Adventure Speaker Series 2023
Featuring inspirational speakers that every outdoor enthusiast can enjoy, this series covers local and national outdoor adventurers who've led exciting expeditions in Ohio and beyond.
Event details
* this page may be updated if event is repeated in the future *
Local adventurers share inspiring stories during Adventure Speaker Series
Five Rivers MetroParks and Wright State University have partnered to offer four presentations meant to inspire a sense of adventure in outdoor enthusiasts of all experience levels. The biennial Adventure Speaker Series begins on Thursday, Feb. 9 and continues throughout the winter with local explorers covering such topics as backpacking, bike touring and rowing.
“Because Dayton is the Outdoor Adventure Capital of the Midwest, we often see local folks embark on incredible adventures in the states and abroad,” said MetroParks special events coordinator Angela York. “It goes to show that no matter what level of experience you have, Dayton is a great place to fall in love with outdoor recreation opportunities and then apply your skills to a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.”
The Adventure Speaker Series talks last an hour and a half; admission is free. The schedule is:
El Camino de Santiago: Two Styles of Travel
Speakers: Diana Glawe and Emily Foubert
Thursday, Feb. 9, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Wright State University’s Student Union
El Camino de Santiago is a 1,200-year-old pilgrimage across Europe culminating at the final resting place of the Apostle St. James. Diana Glawe and Emily Foubert will share their distinct experiences on El Camino as they both chose different styles of travel. Glawe stayed in pre-arranged private room lodging, while Foubert stayed in albergues (hostels for pilgrims). Glawe paid for her belongings to be transported, while Foubert carried her belongings in a backpack. They both began their journey in France; hiked over the Pyrenees; wandered the plains of the Meseta; and met incredible people from all around the world. Glawe and Foubert will share their experiences, planning information, and practical tips for an enjoyable Camino adventure – whichever style you choose.
Three Months on the North Sea Cycle Route
Speaker: Tracy Burge
Thursday, Feb. 23, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
Tracy Burge has dreamed of long trails since childhood after reading about a kid who rode his bike across the country. After years of adventures and misadventures, Burge saw her upcoming retirement as an opportunity of a lifetime. She began searching for the “longest bike trip in the world” and found the North Sea Cycle Route. The North Sea Cycle Route is a tour of the countries that border the North Sea. It took a lot of planning and training, but Burge fulfilled her dream in 2019, cycling 3,500 miles over three months and traveling through 14 countries.
Sixteen Day Expedition Rowing the Grand Canyon
Speakers: Amy Dingle and Cassie Lane
Thursday, March 9, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
Living as river nomads and moving their lives downstream daily, Amy Dingle and Cassie Lane – along with 14 other friends and strangers – rowed the mighty Colorado.
Through huge whitewater, sweltering heat, freezing water and 50 MPH headwinds, the group paddled 226 miles in the beautiful, geological marvel of the Grand Canyon.
Learn about their adventure and experience the beauty through the lens of a veteran and a first timer. Hear two perspectives on the same experience of rowing the Colorado River; a quintessential adventure of wilderness, of wildness, and our natural world.
Biking Dayton to Niagara Falls
Speaker: Jeffrey McElfresh
Thursday, March 23 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Wright State University’s Student Union
In the summer of 2022, Jeffrey (JuicyMelt) McElfresh cycled 933 miles over 19 days, traveling solo to Niagara Falls before turning around and pedaling home to Dayton, Ohio. Averaging over 50 miles each day and (mostly) camping along the way, he pushed his physical boundaries, made some incredible friends and wrestled with the nature of his life and disability.
Join in as McElfresh rolls out his experiences bicycle touring as a disabled cyclist. McElfresh was diagnosed with Charcot Marie Tooth, a neurological disease, as a teenager but only started riding his bike long distances as his mobility declined in his late 40s. The Further Adventures of JuicyMelt has changed the way he sees the world and how he interacts with it – all from the seat of his bike.
More information can be found on the Adventure Speaker Series webpage at www.theadventuresummit.com.
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