Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Summit Returns to Saratoga April 30 to May 1

Leaders and practitioners across Wyoming’s outdoor recreation, tourism and hospitality sectors will converge in Saratoga to plan strategies for growth, workforce development and community wellbeing. The Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Summit returns to the Platte Valley Community Center April 30 to May 1 with a focus on preparing communities for increased demand and equitable access to outdoor opportunities.

Co-hosted by the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation and the Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute at the University of Wyoming, the summit carries the theme “Building Capacity for Tomorrow.” Organizers say “Sessions will focus on providing current and future leaders with the tools, insights, and connections needed to drive Wyoming’s outdoor recreation sector forward.” The two-day event will be held at Platte Valley Community Center, 210 W Elm Ave, with a schedule window listed as 9:00 a.m. April 30 to 5:00 p.m. May 1 Mountain Daylight Time.

Registration is open and is intended for industry partners, educators, policymakers, students and community members who are engaged in tourism, trails, outfitting, hospitality and related services. “The Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Summit (WORS) is the state’s signature annual gathering for leaders across outdoor recreation, tourism, and hospitality.” Registration includes meals and program access; as the registration page states, “Registration fees include breakfast and lunch on Thursday and Friday (April 30–May 1), access to all sessions both days, and optional field trips on Thursday morning.” Students, sponsors and presenters are invited to secure registration codes by contacting Taylor Kruger at tkruger@uwyo.edu.

Program components will include plenaries, breakout sessions and optional Thursday morning field trips designed to connect practitioners with on-the-ground examples and partners. Attendees should plan for a packed schedule that mirrors the summit’s 2025 scale, when more than 160 participants attended a two-day program that featured 18 sessions and over 60 speakers and panelists, including state legislators and industry professionals. The summit’s return is pitched as both an economic development moment for Carbon County and a public health opportunity, since expanding outdoor access can support physical activity, mental health and local business resilience.

Local logistics aim to help attendees travel and stay economically. Several room blocks are listed for summit attendees. The Sage Motel rate is listed at “($60-$125/night + tax).” For Copperline Lodge, registrants are instructed: “Please call 307-321-5544 and mention that you are with the Summit reserved by Discover Carbon County, WY for the discounted rate ($120-$170/night + tax).” Event pages carry a lighthearted local reminder: “Only get lost while having fun, not on the road!”

For Albany County residents and community partners, the summit is an opportunity to press for equitable access to trails, jobs and training as outdoor visitation grows. Organizers plan to release session details and proceedings as they finalize speakers and field trips, and registration information is available through the Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute event page. The summit’s emphasis on capacity building signals a push to align tourism growth with workforce development, community health outcomes and local decision-making in the months ahead.