Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Summit

ABOUT

We are pleased to announce that the keynote speaker for the 2026 WORS is awe pioneer, National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, Executive Director of Friends of Grand Rapids Parks, and US Army Veteran Stacy Bare! 

Get ready for Stacy’s keynote, “Transformative experiences outdoors are good for business." Stacy brings his decades of experience in programming and infrastructure in outdoor recreation to discuss why and how ensuring access to the outdoors for all means good business for communities, outdoor and outdoor adjacent brands and services.

BIO

Stacy Bare is a father, husband, outdoorsmen, veteran, writer, and speaker. He is currently the Executive Director of Friends of Grand Rapids Parks in Grand Rapids, MI. He and his team are working to create community through nature by planting trees, building trails, and restoring habitat. The end goal is that everyone in Grand Rapids has maximum access to experiences of everyday awe. Before turning his work towards infrastructure, he spent years in outdoor programming and large landscape conservancy. His work with Dr. Dacher Keltner of the Greater Good Science Center has been foundational to the explosion of research and conversation about the health benefits of time outdoors. He has been called an ‘awe pioneer’, recognized as a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year and was at different times sponsored by The North Face, Pret Helmets, Trew Gear, and OARS for expeditionary film making that includes a first ski ascent and descent of Mt. Halgurd in Iraq, skiing in Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Japan, as well as climbing in Angola and rafting in rivers across the United States. He was commissioned as a US Army Officer out of the University of Mississippi in 2000 where he also received a BA in Philosophy. He has a Bronze Star for Merit from his time in Iraq, served in Bosnia, worked in land mine clearance in Angola and Abkhazia in the Republic of Georgia and received a Masters in City Planning from the University of Pennsylvania. He falls and laughs a lot outside and is surprisingly slow on a bike

Agenda

Please click here for the event agenda!

Field trips

Historic Downtown Walking Tour + Saratoga Museum Exploration

• Join a local expert on a walking tour of historic Saratoga! Starting at 9 am, this tour will start with a stroll through the downtown streets and will end up at the Saratoga Museum, where you will receive a tour of a historic cabin and railroad car! You can also purchase souvenirs and enjoy your bagged lunch in the gazebo. Comfortable walking shoes, a water bottle, and weather-appropriate layers are recommended.

Grand Encampment Museum Tour

• Carpool on a scenic 25-minute drive to Encampment, Wyoming, and take a guided tour of the Grand Encampment Museum with Director Tim Nicklas. The Grand Encampment Museum is home to over a dozen historical buildings filled with artifacts that represent the valley’s timber, mining, and agricultural history. The tour should take between 2-2.5 hours, so you will have time to explore on your own (weather permitting!). 

Tie Hack Trail Guided Hike

• Join Wyoming Pathways Executive Director Michael Kusiek for a guided field trip along the Tie Hack Trail, one of the region's most historically rich and scenic natural corridors. We will depart Saratoga at 8:30 am and travel approximately 40 minutes to the Northern Trailhead, where our five-mile out-and-back walk begins. The trail follows a gently graded path through stunning high-country terrain, making it accessible to most participants who are comfortable walking at a relaxed pace. Along the route, Michael will lead discussions covering the deep history of the trail and surrounding landscape, how modern trails are planned, designed, and constructed, and the specific construction elements that define the Tie Hack Trail, including bridge installation, debris removal, and thoughtful trail rerouting to protect both users and the environment. Participants can expect frequent stops along the way for photos, group discussion, and simply taking in the beauty of the area. Plan for a pace of approximately 2.5 miles per hour, with ample time built in to explore and connect with the landscape. Participants should bring sturdy walking shoes, water, layers for changing mountain weather, and a sense of curiosity.

Saratoga National Fish Hatchery Tour

• Join Matt Wipf at the Saratoga National Fish Hatchery! The tour will start at 10 am and will last around an hour; you can explore on your own afterwards! You are encouraged to wear tennis/hiking shoes, as the floor may be wet and the terrain changes. Bring water and sunscreen, especially if it is sunny. This tour is handicap accessible.

Grounded Workshop: Building Place Based Learning Partnerships and Re-engaging Students with the Outdoors

• Arriving later to Saratoga? Consider joining Nathan Tedjeske (Wyoming Department of Education) for a workshop session focused on efforts to get public school students in the outdoors! Starting at 10 am, this session will be focused on how to build both partnerships and programming for schools and students. Outline ways local businesses can provide unique opportunities for local children, while giving their business exposure to the future workforce. This workshop will incorporate a presentation, a large amount of Q&A and work time as participants develop plans and proposals that could be used in their communities. This session will be held at the Platte Valley Community Center. 

Reach out to Taylor Kruger (tkruger@uwyo.edu) with any questions.

Support the Event

Thank you so much to the following organizations for their generous sponsorship of the 2026 Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Summit: Discover Carbon County, Wagner's, Visit Casper, Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, Casper College Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management, NOLS Rocky Mountain, Wyoming Assistive Technology Resources, Power Company of Wyoming, Wyoming Conservation Corps, and Pointe Strategies. 

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