Iowa Trails Summit is online this October

The East Lake Trail at Backbone State Park near Dundee in Delaware County is shown in this file photo. The Iowa Trails Summit will be held in October, with three webinars during the month to help bring together trail blazers from across Iowa to learn, connect and collaborate. (Kat Russell/The Gazette)

The Iowa Trails Summit is online for 2021. Three webinars during the month of October will bring together trail blazers from across Iowa to learn, connect and collaborate. Professional and volunteer trail advocates alike are welcome.

The webinars are Fridays on Oct. 1, Oct. 15 and Oct. 29. You can attend one webinar or register for whole series - cost is $10 per session or $25 for all three. All sessions will be held via Zoom from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Central time. Registration is required and space is limited. Recordings will only be made available to registered attendees. Register at https://www.iowatrailssummit.com/register.

Oct. 1: New Program and Innovative Ways to Find Money and Retain Donors for Your Trail

We often look to each other for best practices to find money for our trails, but there’s a lot to be learned from others outside our network. Learn from three panelists familiar with proposed federal funding programs, private fundraising campaigns, and donor stewardship management. These speakers bring a fresh perspective on how to secure funding and engage long term financial supporters.

Speakers:

• Patrick Wojahn, Director of Government Affairs, Rails to Trails Conservancy

• Jennifer Wyatt, Campaign Manager, University of Iowa Center for Advancement

• Kate Zimmerman, Director, Ringgold County Conservation

• Kiley Miller, President & CEO, Trees Forever

Oct. 15: Making Your Trail More Inclusive

Trails are free fitness facilities open to all our neighbors and visitors. Are you doing all you can to ensure everyone feels welcome? Creating an inclusive environment not only brings more people to your communities but also creates a larger network of supporters and advocates. Learn from this panel of speakers how to view your planned or existing trail project through an equitable lens, as well as what more you could be doing to invite new communities and partners to your project.

Speakers:

• Rosa Gonzalez, Human Science Specialist, ISU Extension & Outreach

• Manisha Paudel, Chief Equity Officer, City of Des Moines

• Hannah Lundeen, Director, Adaptive Sports Iowa

Oct. 29: Programming and Promoting Your Trail

The past two years continues to prove the importance of outdoor recreation and green space. How do we leverage this momentum, continue to build champions for our trails, and increase the amount of visitors to our communities? Learn from these public relations and marketing professionals how to build successful programs and campaigns that shine a light on your project.

Speakers:

• Ryan Hanser, President and Principal, Hanser & Associates

• Tavis Hall, Executive Director, Experience Waterloo

• Kalene Griffith, President/CEO, Visit Bentonville