even is such a thing—may entail in the years and decades to come. The second half of the session will focus on adaptation actions that recreation groups and natural resource managers can take to ensure that outdoor recreation remains sustainable in the face of climate change. Climate Adaptation Specialist Katie Frerker will walk the audience through strategies specific to outdoor recreation that will translate broad concepts into specific, tangible actions.
Presenter Bios:
Dr. Kenneth “Kenny" Blumenfeld is a climate scientist who grew up in Minnesota with a love for storms, blizzards, and being outside. He works for the Minnesota State Climatology Office (DNR ), where he provides the state’s agencies, communities, and citizens with up-to-date scientific information about Minnesota’s changing and variable climate. Kenny enjoys talking to Minnesotans about their weather, and often does it long after the workday is done. He is a year-round bicycle commuter who also likes hiking, camping, and sharing modest adventures with his wife and his two young-adult sons.
Katie Frerker is a Climate Adaptation Specialist with the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science (NIACS), a USDA Forest Service initiative composed of Federal, research, conservation, higher education, and tribal organizations. She holds a B.S. in Urban and Community Forestry from the University of Minnesota and an M.S. in Botany and Ecology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before joining the NIACS team she worked at the Forest Service’s International Institute of Tropical Forestry in San Juan, Puerto Rico and on the Superior National Forest in northeastern MN as their Ecologist and Climate Change Coordinator. Katie lives in Duluth, MN where she cross-country skis and picks thimbleberries with her husband and 2 young boys.
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Session Presenter:
Marty Walsh, founder of the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail
Session Description:The Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail is an in-development trail modeled on the Superior Hiking Trail and other long-distance backpacking trails that volunteers are working to build from west of Chatfield to the Mississippi River south of Brownsville. Marty Walsh will present on the volunteer efforts to build the trail, including working with state and local governments, private landowners, and supporting non-profits. The presentation will include opportunities to support the trail, where to hike in the area today, and the latest on the trail’s $425,000 LCCMR grant application.
Presenter Bio:
Marty Walsh is the lead organizer of the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail, an effort to bring a long distance backpacking trail to Southeast Minnesota, from near Chatfield to the Mississippi River. Marty has been an active backpacker and trail volunteer for 15 years, hiking portions of the Superior Hiking Trail, Ice Age Trail, Ozark Trail, and dozens of local and state park trails. He lives in Rochester and has spent most of professional career working in rural community and economic development, including in the area where the trail is aiming to be built.
3:15-4:15 p.m. Sessions
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Session Presenter:
Aaron Clark, Government Affairs Policy Manager for the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA)
Session Description:
This session will explore the concepts of recreational trail advocacy and teach the tools for how to navigate the land management planning process. Participants will be challenged to think of recreation not as a choice between resource conservation and access but instead as a tool for resource conservation, human management, and the sustainability of public lands. Participants will leave with a better understanding on how to employ successful advocacy efforts that build broader support and long term relationships that ensure improved access into the future.
Presenter Bio:
Aaron is a gearhead by birth and an all things bike lovin' weight-weenie by choice. Having discovered a lifelong love for all things bikes back in Detroit in the early 90's (aboard his fully rigid, budget-minded Nishiki Crossroads) he began racing his bike all over the Michigan woods. This eventually led Aaron to Colorado and eventually to IMBA in 2012 where he works on backcountry mountain bike trail access, policy and legislation as part of the Government Relations team. In his little spare time, Aaron coaches cyclocross at a local high school. His best rides are with his wife and two boys who, after careful crafting, now share his love for riding.
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Session Presenters:
Randolph Briley, Deputy Director of Outdoor Recreation at Explore Minnesota Tourism and Coordinator of the Outdoor Recreation Industry Partnership
Stephen Regenold, journalist, entrepreneur, and founder of GearJunkie.com
Lloyd Vogel, CEO and Co-Founder of Garage Grown Gear
Mikaela Swanlund, Community Advocacy and Impact Specialist at REI
Jill Sims, Principal, Park Street Public
Mark Norquist, Owner, GreenHead Strategies
Session Description:
Step into the future of Minnesota's outdoor recreation economy with an engaging panel discussion ‘Welcome to Minne-SOBA’! Join industry leaders from across the state as they passionately discuss the imperative for a State Outdoor Business Alliance (SOBA). Discover firsthand the transformative potential of a SOBA for Minnesota, envisioning a landscape where our natural resources flourish alongside thriving businesses. This diverse panel of Minnesota-based outdoor recreation businesses will illuminate the path forward, while also exploring how SOBAs in other states have catalyzed growth and innovation. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a pivotal conversation that will help shape the outdoor recreation sector for years to come!
