Connecticut Trail Symposium
Friday, October 13, 2023, 9am-3pm, Five Points Center for the Visual Arts, 855 University Drive, Torrington, CT
| 8:00am | Registration / Networking & Continental Breakfast - displays | |
| 9:00am | Welcome and Overview of the Day Bruce Donald, Southern New England Manager for the East Coast Greenway Alliance Judith McElhone, Executive Director and Founder, Five Points Arts Center |
Auditorium |
| Keynote: Development of a roadmap for internal and external stakeholder engagement that empowers CT DEEP to recognize, listen, and serve the full array of people who love the CT outdoors Joseph Dickerson, Sr. Advisor for Outdoor Equity, CT DEEP |
Auditorium | |
| 9:45am | Panel Discussion of Accessibility/Inclusion in the Outdoors facilitated by Joseph Dickerson. The panel will discuss outreach, engagement, and how to create meaningful outdoor experiences that resonate as relevant and inviting to all lovers of the outdoors.
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Auditorium |
| 10:30am | Break & refreshments networking and enjoy displays |
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| 10:45am | Inclusive and Accessible Conservation for All CT Land Conservation Council |
Auditorium |
| 11:30am | Barriers to Meaningful Wilderness Experiences Nicola Wood, Executive Director, Outside Perspectives |
Auditorium |
| 12:15pm | Lunch provided and prepared by Ciesco Catering |
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| 1:15pm | Session 1 (Four Concurrent 45 min Sessions) | |
| 1. Connecting Across Time – How Trails and History Can Work Together Aaron Maracavitch, Executive Director, CT Landmarks |
Auditorium | |
| 2. Building Community Through Partnerships - Oxford CT Joe Lanier, Youth Conservation Corps Coordinator/Founder, Oxford High School |
Community Room | |
| 3. Social Carrying Capacity Among Trail Users in High-Use Recreation Areas Laura Kelly and Anita Morzillo, UConn Dept. of Natural Resources and the Environment |
Conference Room | |
| 4. Trail Protection Techniques on Private Land Clare Cain, Trails Director, and Jeb Stevens, Trails Protection Coordinator, CT Forest & Park Association |
Library | |
| 2:15pm | Session 2 (Four Concurrent 45 min Sessions) | |
| 1. Working Together to Grow the Outdoor Recreation Economy Carolann Oullette, Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation |
Auditorium | |
| 2. CT Trail Census and CT Trail Finder Aaron Budris, Environmental Planning Director at the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments, and Emily Wilson, Geospatial Educator at the University of Connecticut, Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR) |
Community Room | |
| 3. Improving Equity and Access in the Outdoors for All Neil Johnson, Store Manager of REI Co-op in Milford and a founding member of The Connecticut Outdoor Recreation Alliance (CORA) |
Conference Room | |
| 4. Building Community to Preserve Outdoor Recreation Mick Ferraro, Director, Membership and Outreach, New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA) |
Library | |
| 3:15pm | Wrap-up Group impressions, ideas for next year, thank you and Evaluations Bruce Donald, Southern New England Manager for the East Coast Greenway Alliance |
Auditorium |
| 3:30pm | Optional Hike |
In Partnership with partner/co-sponsor with the Greenways Council, CT DEEP, City of Torrington, and the UConn (CT Trails Program, Extension, and CLEAR).
