Q&A with Rich Edwards, Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Coordinator at the WVU Brad & Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative

>> Grab a snack and your favorite beverage then join us for a virtual happy hour! <<

Location: On Zoom – register to get the link!
Date: Thursday, September 14, 2023
Time: 6:00 – 7:00 P.M.
Description: Due to the Covid pandemic and the rising popularity of “forest bathing,” greater numbers of people are getting outdoors and visiting trails. At the same time, West Virginia is pursuing a strategy of developing its outdoor recreation industry and tourism to entice even more people to walk, hike, bike, and backpack in WV’s parks and natural areas. Many of us use and enjoy wooded trails – but have you ever thought about the planning and design that goes into creating them?

Join WVLT for a talk and Q&A with trail expert trail Rich Edwards, who will give us an behind-the-scenes perspective on best practices used for siting and building new trails, what makes a “sustainable” trail, how trailmakers anticipate and mitigate trail user conflicts, and how all of us can do our part to avoid such conflicts. He’ll also show examples of the role trails can play in tourism and economic development. Rich will share examples of the good, the bad, and the ugly in the trail world, and take your questions.

Click here to learn more about the Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative.

RSVP: The session will be held on Zoom. Registration is required for the participation link. If you have any questions in the meantime, feel free to email Robinne Gray at robinne@wvlandtrust.org. We look forward to seeing you on Zoom!

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PAST WEBINARS

Q&A with Dylan Jones, Highland Outdoors Publisher/Editor in Chief

Date: Thursday, April 13, 2023
Time: 6:00 – 7:00 P.M.
Description: Dylan Jones is a writer and photographer based in Davis, WV. He and his wife Nikki Forrester publish Highland Outdoors, an independent magazine covering outdoor adventure and culture in West Virginia. Dylan is an avid adventurer who has hiked, biked, paddled, and climbed throughout West Virginia for decades.

Bring your questions to an online conversation with Dylan to discuss the West Virginia’s great outdoors and why he chose to promote outdoor recreation in the award winning Highland Outdoors magazine.

(Photo credit: Gabe DeWitt)

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Ask Me Anything! Q&A with Brent Bailey, WVLT Executive Director

Date: Thursday, March 9, 2023
Time: 6:00 – 7:00 P.M.
Description: The heart and soul of West Virginia is deeply intertwined with its mountains, valleys, and rivers. From its working farms to reclaimed minelands, timbered forests to historic battle sites, the state’s landscapes are cherished by generations of West Virginians and are increasingly a draw for recreational tourists, remote workers, and second-home owners. As the state plans for growth and development, what will the future look like for beloved Appalachian landscapes? How will our engagement with and use of land transform as we face a warming climate, a biodiversity crisis, and increasing land fragmentation? Why is West Virginia considered to be climate-resilient, and how can we be proactive in addressing coming changes?

An informal, online conversation with Dr. Brent Bailey, Executive Director of the West Virginia Land Trust and a native West Virginian, who shared his perspective from decades of experience. This was an opportunity for our friends statewide to share your questions, concerns, and ideas with the leader of the state’s largest land protection organization.