2025 CONFERENCE

View from misty mountain lookout
A team of whitewater rafters hits the rapids
View of tree on a rocky promontory
Two people stand at a mountain lookout
Two kayakers pass beneath a bridge
A kayaker negotiates some rapids
A forest waterfall in fall

Save the Date!

OWAA is heading to the southeastern outdoor mecca of Chattanooga! Save the dates of August 19-21, 2025 (be sure to leave room for some pre- and post-tours too) and plan to join us in The Volunteer State. 

Chattanooga has been named: 

  • A “Best Adventure Town in the U.S. to Live + Play” by National Geographic Adventure
  • “Best in the U.S. Travel Destination” by Lonely Planet, and 
  • “Best Mountain Town” by Outside Magazine. 

There is easy access to top venues for rock climbing, road and mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking, white-water rafting, hang gliding, and more, all within a short drive of downtown and our host hotel. There’s also a beautiful 13-mile Riverwalk that runs along the Tennessee River or you can explore Tennessee’s Grand Canyon using the Tennessee River Gorge outdoor recreation map created by the Tennessee Valley Authority. (BTW, the state of Tennessee has so much great fishin’ that they even have a separate website for it.)

Outdoor media and other professionals attend OWAA’s annual conference to connect, mingle and learn from more than 250 outdoor storytellers – and the brands that support their work. They will network with other professionals, hone communications skills, find mentors/mentees and discover more and better ways to sell their work or promote their brand.

Conference attendees meet with some of the best outdoor communicators in the country and absorb presentations on writing and editing, photography and videography, broadcast and digital media, the latest tech and newest tactics, and more. Delegates also join pre- and post-tours  to get the latest story on (and shots of) outdoor adventures in the region, be it hiking, climbing, hunting or other outdoor pursuits.

Plus, we already have a few speakers lined up:

  • Marvin Cash of The Articulate Fly
  • Mike Floyd of Gray’s Sporting Journal (one of the members of our Editor’s Panel)
  • Robbie Kroger of Blood Origins
  • Heather Physioc; Discoverability for Outdoor Communicators – “People in the search mindset rarely stay in a single lane. They weave in and out of many platforms – not only search engines – to find stories and information. As an outdoor communicator, this can create overwhelm – or opportunity. This presentation can help writers, DMOs, vendors, publications, and outdoor communicators of all kinds to navigate the changing search/digital landscape in a digestible, easy-to-process way.”  
  • Robin Thurston, CEO and Founder of Outside Inc.

Call for Speakers

Know a great speaker or workshop instructor? We’d love to hear about them (especially if they’re from underrepresented outdoor communities such as BIPOC peoples, persons with a disability, LGBTQ+ peoples, etc.)! Click on these links to learn more:

Call for Pre/Post Tours

Are you located in the region and interested in hosting a press tour for our members? Click on the link below to learn more and check back in for when we open the call for tour applications:
 

Schedule

Check back soon for a draft schedule!

Hotel

The Read House will be our hotel headquarters. The downtown property reflects its historic 1920s splendor while catering to modern tastes. It will be an excellent (and elegant) basecamp for pre- and post-tours, day trips, city excursions and conference attendees’ other outdoor adventures. Plus attendees will be able to stay for the special rate of just $129/night, August 17-21 (note however that due to weekend rates being higher, our discounted rates outside the core conference days are $169/Manor and $189/Tower). 

Registration

When it opens, registration will give you access to:

  • All keynote and breakout sessions, including the always popular ‘Meet the Editors’ panel
  • Two 3-hour ‘deep dive’ workshops to further your skillset
  • A two-hour marketplace, where you’ll have meetings in a ‘speed dating’ format
  • Hospitality events (which generally include adult beverages and light snacks/appetizers)
  • Unique events like the fun run, photo scavenger hunt, membership meeting, and storytelling night
  • Three meals/day (nine total), with even more compelling speakers
  • Optional pre- and post-tour options throughout the region

Also, cancellations are covered by insurance:

Registration Insurance is included in all registration fees, with coverage underwritten by Lloyds of London. Attendees receive a 100% refund, if they are unable to attend the event for a reason outside of their control (and because of a reason that is covered under the policy). This coverage starts on the date someone registers and ends on the first day of the show. Click here to see the claims website and then click on the tab ‘Policy Terms & Conditions’ to see what is covered.

Note too that traveling and attending events with a large number of attendees places individuals at risk (such as pandemics). Attendees who participate in person will be participating at their own risk.

Bookmark this page and check back for details on:

  • Registration dates
  • Discounted hotel rates
  • The draft agenda
  • More speakers, as they’re added
  • Details on the annual Editor’s Panel
  • Pre- and post-tours
  • Spouse/partner tours
  • Marketplace information
  • Travel info, and more!
A rock climber reaches for his next handhold
Scroll to Top