12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Eastern
Webinar
The 2025 Inclusive Summit will be AORE’s sixth summit, with two (2) being held in 2021 and one each year beginning in 2022. Based on attendee and member feedback the Inclusive Summit has transformed from a three day summit to a more accessible summit. Our new format focuses on allowing our attendees time to do asynchronous pre-work with three (3) optional pre-sessions and a toolkit in preparation for the live workshop day.
The Inclusive Summit has featured speakers from DEI Outdoors, The Wilderness Society, American Trails, Nantahala Outdoor Center, Vibe Tribe Adventures, Engage Coaching & Consulting, A-DASH Collaborative, Cycle Forward, Dogsmile Adventures, Canyons River Company, Diversify Whitewater, Northeast Passage, American Hiking, Adaptive Expeditions, HighPoint Expeditions, Kenji Consults, Change Works Consulting, The Mountain Guides, Teton Adaptive, Basecamp Outdoor, Diversify Outdoors, AmericanAlpine Club, The Mountaineers, The Bridge Project, NOLS Wilderness Medicine, Desert Mountain Medicine, Climbing Wall Association, Wilderness Medicine Training Center International, Wilderness Medical Associates International, Paradox Sports, American Alpine Club, universities, and more.
April 2025: Inclusivity in the Outdoors Month
The 2025 Summit will be held on April 24 and will wrap up our Inclusivity in the Outdoors Month. Inclusivity in the Outdoors Month with have three (3) stand alone workshops leading up to the Summit with topics including getting marginalized communities outside and the 7 principles of DEI.
This thought-provoking series dives into the critical conversations and actionable steps needed to create more inclusive outdoor spaces. Featuring expert speakers and practical strategies, the series explores how we can break down barriers and cultivate deeper connections to nature for all communities.
- Learn the Foundations: Karel Hilversum outlines the 7 principles of DEI in the outdoors, providing a framework for meaningful inclusion.
- Explore Diverse Perspectives: Nature for All: Redefining Inclusivity in the Outdoors brings together Courtney Schultz, PhD, Heather West, and Joe Stone to share insights on engaging marginalized communities in accessible outdoor experiences.
- Measure Your Impact: Gerry James of the Sierra Club offers tools and strategies for how to position outdoor access as a unifying, bipartisan issue by framing it around shared values like health, community, and economic growth.
The series culminates in our LIVE workshops during the Inclusive Summit on April 24, where attendees will dive deeper into these themes and put ideas into action. Join us as we reimagine what inclusivity in the outdoors truly means and take steps toward lasting change. Summit attendees are encouraged to attend all pre-summit sessions along with the three workshops. Attendees will receive a toolkit/workbook to help guide them through each session.
April 24, 2025 | 12:00 pm ET - 1:45 pm ET
Beyond Scholarships: Comprehensive Programmatic Support Structures in Outdoor Recreation Programming
Presenter: Micah Leinbach
Many youth-serving organizations, especially camps and nonprofits, pursue a 2-part inclusion strategy: they raise funds for scholarships, and they train staff on inclusion. While these are necessary steps, they can fail to address more fundamental and structural barriers to inclusion - including the culture of the space, language and norms reinforced by programs or the dominant culture, and the application of outcomes that may not be universally shared.
This 90-minute virtual workshop will equip participants with strategies to create more inclusive and goal-oriented partnerships with diverse communities in outdoor programming. The session will begin with a historical overview of outdoor recreation, examining the ethical foundations and dominant cultural values that shape current practices. Understanding this background will help attendees recognize biases that may unintentionally permeate program structures and language.
The workshop will introduce a framework for setting partnership goals that are responsive to community needs and values. Participants will learn practical techniques for establishing and managing partnership dynamics effectively—ensuring that all partners, particularly those serving historically excluded communities, can engage meaningfully. We’ll also explore how to discuss common elements of expedition programs in culturally-humble ways that make space for different cultural perspectives and priorities.
