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2026 CONFERENCE

A sailboat sits in the centre of the frame, on a clear day with the sun behind it
Three young people on paddleboards on a quiet lake; one of them leaps off the board with the paddle over their head
Two older people, seen in profile, bike along a flat trail surrounded by green

229 Attendees Celebrated 100 Years of OWAA – and Gave Us a 97% Approval Rating!

OWAA kicked off our 100th anniversary celebrations by going to the midwestern outdoor hub of Madison, Wisconsin August 22-24, 2026 in The Badger State. The core conference activities were held in the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center. Attendees included:

  • 136 Media (so 60% of attendees were media)
  • 51 Supporting Groups (brands, destinations, agencies, other nonprofits, etc.)
  • 23 Speakers
  • 12 Spouses/Guests
  • 4 Students
  • 3 Staff 

61.5% of attendees agreed that the event was ‘Outstanding’ while 35.9% said it was ‘Very Good’! 

How did we kick off the celebration of our 100th year? We:

The best-received sessions (with a minimum of five reviews and in alphabetical order) were:

  • Breakout 2A: How to Make Friends & Influence People (On Social Media)
  • Breakout 3B: Authenticity in the Age of AI: What’s Next for Outdoor Photographers?
  • Keynote #1: The 5 ‘R’s: A Journalist’s Guide to Words and Wayfaring in Indian Country
  • Keynote #3: Madison’s Best Idea: The Making of a National Park City
  • Keynote #4: Meet the Editors Panel

About Madison:

This capital city is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering five lakes, 307 parks and 200+ miles of scenic hiking and biking trails, plus access to the Ice Age National Scenic Trail and stunning Driftless region.  Madison is nationally recognized for its outdoor recreation and culture: 

  • Gold Rated for Walkability (Walk Friendly Communities) 
  • 1 of only 5 Platinum-Level Bike-Friendly Communities in the U.S. (League of American Bicyclists)
  • #8 Greenest City in the U.S. (EcoCation, 2024) 

What else makes this destination so unique? Thousands of Ho-Chunk effigy mounds—the largest concentration in the U.S.—were built along the shores of Madison’s lakes. Approximately 200 remain present, offering a profound connection to Indigenous history and storytelling. Just a short drive away in Baraboo, conservation pioneer and former UW–Madison professor Aldo Leopold penned A Sand County Almanac, laying the foundation for modern conservation ethics. John Muir, father of the U.S. National Park System, spent his formative years exploring Madison’s lakes and woods, experiences that were key to his growth as a naturalist.  

Together, these threads of cultural heritage, ecological thought and natural beauty weave Madison into a uniquely powerful setting for outdoor writers to learn, gather and be inspired.

Testimonials

 “The OWAA conference is a spark point for me each year, where I re-energize my craft, my network and my ideas for the year ahead. It features a great range of outdoor voices and perspectives that never ceases to inspire.” 
– Heather Physioc, Conservation Journalist

“I was very impressed by the writer and supporting group community at the OWAA conference. The sessions encouraged professional development, learning, discussion, and thinking about the outdoors, while the dinners and other social events facilitated connections. I left with several pages of notes, various new connections in the outdoor community, and a desire to share about OWAA with other relevant outdoor organizations.” 
– Melissa Benhaim, Hospitality & Travel Publicist

“Attending the [OWAA] conference in Madison, Wisconsin was a valuable opportunity to connect with talented journalists and outdoor storytellers from across the country. I met several writers interested in learning more about our area and look forward to building those relationships and hopefully hosting them in the future to experience all our region has to offer firsthand.”
– Shane Terry, TMP, Visit Wytheville, Virginia

“The OWAA annual conference is a must for freelance writers who are focused on the outdoors in any way. The connections made there are so valuable!”
– Anonymous

“OWAA has quickly become one of the must-attend events on my professional calendar. Each year, it gives me access to some of the outdoors’ best storytellers in the world. The connections I’ve made at OWAA conferences have helped spread the word about Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands region to audiences around the globe, and each subsequent conference helps me build upon those existing relationships.” 
– Eric Knopsnyder, PR Director, Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands

“After a decades-long career as a journalist and outdoor writer, I joined OWAA – the only professional association I currently belong to – and find the opportunity to connect with my peers from across the country invaluable. Don’t be fooled, this crowd is as dynamic as they come.”
– Anonymous

“The annual OWAA Conference is a cornucopia event for outdoor communicators filled with an array of craft improvement opportunities, networking, and community building on subjects that affect sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts who want to protect and preserve our public lands.”
– Anonymous

“As a new member and first-time conference attendee, everyone I met at the conference was encouraging. So many are doing important work and telling inspiring stories. I don’t know why I didn’t join OWAA years ago!”
– Marilyn Culler, Writer/Photographer

“The OWAA Madison Conference was a great example of the value of OWAA membership for both individual and supporting members. For anyone who communicates about the outdoors, or if you have lost touch with OWAA in recent years, check out OWAA and all that it has to offer members personally and professionally.”
– Anonymous

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“Each OWAA conference has delivered outcomes I never anticipated. I attend, hoping to learn something new, make a meaningful connection, and gather experiences worth writing about. I always leave with far more. The OWAA conference is so much more than networking, education, and travel. It’s where lifelong friendships form, creative ambitions ignite, and if you’re lucky, you stumble onto your next favorite place in the world.”
–  Amanda Thompson, Expedition Taste & Our View Outdoors

View the Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) 2026 Conference schedule & directory.

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