We’re kicking off our 100th anniversary celebrations by heading to the midwestern outdoor mecca of Madison, Wisconsin! Save the dates of August 22-24, 2026 (and leave room for some pre- and post-tours too) and plan to join us in The Badger State for the Outdoor Writers Association annual conference. The core conference activities will be held in…

  A city guided by its powerful conservation roots With its five lakes, 307 parks and 200+ miles of scenic trails, Madison, Wisconsin offers endless ways to step outside. But underneath, there’s a deeper conservation story that shapes how people live, work and explore here. The birthplace of American conservation Madison greets outdoor writers with…

  Spring doesn’t look the same everywhere, especially when assignments take you from mild cities into mountain towns, alpine terrain or northern regions still holding onto March cold.  This round-up reflects that reality. Damp Midwest chill, lingering snow at elevation in places like Park City, and urban wind that cuts just as sharply as any…

Photo by Phil Levin There’s a reason the Outdoor Writer’s Association of America (OWAA) leadership team chose Madison, Wisconsin for its annual conference this August 22–24: let’s just say it came down to numbers.  Five lakes. 270 parks. 200+ miles of biking and hiking trails. Stats like these make Madison THE Midwest mecca for outdoor…

Cowgirl Candace is a fourth-generation Georgia farmer, award-winning agriculture and outdoor adventure writer, and cultural storyteller redefining how rural America is seen, heard, and understood worldwide. Raised on her family’s centennial homestead, Edward Hill Farm, Candace brings lived experience, historical grounding, and creative rigor to every story she tells, bridging agriculture, outdoor life, and Black…

Photo above: Hazel Clements, Photo courtesy of the Clements family.  Editor’s note: In the history blog post, “Writers who changed outdoor journalism: The founding of OWAA”, Phil Bloom profiled four of OWAA’s founders — Morris Ackerman, Cal Johnson, Jack Miner and Edward G. Taylor. This installment looks at the other four founders – Hazel Clements,…

OWAA staff spent the year hiking, paddling, camping and wandering across the map with all kinds of gear in tow. These are some pieces we reached for again and again. These are the things that made our outdoor adventures easier, cozier or just plain more fun. OWAA Member Books You know that feeling when you…

  If you’ve got a drift boat in the driveway, a raft rolled in the garage, or a canoe that’s gathering dust, there’s never been a better time to sell. The small craft world like rafts, skiffs, SUPs and canoes is booming, and buyers are actively hunting for well cared for boats that are water…

Annika Hipple is a freelance writer and photographer who has covered outdoors-related topics for Lonely Planet, BBC Travel, Atlas Obscura, Sierra Magazine, Northwest Travel & Life, Bats Magazine, and many other publications. A dual citizen of the U.S. and Sweden, she was raised in the Boston and Stockholm areas and now lives in Seattle, Washington.…