2026 BIPOC Outdoors Summit @ NMU

Tentative | Monday

8:00 am to 10:00 am

  • Registration, Lite Breakfasts & Networking | Waino Wahtera Pavilion

9:00 am to 9:15 am

  • Opening Song, Land Acknowledgment | Waino Wahtera Pavilion

9:15 am to 9:30 am
  • President Chris Olsen | Waino Wahtera Pavilion
    • Welcome
9:30 am to 9:45 am
  • Summit Highlights | Waino Wahtera Pavilion
10:00 am to 11:00 am
  • Lance Woods | Yurt
    • 9th - 12th grade youth session
  • Zach Zuchowitz | Waino Wahtera Pavilion
    • Adaptive/inclusive recreation demonstration experience
  • Hannah Douglas | Northern Center, Penn III
    • MI DNR Adult Focus Forum”(2-hour presentation)
11:15 am to 12:15 pm
  • Jean Alicia Elster | Yurt
    • 9th - 12th grade Youth Session
  • Alice Jasper & Lorena Aguayo-Marquez | Waino Wahtera Pavilion
    • Shaping Outdoor Narratives
12:15 pm to 1:30 pm

  • Picnic Lunch & Networking at NMU’s Waino Wahtera Pavilion

1:45 pm to 2:45 pm
  • Keynote Speaker: Jean Alicia Elster
3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
  • Hannah Douglas | Northern Center, Penn III
    • MI DNR Student Focus Forum (2-hour presentation)

  • Andie Balenger | Yurt

    • Walking together: "Two-Eyed Seeing" as a path toward holistic understanding in the outdoors (90 minutes)

  • Katy Pawlusiak | NMU Hoop House & Woodland Park

    • Sustainable and Inclusive Food Systems on Campus and at Home (60 minutes)

  • Michaline Dutkiewicz & Emily Hanes | Waino Wahtera Pavilion

    • Big Bay Environmental Center (60 minutes)

5:45 pm 

  • Pre-race Announcements

6:00 pm 

  • 5K Race Start

The detailed schedule can be found by clicking this link

Tentative | Tuesday

9:00 am 

  • Registration, Lite Breakfasts & Networking | Waino Wahtera Pavilion

10:00 am to 11:00 am

  • Jean Alicia Elster | Waino Wahtera Pavilion

    • Writer's Craft Workshop

  • Dr. Tayla Shanae Ealom and Dr. Michael Lynn Wellman | Yurt

    • We The Earth: Creating the UP's QTBIPOC Retreat Space

  • Nichole Fisher | Fire Site

    • Careers in Parks & Recreation session (60 minutes)

11:15 am to 12:15 pm      

  • Keynote Speaker: Lance Woods | Waino Wahtera Pavilion

    • Fireside Chat

12:15 pm to 1:30 pm

Picnic Lunch & Networking at NMU’s Wahtera Pavilion

2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | Local Excursions

  • Dr. April Lindala | Love Marq Church & (weather permitting) Fire Site Pavilion 

    • Decolonizing Diet Project Workshop (20-person limit) 

  • Justin Schapp | Chocolate Bayou

    • Manoomin Tour (6-person limit)

  • All ages activity | Partridge Creek Farm

  • Self-guided | NMU Private Beach

6:00 pm
The detailed schedule can be found by clicking this link

2026 BIPOC Outdoors 5K @ NMU

This event will be led by OEP in collaboration with Lance Woods, co-founder of WeRun313. Together, they bring a wealth of experience in community building, health, and movement, creating an engaging space that centers connection, wellness, and shared experiences in outdoor and urban environments.

The BIPOC Outdoors Summit 5K is a signature event that promotes inclusivity, wellness, and outdoor engagement within the NMU community and beyond. As part of the broader BIPOC Outdoors Summit, this professionally timed 5K invites runners and walkers of all backgrounds and abilities to participate in a welcoming, community-centered experience.

