Arriving Early? – Wednesday, April 22

Optional activities for early arrivals include a group bike ride and an informal networking gathering at a local brewery

Let’s Ride!

Hop on your bike and join us for a group ride. The Wausau Wheelers will lead riders from the Hilton Garden Inn, with route options available for a variety of fitness levels and abilities.

Informal Gathering and Networking

Join us at Red Eye Brewing Company for an informal gathering and meet other Summit attendees early. Dinner and drinks will be on your own.

Day 1 – Thursday, April 23

The official kickoff of the 2026 Wisconsin Healthy Communities Summit at the Hilton Garden Inn

Registration and Networking

Registration opens bright and early with a light breakfast. Grab a bite, connect with fellow attendees, and visit the expo booths before the day’s sessions begin.

Opening Remarks & Keynote

Keynote Speaker: Rebecca Rusch

Recognized as an icon in endurance sports, Rebecca Rusch is an athlete performance and mindset expert with over three decades of experience as a world champion adventure athlete, exploring the limits of strength, resilience, and human potential in mountain biking, adventure racing, climbing, and paddling.

Her Emmy-winning documentary Blood Road follows her journey to her father’s crash site in Laos, a journey that transformed loss into healing and deepened her belief in movement as medicine. Through her nonprofit, the Be Good Foundation, Rebecca uses the bike as a tool for healing and community impact, from removing unexploded bombs in Laos to expanding access to cycling and movement to everyone.

Rebecca’s Athlete Operating System framework draws on her elite experience to help individuals and communities build strength, resilience, and lifelong vitality. As host of the podcast What’s the Rusch, she leads honest conversations about identity, mindset, and the deeper stories behind achievement. She inspires audiences to embrace movement, nurture well-being, and lead lives of purpose and connection reminding us that strength, in all its forms, is the foundation for healthy communities.

15 Minute Break

Breakout Session #1

Salon A+B: Tapping into University Resources for Research, Engineering and Design

Have a strong idea but need help turning it into a finished project? Across Wisconsin, universities and UW-Extension offer technical assistance, applied research and design support that connect communities with the expertise of students, faculty and specialists. In this session, you will learn how to access these statewide programs and determine which resources best fit your project.

During the interactive second half, you will meet program leads, ask project-specific questions and connect with peers tackling similar challenges, leaving with clear next steps to move your plan forward.

Speakers:

• Dr. Kristina Fields, UW-Platteville
• Megan McBride, UniverCity Alliance
• Anne Marie Nardi, UW-Madison Extension Natural Resources Unit

Salon C1: Outdoor Recreation Partnerships that Attract Top Talent in Health Care and Beyond

With low unemployment and rising workforce shortages, especially in healthcare, communities must compete differently for talent. In this session, you will explore how innovative partnerships are leveraging outdoor amenities, trails and quality-of-life assets to attract and retain skilled professionals.

Through real-world examples, you will learn how to position outdoor infrastructure as a workforce strategy, align recreation investments with employer needs and communicate lifestyle advantages that resonate with today’s workforce. Leave with practical ideas to strengthen recruitment efforts, support retention and make your community a place where people choose to live and work.

Speaker:

• Marie Barry, Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative
• Kietra Olson, Office of Rural Prosperity
• Cherie Morgan, Tamarack Health
• Wendy Furrer, Host | Central Wisconsin

Salon C2: Strength in Numbers: The Power of Coalitions and How to Build One

Lasting community change rarely happens alone. Strong coalitions unite diverse partners around a shared vision and turn collective energy into measurable results. In this session, you will learn how to articulate a clear, compelling goal, identify and recruit the right mix of partners and establish structures that sustain trust and accountability.

Through practical examples and guided discussion, you will gain tools to launch or strengthen your coalition, maintain momentum over time and align partners to advance policy change and community impact. Leave with a framework you can apply immediately to move from conversation to coordinated action.

Speakers:

• Willie Karidis, Rails to Trails Conservancy
  
• Chris Morgan, National Parks Service
  
• Charlie Carlin, Gathering Waters
• Jen Walker, 1000 Friends

Lunch and General Session

Join us for a general session featuring guest speakers and updates from conference leaders. This shared session brings attendees together to hear new ideas, learn from leaders in the field, and set the tone for the afternoon. Lunch is provided.

