The community is invited to The Adventure Summit, a biennial celebration of outdoor culture, skill and experience. The two-day event will be Friday, Feb. 9, 5 to 9:30 pm and Saturday, Feb. 10, from 9 am to 7 pm in the Wright State University Student Union. Produced by Five Rivers MetroParks and Wright State University, The Adventure Summit features more than 40 presentations, demonstrations, an outdoor adventure expo, clinics and competitions. Admission and parking are free.
Returning this year, the Summit Soiree, presented by Great Lakes Brewing Company, kicks the event off from 6:30 to 8 p. on Friday, Feb. 9, with light bites, live music, drinks and a meet-and-greet with featured presenters. Tickets are $15/person and available for purchase online.
Additionally, guests are invited to Party with the Pros during an afterparty after the first featured presenter, Eddie Taylor, at Wright Place Bar at Holiday Inn from 9:30 to 11 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 9. Supported by Bonbright Distributors, Party with the Pros is a chance to mingle with fellow adventurers, create new connections and share stories.
New this year, Women in the Outdoors Conversation at 8 a. m. Saturday February 10 presented by Explorer Chick Adventure Co. featuring Susan Marie Conrad, solo long-distance kayaker and author.
This year will highlight three featured presentations:
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Eddie Taylor.
Breaking Barriers: To the Top of Everest and Beyond by Eddie Taylor. A teacher, father and climber, Taylor is also a member of the first all-Black expedition to climb Mount Everest. From climbing the Moonlight Buttress (Zion National Park) to skiing Denali, Taylor shares his experiences outdoors to create a heritage for the Black community to fuel and inspire future generations.
- A Journey of Illumination by Paddling into the Heart of America by Neal Moore. A canoeist writer, adventurer and storyteller, Moore recounts his 675-day journey on 22 rivers in 22 states covering 7,500 miles, becoming the first known person to complete a continuous solo paddle from Pacific to Atlantic in a canoe. He explores how rivers connect across America, as well as the ties that bind people together.
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Dr. Brad Ryan & Grandma Joy
Joy Drive: An Intergenerational Adventure to Every U.S. National Park by Dr. Brad Ryan with special appearance by Grandma Joy. A simple weekend camping trip with Dr. Ryan’s grandma, Joy, turned into an inspirational journey to all 63 U.S. National Parks. Learn how this intergenerational adventure went viral and how Dr. Ryan and Grandma Joy found connection, grace and healing on the open roads of America.
Additionally, regional and local presenters will share stories, planning and preparation tips, and regional destination ideas from their adventures both near and far. A sampling of speakers and topics are:
- One Year… One Quest – America’s 428 National Parks by Tom Wright
- Paddling with Gators: Okefenokee Swamp Expedition by John and Lane Abnet
- Seeking Synchronicity: A Solo Paddle Up the Inside Passage by Susan Marie Conrad
- Off the Beaten Path in Croatia by Heather Muhlhauser
- Wilderness Medicine Workshop by Wright State University School of Medicine
- Paddling the Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park by Chris Landis and Amy, Brent, Oakley, and Austen Anslinger
- Backpacking Right Here in Ohio by Jim Rahtz
- Circumnavigating the North Sea Cycling Route by Tracy Burge
- Riding the Katy Trail by Jordan and Camee Hart
- From Homelessness to Accomplishing Incredible Expeditions by Julian Brown
- Sixteen-day Expedition rowing the Grand Canyon by Amy Dingle and Cassie Lane
In addition to speakers, The Adventure Summit offers an expo featuring more than 25 outdoor recreation vendors, local clubs, organizations and more.
The public is invited to drop off their used gear ahead of the event for consignment during the Summit’s used gear sale, run by Arrow Adventure with 5% of proceeds benefiting the Beaver Creek Wetland Association’s Spotted Turtle Trail Fund.
The full schedule of presenters can be found at www.theadventuresummit.comn/schedule.
