OWAA OUTDOOR VOICES
Use Your Outdoor Voices
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Behind the book, “Where Should We Camp Next? National Parks” with Jeremy Puglisi
Jeremy and Stephanie Puglisi know more than a thing or two about camping, road-tripping and the reality of spending stretches of time traveling the country in an RV with their three kids. They’ve spent more than a thousand nights at hundreds of campgrounds around the country. The co-creators of the RV Atlas, their RV Atlas Podcast…
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Outdoor gear gift guide: OWAA staff picks for your holiday giving
As the old saying goes, “In the fall an outdoorsperson’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of gear.” Okay, so that’s not actually a saying, old or otherwise, but it is often true. As the temps drop, the snowflakes appear for some of us, and the holidays approach, those of us passionate about being outdoors see…
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Five Ideas for giving to your favorite charity (OWAA) in 2022 and beyond
Consider the following, in consultation with your own estate planner and tax advisor. Charitable Distribution from your IRA. If you are over age 70 1/2 and have an IRA, you may instruct that up to $100,000 be distributed to a qualified charity directly from the IRA, each year, without the distribution being counted as part…
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Gulf Shores, Alabama: Five sustainability and nature story leads for outdoor communicators
When you first think of Alabama, you may think of southern hospitality, endless fishing opportunities or college football. Although the state is known for all of these things, there’s also a lot more to Alabama for you to enjoy. The state is geographically diverse with mountains, prairies, river deltas, swamps, cave systems and an often…
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Rue Mapp’s “Nature Swagger”: An invitation to reconnect with nature
OWAA’s supporting group and national not-for-profit Outdoor Afro celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. Its Founder and CEO, Rue Mapp, released an extension of the network’s Black joy moments in nature on Nov. 1, 2022, with her first book “Nature Swagger.” Developed with American publisher Chronicle Books, “Nature Swagger” is filled with breathtaking photography, inspiring…
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Five ways to make the most of your OWAA membership
The first, and perhaps most important thing I ever learned about the Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) became clear at my first conference in Traverse City, Michigan. It was this: Everyone wanted to help me. They introduced themselves, shook my hand, did everything they could to make me feel comfortable. They also—and I was…
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Meet OWAA member Ethan Gallogly
Ethan Gallogly, PhD, has been a leader in the Sierra Club, the Cal Hiking and Outdoors Society (CHAOS) at UC Berkeley, and the Outdoors Club of Southern California. His boots have covered countless miles, including the John Muir Trail, the High Sierra Trail, the Oregon Section of the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Theodore Solomons…
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2023 Excellence in Craft Contest: How to enter your work starting November 1, 2022
It’s that time of year again! Leaves are changing color, temperatures are dropping, and OWAA’s Excellence in Craft Contest is opening! Mark your calendars for November 1st to enter your work for the 2023 Excellence in Craft cycle! If it is your first time hearing about OWAA’s Excellence in Craft Awards, we invite you to…
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This one thing: How to use a read-aloud feature to help edit your work
I have a confession to make: whenever I read a book by Ken Keffer, Matt Miller, or Kris Millgate — or any book, for that matter — I speed read. You might have used the word “the” or “and” but I didn’t read it. I tend to skip words with less than three-letters. My brain…
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Youth writing and photography contests aim to inspire the next generation 
OWAA leadership, staff, and outdoor media professionals continue to be inspired by the quality of outdoor writing and photography submitted by budding outdoor communicators. And it’s more than just words and images on a page. “The contest isn’t just about the writing or photography,” said OWAA’s Executive Director Chez Chesak. “It’s about inspiration. It’s about…
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What you may not know about sustainable writing and inclusive outdoor language
Language is alive. All humans depend on ever-evolving languages and their ability to grow and change to better reflect our cultural contexts. Language, like our natural world, has been tended to and curated by people for millennia. Much like natural resources, there are sustainable and unsustainable practices. Knowing the histories of the words and terms…
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Three tips for students stepping into the outdoor communication space
The world of journalism and outdoor communication is intimidating. It’s a competitive field where you are forced to make a name for yourself, and your job opportunities mostly rely on who you know. Making connections is daunting enough, and for those who want to go into a specific niche of journalism, the challenges seem even…