Presenter Bio:
Randolph Briley is the Deputy Director of Outdoor Recreation at Explore Minnesota Tourism and Coordinator of the Outdoor Recreation Industry Partnership. In this role Randolph works to strengthen Minnesota's outdoor recreation economy by connecting people to resources and expertise, building community among the outdoor recreation sector and promoting the many benefits Minnesotans derive from time spent outdoors. Randolph has his JD and Masters in natural resource law and policy from the Vermont Law School. He lives in Southwest Minneapolis with his wife, two sons and a golden retriever named Loki.
Stephen Regenold is a journalist and entrepreneur, best known as the founder of GearJunkie.com. Regenold also worked as a reporter for the New York Times, where he published 50+ articles on outdoor sports and exploration. An avid climber, runner, skier, and endurance athlete, Regenold has completed expeditions around the world. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife, Tara, and their five children.
Lloyd Vogel is the Co-Founder and CEO of Garage Grown Gear. An avid backpacker and paddler, Lloyd first entered into the outdoor industry through trip-leading and outdoor education. Based in Minneapolis MN, Lloyd is a huge fan of small brands, light packs, and large meals.
Mikaela Swanlund serves on the Community Advocacy and Impact team at REI Co-op, where she supports their giving programs, government affairs work, and their Employee Engagement in Impact program working to expand REI employee knowledge, understanding, and engagement in the co-op's societal impact work. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness – the Save the Boundary Waters Campaign. Previously, she spent 16 years supporting community engagement for REI Co-op in Minnesota and served as a Board Member of the MN Children and Nature Connection. She is passionate about inspiring and enabling a life outside for everyone, especially those who experience less access or sense of belonging in outdoor spaces. You’ll find her in the Twin Cities area playing outside in all 4 glorious seasons with her family and friends.
Jill Sims is a government affairs professional with over a decade of experience, renowned for her expertise in relationship-building, political strategy development, and delivering concrete results. Currently, Jill serves as a Principal at Park Street Public, where she represents clients in multiple sectors, including the outdoor recreation industry.
Previously, Jill held positions at trade associations Hospitality Minnesota and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), where she effectively advocated for industry priorities and fostered partnerships across the country. While at NMMA, Jill also played a vital role in establishing several Offices of Outdoor Recreation through Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), a leading coalition focused on promoting the growth of the outdoor recreation economy and activities. Before transitioning to advocacy roles, Jill gained valuable experience on Capitol Hill while working for Congressman Dave Reichert and Congressman Adrian Smith.
Jill earned her master's degree in Public Policy and Leadership from the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, MN, and her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Boston University in Boston, MA. As a native of Minnesota, she finds joy in spending time outdoors and exploring the region's beautiful lakes.Mark Norquist is the owner of GreenHead Strategies, a marketing and media agency with a focus on outdoor recreation. He consults and produces educational media that gets more people outside. He is a former board member of the Minnesota Land Trust and the Minnesota chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. Recent accolades for his work include a 2024 AVA Digital Award (Platinum), The 2024 Telly Awards (Silver) and a 2022 First Place for podcasting from the Outdoor Writers Association of America. Mark has a passion for promoting the business of outdoor recreation in Minnesota and looks forward to helping grow MNSOBA.
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Session Presenters:
Ben Popp, Executive Director, American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation
Ann Glumac, Executive Director, Spirit Mountain Recreation Center
Lisa Luokkala, Executive Director, Superior Hiking Trail Association
Moderated by Kenny Blumenfeld, Sr. Climatologist, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Session Description:
The past two years in our region have seesawed between record snowfall one year and a “brown winter” the next. Such extremes, and other consequences of climate change, are profoundly testing outdoor organizations, businesses, and events. Forward-thinking groups are finding they must be both reactive and proactive, and how they are achieving this varies according to the outdoor niche they occupy. In this panel discussion, representatives from three different aspects of outdoor recreation (a world-class ski race, a regional ski hill/recreation hub, and a nonprofit steward of an iconic hiking trail) discuss how they and other groups are adapting to remain successful in the face of climate challenges, both in the moment and for the future.
