For more than 90 years, OWAA has helped writers, photographers, bloggers and other outdoor storytellers hone their craft. With a membership of more than 650 outdoor media (and 120 supporting brands, destinations and other organizations), OWAA works to improve the professional skills and opportunities of our members and mentor the next generation of outdoor media. A key component of achieving these goals is our annual conference which educates, inspires, shares best practices and establishes meaningful B2B connections.
OWAA’s annual conferences have been held (with some exceptions) since 1927. They bring together hundreds of North American outdoor storytellers, including freelancers, editors, photographers, bloggers and others, as well as destinations, gear brands, and industry partners.
2020 Conference – Virtual
After monitoring the situation for several weeks, and careful discussion and consideration of the short-term and long-term implications, the OWAA board decided that the best course of action was to postpone our traditional conference to 2021 and have a virtual event in 2020 (June 26-27). Uncertainty over the future of travel in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak and its impact led us to conclude that proceeding with the conference would not be responsible.
Our annual conference is the highlight of the OWAA year. It is always our goal to provide a valuable conference experience for our members. We explored every possible option available, and the decision to cancel was not taken lightly. However, the health and well-being of our membership is, and always will be, our number one priority.
OWAA’s virtual conference in 2020 will offer members and non-members alike an easily accessible chance to improve their skills, collect story ideas and reconnect with familiar faces – all within the comfort and safety of their own homes. We hope you plan to attend, share the event on
social and help spread the word by inviting your outdoor media friends!
2021 Conference – Jay Peak Resort, Vermont
Save the dates of July 9-12, 2021 for that year’s conference at beautiful Jay Peak Resort in lovely northern Vermont!