Speakers:

• Doug Diny, Mayor of Wausau
• Renae Krings, Greater Wausau Prosperity Partnership

15 Minute Break

Breakout Session #2

Salon A+B: Engaging End Users: Marketing, Messaging and Activating Outdoor Destinations

No matter the size of your community, attracting visitors to outdoor spaces requires more than great amenities. It takes intentional outreach and meaningful engagement. In this session, you will explore strategies to activate your destination through inclusive messaging, targeted media partnerships and community-centered programming.

You will gain practical approaches to expand your reach, strengthen relationships with key audiences and turn first-time visitors into repeat users and long-term stewards. Leave with adaptable outreach tactics and engagement ideas you can implement immediately to grow visibility, build loyalty and increase the impact of your outdoor assets.

Speakers:

• Cas Marburger, Rails to Trails Conservancy
• Tim White, Visit Wausau

Salon C1: Adapting Design Around the Needs of a Community

No two trail systems are the same because no two communities are the same. In this session, you will explore how projects like Mason City’s Destination Iowa bike park, trail initiatives across the Wausau region, including Evergreen Park and Milwaukee’s future 30th Street Corridor are shaped by local priorities, site conditions and long-term community goals.

Learn how teams use community engagement, strategic bid packaging and design-build delivery to balance creativity, constructability and long-term performance. You will gain practical insight into selecting project delivery methods, coordinating with municipal partners and integrating green infrastructure. Leave with clear strategies to adapt trail and bike design to your community’s needs while positioning projects for lasting impact.

Speakers:

• Cassie Goodwin, Smith Group
• Daniel Borchardt, MSA
• Brian Udovich,Cedar Corporation

Salon C2: Outdoors as Medicine: Building Healthier Communities Through Outdoor Recreation

Outdoor recreation is emerging as a powerful extension of the healthcare system. Building on movements such as Exercise is Medicine and Park Rx, the Outdoors as Medicine model positions nature-based programs within a broader continuum of care. In this session, you will examine the latest evidence on physical, mental and social health outcomes and explore plug-and-play models that connect healthcare providers with local recreation systems. Leave with partnership strategies, inclusive design approaches and clear implementation steps to align outdoor initiatives with Healthy Wisconsin 2030 goals and measurable community impact.

Speaker:

• Dr. Courtney Schultz, Health & Technology Partners

15 Minute Break

Breakout Session #3

Salon A+B: Unplugged and Outside: Reconnecting Kids to the Outdoors

What does it take to get kids excited to head outside instead of reaching for a screen? With more than 80% of youth in the United States not meeting the recommended amount of daily exercise, communities are seeking creative ways to reconnect young people with outdoor activity.

In this round-robin session, you will rotate between stations and meet program leaders who are successfully engaging youth through biking, walking and outdoor recreation. You will leave with practical ideas, partnership strategies and proven approaches to inspire kids in your community to get active and build lifelong connections to the outdoors.

Speakers:

• Alora Correa, Wisconsin Bike Fed
• Randi Pueschner, La Crosse 906 Adventure Team
• Renee Griswold, Wisconsin Interscholastic Cycling League
• Ben Popp, American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation
• Chloe Machula, Wisconsin Bike Fed
• Rachel Goochey, Wisconsin Bike Fed
• Shawn Koval, Wisconsin Bike Fed

Salon C1: Do-It-Yourself: How to Conduct an Economic Impact Study

When decision-makers ask, “What is the return on investment?” you need more than a good story. You need data. In this session, hear from Wisconsin communities that completed the Office of Outdoor Recreation’s Do-It-Yourself Economic Impact program and learn what worked, what did not and what they would do differently. You will gain a step-by-step roadmap for conducting your own study, practical tips for collecting visitor data and clear strategies for translating findings into compelling messages that influence funding, policy and community support.

Speakers:

• Christopher Nafziger, Three Eagle Trail Foundation
• Jamie Polley, Wausau & Marathon County Parks, Recreation & Forestry
• Kelly Schwartz, TEDCOR
• Kennedy Domerchie, Visit Eau Claire

Salon C2: Building Authentic Partnerships for Inclusive Outdoor Communities

Belonging in the outdoors does not happen by accident. It is built through intentional relationships and long-term commitment. In this session, you will explore how established organizations are partnering with grassroots and minority-led groups to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in practical ways.

