Exploring Collaboration and Resilience

Attending the NETtra conference was a great experience that highlighted both how the tourism field is evolving and how much collaboration happens across research, industry, and community work. I loved the roundtable sessions on Cross-Sector Engagements for Industry Development and Engaging with Universities in Outdoor Recreation Development because they created space for meaningful conversation and idea sharing.

I came away with great resources and programs to explore, including the Wisconsin Initiative for Climate Change Impacts (WICCI) and the University of Wyoming WORTH Institute’s Outdoor Recreation Knowledge Exchange webinar series. I especially enjoyed the session on Destination Resilience, as it connected closely with my own research. The discussions around stakeholder engagement and adaptation strategies felt relevant and affirming, reminding me that our work contributes to broader, ongoing conversations.

Presenting my research on outdoor recreation responses to climate and social change was also a highlight because it was paired with the presentation on New Hampshire’s WILDLY RESPONSIBLE Safety & Sustainability presentation, which made the connection between research and practice feel very real!

Overall, the conference left me feeling energized and served as an important reminder of how much potential there is when researchers, practitioners, and communities work together toward shared goals in tourism and outdoor recreation.