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Members of the international outdoors community will gather in Rotorua, New Zealand from 18th to 22nd November this year for the World Outdoors Summit.
Held against a backdrop of unprecedented pressures on the outdoors, the Summit will offer delegates the opportunity to share, discuss and present how to resolve educational, environmental, cultural and economic challenges.
The Summit presents a unique opportunity for the global outdoors community to come together and ensure that lifelong recreation habits in the outdoors remain an important, relevant and valued part of our societies.
The event, hosted by Outdoors New Zealand, is expected to attract some 350 delegates from New Zealand, North America, Australia and Europe.
Outdoors New Zealand Chief Executive Garth Dawson says that the summit is designed for the entire professional outdoors community and offers a range of workshops, panels, seminars and networking opportunities.
Dawson explains "the World Outdoors Summit is our opportunity to share knowledge, ideas and initiatives on resolving those challenges to ensure that lifelong recreation habits in the outdoors remain an important, relevant and valued part of our societies."
The Summit theme 'The value of the outdoors to society' follows on from the theme of The Outdoors Forum 2012, which was hosted by Outdoors New Zealand in October 2012 with a full capacity delegation.
Presentations will include:
Strategies and tactics on how to sell' the outdoors without compromising its intrinsic value;
Success stories around gaining public, government or commercial support, sponsorships, partnerships or funding;
Completed research that proves the value that outdoors education, outdoors recreation and adventure tourism brings to our society.
Dawson says that The World Outdoors Summit will incorporate several streams focused on the summit's central theme. The planning committee is currently seeking presentations across all of these streams; outdoor education, outdoor recreation, adventure tourism, sustainability and environment, and risk and safety management.
Confirmed speakers include Dr Ihirangi Heke - indigenous outdoor education consultant, Paora Te Hurihanganui - general manager of Te Arawa Sports Foundation and Dr Robyn Zink - researcher for the Centre for Recreation Research.
Meritorious papers may be invited to submit to a special issue of the New Zealand Journal of Outdoor Education (NZJOE).
Dawson says the four-day event will include an entire day of plenary sessions dedicated to M?ori and bushcraft-based content being held outdoors in the Rotorua region. There will also be an awards gala dinner held to celebrate New Zealand's outstanding outdoors community.
He adds that it is important not to forget the greater goal beyond growing the outdoor community, staing "more people enjoying a quality experience in the outdoors means that we, in turn, create a healthier, wealthier and smarter international community.
"The outcomes of the overall value project will be greater than the sum of its parts. It's an opportunity to reclaim an important stake in society and the future development of our countries."
The call for speakers for the event closes on 1st April 2013 with early bird registrations opening in May and closing on 18th September 2013.
For more information go to

http://www.wos2013.com

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