April 24, 2025 | 2:00 pm ET - 3:45 pm ET
“Did I Stutter?” Communication Disorders and Bias in Outdoor Education
Presenter: Elliot Drake-Maurer
As outdoor and adventure educators, we help participants engage with ideas of risk, vulnerability, fear, and stress as they participate in our programs. But what if every time you opened your mouth to speak, you had to navigate these feelings? What if every speaking interaction risked the judgement of your peers, and the stigma of speaking differently than everyone else? This is the reality that people who stutter with face.
In this 90-minute workshop, participants will learn about stuttering, a complex and often misunderstood speech condition affecting about 1% of the population. We will explore what stuttering is, how it can appear, and the effects stuttering can have on people’s lives. Next, we will examine myths and stereotypes about stuttering, and identify exclusionary practices or communication barriers in outdoor education programming. Participants will leave the workshop with a clear understanding of what stuttering is as well as tools and strategies to make verbal communication more accessible to all, including those who stutter.
Materials used in this workshop will be the facilitator’s personal experience as a person who stutters working in outdoor education, current research and best practices from speech pathologists, and group discussions and examples from the workshop participants programming.
April 24, 2025 | 4:00 pm ET - 6:00 pm ET
Nature as a Healing Space: Trauma-Informed and Healing-Centered Practices for Inclusive Outdoor Experiences
Presenter: Elizabeth Allen
Discover how to transform outdoor spaces into environments of healing and empowerment. In this engaging 90-minute workshop, you’ll explore the profound impact of racialized and other forms of trauma on underrepresented communities and gain actionable strategies for fostering emotional and psychological safety. Tailored for outdoor leaders, educators, and facilitators, this session dives into foundational trauma-informed principles, tools to recognize trauma responses, and innovative practices that honor historical and generational trauma. Leave equipped with the knowledge and tools to create outdoor spaces where all participants feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive.
Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education
UNITED STATES
Please use the button 'Register for this Event' to the left for any of the following:
- (4.3) Webinar: Nature for All: Redefining Inclusivity in the Outdoors
- (4.10) Webinar: The 7 Principles of DEI for the Outdoor Educator
- (4.17) Webinar: The Declassified Field Guide to an Outdoors For All
- (4.24) Inclusive Summit - LIVE WORKSHOPS
- Inclusivity in the Outdoor Bundle (includes all of the above)
- Group Registration
Registration Rates
| Member | Member | Non Member | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Professional, Student Professional, Outdoor Champion) | (Supporter, Student Supporter) | |||
| April 3 Webinar: Nature for All: Redefining Inclusivity in the Outdoors |
Free | $10 | $25 | |
| April 10 Webinar: The 7 Principles of DEI for the Outdoor Educator |
Free | $10 | $25 | |
| April 17 Webinar: The Declassified Field Guide to an Outdoors For All |
Free | $10 | $25 | |
| April 24 Inclusive Summit - LIVE WORKSHOPS | Early: $99 (by April 4, 2025) Late: $149 |
Early: $99 (by April 4, 2025) Late: $149 |
Early: $149 (by April 4, 2025) Late: $199 |
|
| Includes: • Workbook • Welcome/Workbook Review Session • Workshop 1 • Workshop 2 • Workshop 3 |
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| Inclusivity in the Outdoors Bundle | Early: $99 (by April 4, 2025) Late: $149 |
Early: $115 (by April 4, 2025) Late: $165 |
Early: $199 (by April 4, 2025) Late: $249 |
|
| Includes: • April 3 Webinar: Nature for All: Redefining Inclusivity in the Outdoors • April 10 Webinar: The 7 Principles of DEI for the Outdoor Educator • April 17 Webinar: The Declassified Field Guide to an Outdoors for All • April 24: Inclusive Summit - LIVE WORKSHOPS |
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Group Registration
| Member | Non Member | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Inclusivity in the Outdoors Bundle | 1-10 Attendees: $499 11-20 Attendees: $1499 |
1-10 Attendees: $999 11-20 Attendees: $1999 |
|
| Includes: • April 3 Webinar: Nature for All: Redefining Inclusivity in the Outdoors • April 10 Webinar: The 7 Principles of DEI for the Outdoor Educator • April 17 Webinar: The Declassified Field Guide to an Outdoors for All • April 24 Inclusive Summit - LIVE WORKSHOPS |
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| 4/24/2025 |    |