Please see the following website for more information on the conference: http://washingtonstatetrailscoalition.org/conferences/2018-conference/
Join us in Wenatchee for the 2018 Conference!
- Over 200 trails leaders from businesses, non-profits, and municipal, county, state, and federal agencies will converge on Wenatchee, WA for the 12th Trails Conference which kicks-off with a Welcome Reception on Thursday evening Oct 25.
- Conference will run from October 25th thru 27th at the Wenatchee Convention Center.
- To get the latest news, join our mailing list by following this link: http://washingtonstatetrailscoalition.org/get-involved/ or follow us on Facebook at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonStateTrailsCoalition
Conference Theme: Leading the Way!
Trails can take us on some of our greatest journeys – whether across the neighborhood the state or the globe. In Washington we have some of the best trails in the country. The 2018 Washington State Trails Conference brings together the agencies, organizations, businesses, and people that make this possible as we are Leading the Way.
Conference Tracks: The Conference program includes four session tracks:
- Shared Trails, Shared Advocacy: Exploring how collaboration between trail user groups can create a stronger trail system in Washington. Topics could include: collaborative trail planning, trail building and maintenance, user education, leveraged funding, advocacy coalitions, and more.
- Inclusivity, Diversity, and Access: Strategies, proven or emerging, for fostering an inclusive community, where new generations of trail users feel welcome and enjoy trails in ways that honor their history and identities (including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or income). Can also look at solutions to common barriers that prevent some people from enjoying trails, from transit to trailheads to improving our recreation fee systems.
- Public Lands – Multiple Uses & Balancing Values: From preservation to resource extraction, solitude to high-use, or active to passive transportation – what we expect of our public lands is influenced by our value judgments. Case studies and strategies that support multiple uses and balance seemingly contradictory values through the lens of trails.
- Managing for Change: Change is possibly the only constant in trails. Tactics and success stories for adapting to changing conditions: demographics, population, climate, funding, regulations, access controversies, and user conflicts.
Bonus Trails Spotlight (will present during one of the above tracks):Showcasing trails that provide unique values and experiences for the public or that offer significant learning opportunities.
In 2016 our conference, Creating Community – Connecting Communities, brought together hundreds of participants from all over Washington and the Pacific Northwest. Held in Richland, the conference boasted 36 breakout sessions, and multiple field visits to nearby trails. Attendees represented all levels of government, from federal agency staff to local park districts; non-profit organizations; Tribal governments; business firms and consultants; trail users; students and conservation corps members.
We are proud of what we accomplished with our 2016 conference, and look forward to continuing on the same track of excellence at our 2018 Conference in Wenatchee, WA. We hope you won’t miss out on the opportunity and that you’ll click the following link to register now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2018-washington-state-trails-conference-tickets-45998237968!