This event combines competitive racing elements (chip timing, bibs, awards) with a strong cultural and community focus, highlighting representation in outdoor recreation. This 5k event positions the BIPOC Outdoors Summit 5K as both a competitive race and a meaningful community experience, which centers on representation, accessibility, and connection to the outdoors.

  • Date: Monday, July 27

  • Location: Start is at the Wildcat Statue in front of Jamrich Hall

  • Race Check-In: 5:00 pm

  • Race Announcements: 5:45 pm

  • Race Start: 6:00 pm

Click here to register for the 5k
Lance Woods headshot

Lance Woods, Co-Founder of WERUN313

2026 BIPOC Outdoors Rest Retreat @ NMU

The Rest Retreat will be held at the Raging River Campground Resort—a peaceful setting designed for rest, connection, and renewal.

Basic Registration - Link coming soon!
$250 per person

Your registration includes a 3-day, 2-night shared campsite experience, two breakfasts, and two dinners. Participants will need to bring and set up their own camping equipment. Each campsite accommodates up to two tents and six people, creating a comfortable, community-oriented space.

Optional Add-Ons
To make your experience more accessible and ease your preparation, the following add-ons are available:
  • $40 – 3-day/2-night tent rental
  • $20 – 3-day/2-night sleeping bag rental
  • $20 – 3-day/2-night sleeping mat rental
  • $40 – 2-person tent setup and tear down
  • $60 – 4-person tent setup and tear down
  • $60 – Pictured Rocks Spray Falls Cruise

To help you feel comfortable and prepared, we’ve put together a suggested packing list. Use this as a guide and bring what works best for you. A limited amount of camping gear is available to reserve during registration.

Clothing
Upper Body: Base layer, hiking shirt, rain jacket, sports bra (if applicable), and a warm mid-layer (fleece)
Optional: Wind jacket, swimsuit

Lower Body: Base layer, hiking or wind pants, shorts, and 2–3 pairs of underwear
Optional: Hiking shorts, rain pants

Headwear
Baseball cap or wide-brim sun hat

Packs & Bags
Daypack or backpack

Sleeping & Camp Gear
Sleeping bag, sleeping pad or air mattress, tent, camp chair, towel
Optional: Ground cloth, tarp, hammock

Footwear
Hiking boots or shoes, durable socks, camp or water shoes

Essentials
Reusable water bottle, insulated mug, snacks, sunscreen, sunglasses, headlamp (with batteries), lighter, toiletries, trash bags, pocket knife, and optional comfort items like a book, trekking poles, or a notebook

Hygiene
Toothbrush/toothpaste, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, biodegradable soap, and personal items as needed

Tentative | Wednesday

Pictured Rocks (Munising)

8:15 am 
  • Meet at the Northern Center parking lot on NMU's campus to carpool to Pictured Rocks. Strongly encouraged to bring your own snacks.
09:30 am 

  • Meet at Pictured Rocks to go on the Pictured Rocks Spray Falls Cruise

10:00 am 

  • Pictured Rocks Spray Falls Cruise

Lunch on your own
4:00 pm 

  • Fly Fishing (purchase license here) or chill at the resort arcade/pool/jacuzzi/river chairs

 6:00 pm  | Dinner


 

Tentative | Thursday

Big Bay, MI

08:00 am | Breakfast
10:00 am

  • We The Earth Retreat Center or Burns Landing Park & Beach

Lunch on your own
4:00 pm  

Campsite scavenger hunt or Trail hike

6:00 pm | Dinner

Friday

8:30 am | Breakfast
9:00 am 

  • Gratitude Circle

10:30 am 

  • Campsite breakdown and pack up

11:00 am 

  • Depart

Accommodations

Summit

Transportation Info

We’ll be heading out together as a group to a few different locations, but please plan to drive your own vehicle and feel free to coordinate carpooling with others if you’d like—it’s a great way to connect and reduce our impact.