Entry 54: Climbing, Community, and Economic Impact: Highlights from the 2023 Climbing Advocacy Conference in Bentonville
I am behind a bit on a few posts, my apologies. In November I was asked to present at the 2023 Climbing Advocacy Conference in Bentonville, Arkansas. The Climbing Advocacy Conference in Bentonville, Arkansas (November 2023), brought together passionate climbers and advocates for a few days of knowledge-sharing and collaborative discussions. As a presenter at the conference, my focus was on unraveling the economic impact of climbing in Newton County, Arkansas (more below). My time with climbers (from around the country) was an educational and inspiring time shared – as we dove into insightful sessions on access to public land and sustainable climbing practices. The Economic Impact of Climbing in Newton County: My presentation centered on the economic impact of climbing in Newton County, Arkansas. I want to give a shout out to my partner on this project, Dr. James Maples. Also, a big thank you to many others, especially the Arkansas Climbers Coalition, Dennis Nelms of Climb Solutions...