Presenter Bios:
Since 2013, Ben Popp has administered the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation, the Wisconsin-based nonprofit foundation that organizes America’s most iconic ski race. In the half century since the “Birkie’s” inception, the foundation has expanded to offer other year-round, healthy, active lifestyle events, including running and biking. In June, 2024, Ben was elected President of the Worldloppet International Ski Federation, which unites 20 long-distance ski races from Europe, America, Asia, and Oceania. In addition, Ben chairs the Wisconsin Governor's Council on Tourism, the Office of Outdoor Recreation Committee, and sits on the Wisconsin Trails Council. Ben has racing in his blood, and not just of the winter boards variety; in 2009 he completed the “Worlds Toughest Race,” the 3000-mile solo bicycle Race Across America (RAAM).
Ann Glumac is executive director of the Spirit Mountain Recreation Area. Retained as an interim leader in September 2020, she brought more than 35 years’ experience with public institutions, communities, nonprofit organizations and industry throughout Minnesota and beyond. Working with Spirit’s team of gifted recreation professionals, Glumac has applied her diverse consulting skills as a strategic planner, trainer, communications and outreach professional and organizational development advisor. Her previous client list includes communities and school districts, regional organizations, nonprofits and foundations, public agencies and institutions, small businesses, global companies and Fortune 500 corporations.
Lisa Luokkala joined the Superior Hiking Trail Association as the Executive Director in 2020. A resident of Duluth for 18 years, Lisa has worked locally in both the nonprofit and public sector. She currently serves on the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals' Board of Directors, along with the Duluth Tourism Advisory Council, Duluth Area Outdoor Alliance.
Prior to her time with the Superior Hiking Trail Association, Lisa served as Senior Parks Planner for the City of Duluth, leading the planning of parks and trails and implementation of capital infrastructure projects as part of a larger city-wide outdoor recreation renaissance. Lisa holds her Master's in Advocacy and Political Leadership from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and her Bachelor's in Travel and Tourism from Eastern Michigan University. Originally from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, a “yooper,” Lisa’s life path is shaped by this abundant access and love of green space. She and her family rarely venture too far from the Great Lakes region -- there are just so many amazing places to explore close to home!
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Session Presenter: Thomas Howes, Ojibwe craftsman + Baaga’adowewin Stickmaker
Session Description: Discover the rich heritage of Baaga’adowewin, Ojibwe traditional lacrosse, which largely disappeared from local Ojibwe communities over the past century. This session will explore the cultural significance of Baaga’adowewin within Ojibwe culture and its role as more than just a sport—serving as a vital spiritual practice.
As tribal communities face significant health disparities and challenges, the revitalization of traditional activities like Baaga’adowewin offers a powerful pathway toward cultural renewal and well-being. Join us for a discussion on the importance of reconnecting with Ojibwe traditions and how the revival of this ancient game can contribute to addressing contemporary issues in Indigenous communities; come away with a deeper understanding of your Ojibwe neighbors and the history of this Indigenous sport.
Presenter Bio: Thomas Howes is an Ojibwe craftsman and baaga’adowewin advocate. Born and raised on the Fond du Lac Reservation, Thomas currently lives along the St. Louis River in the historic Fond du Lac village of west Duluth. He is a father of five, treaty rights harvester, and traditional arts practitioner. In his spare time you can find him creating lacrosse sticks, cradleboards, cedar mat weaving and ricing poles and knockers.
4:30-5:00 p.m. Closing Remarks
A big summit thank you and door prize distribution!
5:00-6:00 p.m. Summit Social
Following the Summit, from 5 to 6 p.m., we invite you to join us in the DECC Harbor Side Ballroom for a social and networking happy hour. Groups will continue to table with information about their organizations.
Saturday, October 26
Summit Field Trips
Enjoy all Duluth has to offer with a weekend full of exploring and adventure. Area outdoor recreation non-profits and businesses will be hosting summit inspired field trips and activities throughout the Northland.
Level 1 Leave No Trace Instructor Certification
2-day course. Saturday, October 26 and Sunday, October 27 from 9-5pm.
Morgan Park Community Center
Join staff from the Bus for Outdoor Access & Teaching ("The BOAT Bus") to learn Leave No Trace skills, ethics, and techniques for educating others about these low-impact practices.
Space is limited to 12 participants and registration is necessary. $5/participant, includes 2-year certificate.