Wisconsin Bike Fed and Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation to Host 2026 Wisconsin Healthy Communities Summit in Wausau
MILWAUKEE – The Wisconsin Bike Fed and Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation are partnering once again to host a two-day Wisconsin Healthy Communities Summit in Wausau, Wisconsin. Attendees will learn from world-changing thinkers and innovators in the outdoor recreation world about how we build and maintain healthy communities. The Summit will be held Thursday and Friday, April 23-24, at the Wausau Hilton Garden Inn.
“We are excited to be partnering with our friends at the Office of Outdoor Recreation on a third Healthy Communities Summit,” says Kirsten Finn, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Bike Fed. “Bike Fed last hosted a Summit in Wausau in 2019, when it was first recognized as one of the best small cities for bicycling. Since then, Wausau has rebranded itself as ‘Wisconsin’s Basecamp’ with even more great reasons to be outside: new mountain bike destinations, bike parks for kids and miles of gravel trails, as well as hiking, paddling and more. The Healthy Communities Summit promises two full days of networking, learning and adventure—plus plenty of inspiration to make your community a top outdoor destination.”
“The Summit provides a forum for leaders and professionals to explore the nexus of health and outdoor recreation,” explains Cassie Mordini, Director of the Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation. “Bringing the outdoor community together and inviting health professionals to the conversation is at the forefront of creating opportunities that grow outdoor recreation, improve health outcomes and create vibrant communities. Through our strong partnership with the Wisconsin Bike Fed, and with support from the host community of Wausau, we’re bringing a lineup of speakers, sessions and field trips that are sure to inspire.”
Featured Speakers
Both organizations welcome nationally-recognized speakers and authors, Florence Williams and Carter Lavin:
- Florence Williams, author of The Nature Fix, is a contributing editor at Outside Magazine and a freelance writer for the New York Times, The Atlantic, National Geographic and many others. She also serves on the board at the Trust for Public Land and the Ted Scripps Fellowship in Environmental Journalism.
- Carter Lavin is a climate and transportation activist who helps organizations and individuals hone strategy and build political power. He has directly supported and trained non-profits, candidates, grassroots groups, businesses and countless individuals to win on the issues that matter to them at the local, regional and state levels. He has written for Streetsblog and Convergence Magazine, and is the author of If You Want to Win, You’ve Got to Fight.
Tickets for the 2026 Wisconsin Healthy Communities Summit are available now at wihealthycommunitiessummit.org. Questions regarding the Summit may be directed to Mike Ridgeman, Wisconsin Bike Fed Government Affairs Manager, at mike@wisconsinbikefed.org.
About the Wisconsin Bike Fed
The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin Educational Foundation, Inc. (AKA Wisconsin Bike Fed) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission to foster and unite active communities to advance cycling and walking in Wisconsin through education, legislation and infrastructure. Learn more at wisconsinbikefed.org.
About the Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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