Hear candid lessons learned, real successes and the challenges that come with this work. You will gain clear strategies to build trust, share decision-making power and move from good intentions to sustained impact. Leave with partnership principles and actionable steps to create outdoor spaces where more people feel seen, welcomed and valued.

Speakers:

• Ken Cole, PsyD, Global Majority Mountain Bikers
• Amelia Kegel, Wheel & Sprocket
• Christopher Kilgour, Color in the Outdoors
• Craig Ruhland, Metro Mountain Bikers
• Ammar Nsoroma, Red, Bike and Green

15 Minute Break

Keynote and Closing Remarks

Keynote Speaker: Carter Lavin, Author of If You Want to Win, You’ve Got to Fight

Whether your dream is to make your community safer and more sustainable by getting protected bike lanes, improving bus service, or expanding high-speed rail, this session provides step-by-step guidance on organizing for change. Through advice from Lavin’s own experience with over 100 campaigns, you will learn transportation-specific strategies to win. You will learn how to navigate your political, cultural, and historical contexts and adapt your advocacy efforts and make allies — from local businesses to transit agency staff to key decision makers. Action points and a toolbox of campaign tactics will enable you to move seamlessly from brainstorming into concrete action.
 
Whether you are just starting out or have engaged in transportation advocacy for a while, these tools and insights will help you develop, plan, and execute the transportation-related campaign of your choosing. Learn how to be an effective advocate while working within the system. This session will be a game-changer for people who want our communities to prioritize people over cars. 

Evening Reception

Hosted by Village of Rib Mountain Board President, Allen Opall

Join fellow attendees for an evening of networking and conversation. Enjoy a taco bar and drinks while connecting with colleagues in a relaxed setting. Optional activities like bingo and bags (cornhole) will be available for those looking for a little friendly competition, along with chances to win donated prizes. Shuttles will run between the hotel and the reception throughout the evening, with the final shuttle departing at 8:30 PM.

Day 2 – Friday, April 24

Wrap up the Summit with the closing session and a field trip of your choice

Breakfast and Networking

Start the final day of the Summit with breakfast and time to connect with fellow attendees. Grab a bite, continue conversations from the day before and get ready for the morning’s session and field trips.

Closing Remarks & Pecha Kucha: Success Stories from Across Wisconsin

Ever heard of Pecha Kucha? 

It’s a fast-paced presentation style that was developed in Japan, where speakers share 20 slides, each shown for 20 seconds. The result is 6 minutes and 40 seconds of storytelling that replaces bullet points with strong visuals and clear, compelling ideas. 

At the Healthy Communities Summit, we’re embracing the energy of Pecha Kucha and giving each speaker 6 minutes to share their insights. That means you’ll get high-impact presentations from experts who are immersed in this work and know how to bring it to life.

You can expect a session filled with inspiring examples of how outdoor recreation is improving lives and strengthening communities across Wisconsin. It’s quick, it’s thoughtful, and it will keep you engaged from start to finish.

Speakers:

• Jen Walker, 1000 Friends
  
• Matthew Stepaniak, Limitless Cycling
• Margaret & Patrick Donnelly, Couples on Wheels
• Janet Hutchens, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
• Tyler Heinz, ORA Trails
• Isaac Cowart, WinMan Trails

Transition Time and Check Out

Field Trips

Each attendee may select one field trip, and participation is included with your two-day Summit registration. Come prepared for April weather with comfortable footwear, as some trips may proceed or adjust depending on conditions. Attendees are responsible for their own transportation to the selected location. Any updates or changes will be communicated promptly.

Explore Field Trip Options

Post-Summit Option – Saturday, April 25

Optional activities to explore beyond the Summit

Advanced Smart Cycling

Want to take your urban and suburban bike riding to the next level and possibly begin a path to teaching others how to ride safely and confidently? Advanced Smart Cycling is your starting point.

This Advanced Smart Cycling class qualifies as the prerequisite to participate in the League Cycling Instructor (LCI) Seminar that will be held in Wausau, WI on May 15-17, 2026.