Conference Attendance – 2012
Our conference attendance numbers came to a total of 549 – a record high for the AORE.
480 Paid Conference Attendees
69 Complimentary ticketed attendees included [Summit Speakers, Keynote speaker, NIRSA
Roundtable, Conference Host Committee volunteers, Scholarship Winners]
45 Exhibitor booths plus additional representatives.
The AORE was able to successfully accommodate 549 paid, complimentary and exhibitor
attendees for Snowbird.
2012 Conference
Attendance
Additional
Exhibitor/Pa
rtner Booths
8%
Reps
4%
Comped
Attendees
7%
In 2012, over 500 outdoor educators and
recreation professionals came together in
Snowbird, Utah for the Association of
Outdoor Recreation and Education's 26th
Annual Conference. Conference attendees
participated in over a dozen pre/post
Paid
conference workshops, chose from over
Conference
120 educational sessions, created or
Attendees
81%
extended exhibitor relationships, learned
from research and publications symposiums, and networked with others in the field. Tucked near the
top of Little Cottonwood Canyon, the three-day Snowbird conference was filled with socials, numerous
networking opportunities, speakers, gear, and career development, all in a gorgeous location.
Board of Directors member, Abby Rowe, wrote a piece for the Association News titled “Reflections on a
Mountaintop” detailing her own interpretation of the conference, and the meaningful experience she
gleaned from it:
“For me Snowbird is no longer only a ski resort, it is now also a place of memories of educational
sessions, conversations, meals shared and time spent observing the palpable energy in every space. The
Ballroom is where I engaged in conversation with Jack from Jack’s Plastic Welding who exuded
tremendous passion for his work; the presentation rooms have morphed from sterile meeting rooms to
spaces where I was inspired and educated; the Summit room now provides a wonderful view from a
space of grounding and inspiration; the boardroom is where I feel I am giving back; the elevators were
hubs of conversation; eating venues are now places full of laughter and energetic conversation.”
2012 marked the largest conference attendance in AORE history. The conference would not have been
possible without the efforts of the 2012 Conference Host Committee. This team provided unyielding,
dedicated support and incredible heart. The theme “Building a Brighter Future” resonated deeply as
outdoor students, professionals, associates, vendors and supporters left the conference recommitted to
students, who are the future of the organization and the industry.
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