KEYNote
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
Check back soon for a detailed agenda with information about sessions, topics, and organizations.
Registration & Lodging
Registration
Registration for the 2026 WORS is now live! 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.
- Regular pricing (March 1–April 23) - $200
Please click here to register.
Student, sponsor, or presenter? Reach out to Taylor Kruger (tkruger@uwyo.edu) for your registration code.
Lodging
Several room blocks are available for WORS attendees. Please see the options below!
Sage Motel - ($60-$125/night + tax).
Copperline Lodge – 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).
Riviera Motor Lodge – Please call 307-326-5651 and mention that you are with the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Summit for the discounted rate ($124-$134/night + tax).
Saratoga Hot Springs Resort – Please use the group code ‘WORS’ for the discounted rate ($187-$250/night + tax).
Hacienda Motel – Please call 307-326-5751 and mention that you are with the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Summit for the discounted rate.
Snowy Mountain Inn – Please click here or call 307-326-5974.
Support the Event
Interested in sponsoring the event? Check out the sponsorship tiers and benefits in the sponsorship packet here.
Here's how you can support this year’s summit:
- Sharing event announcements on social media
- Including the event in newsletters or email updates
- Posting the registration link when available
- Highlighting speakers, partners, or sessions
- Including WORS in community calendars
Logos, photos, and additional messaging are available upon request.
Contact Us
Email Fran (frances.schaetz1@wyo.gov) or Taylor (tkruger@uwyo.edu) with any questions.
Interested in receiving updates and more information on the 2026 summit as it becomes available?
