Elisabeth Condon at Canoecopia 2024

Canoecopia is presented by

Presenting Sponsor

Location
Alliant Energy Center
1919 Alliant Energy Way
Madison, Wisconsin

Show Hours
Friday: 3 PM to 8 PM
Saturday: 9 AM to 6 PM
Sunday: 10 AM to 4 PM

Tickets
1-Day: $15.00
3-Day: $30.00
Ages 17 and under are FREE
Cash or check only for tickets purchased at the event

Parking Fees
1-Day: $8.00
Cash or credit, fees collected by Alliant Energy Center

Feedback

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www.bigcitymountaineers.org/

David's career has always placed him at the intersection of education, nonprofits, youth development, equity and social justice, and outdoor education. BCM speaks to his values as an educator and a person who loves the outdoors. The importance of learning about one's world and oneself through connection with nature has been a throughline in his career and life. In so many ways, BCM represents an incredible convergence of all the things he has done thus far in his career, and he is humbled and honored to have found an opportunity to help youth find their voice and power through time spent in nature, and simultaneously make outdoor recreation a more diverse and inclusive space.

David's career started as a counselor at a YMCA summer camp in Wisconsin, a job that would change the course of his life. Upon graduating, David taught high school science and psychology for several years in public and charter schools in Boston and San Francisco, where he founded his school's Outdoor Club. Following his time in the classroom, David co-founded Tutorpedia Foundation, a Bay Area education nonprofit whose mission was to provide personalized academic support to deserving under-resourced students at no cost. As his interests shifted towards teacher training and preparation, David joined the EnCorps STEM Teachers Program at a critical time in the organization's history; the work he did to improve EnCorps' Fellowship program has since received local, state, and national recognition. David moved to Denver in 2020, and most recently held a senior leadership position at Denver Kids, one of BCM's agency partners.

In his fleeting spare time, David keeps busy by being a dad for his daughter Sydney and playing guitar in local rock bands. He has the tendency to disappear into incredibly remote sections of wilderness for days at a time with backpack, packraft, and technical canyoneering gear, and treasures every minute he can spend outdoors. David has a BA in Psychology from Brown University and an M.Ed. from Harvard's Graduate School of Education.

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Also Presenting With

Christopher Kilgour
Founder of Color in the Outdoors (CITO), Christopher has spent his entire life exploring and enjoying the outdoors in one capacity or another. His main motivation for starting CITO was to be able to connect people with the outside world and with other like-minded individuals and organizations. The guiding principles behind CITO hold a strong space in advocacy for diversity, equity, and inclusion and it is with these concepts in mind that all of the activities, partnerships, links, and resources are developed and presented. Stewardship, sustainability, education, and mentorship are core components of the CITO ideology and, with the help of partners and collaborations, Christopher hopes to widen the support, advocacy, and engagement in diversifying perspective of and participants in the outdoor world and our relationship to it.

James Edward Mills
James Edward Mills is a freelance journalist and an independent media producer. In a career that spans more than 20 years, he specializes in telling stories about outdoor recreation, environmental conservation, acts of charitable giving and practices of sustainable living. Working in the outdoor industry since 1989 as a guide, outfitter, independent sales representative, writer and photographer his experience includes a broad range of expeditions that include mountaineering, rock climbing, backcountry skiing and kayaking. James has written for several publications that include The Wisconsin State Journal, The Capital Region Business Journal, Madison Magazine, Madison Sports Monthly and Wisconsin Trails. He currently is a contributor to several outdoor focused print and online publications that include National Geographic Adventure, Rock & Ice, Alpinist, SUP Magazine, Paddle Sports Business, Sporting Goods Business, Elevation Outdoors, Women’s Adventure, WEND Magazine, The Clymb, High Country News and Roots Rated. With skills in audio storytelling, James’ radio production credits include Wisconsin Public Radio, the Public Radio Exchange, American Public Media’s Marketplace, and the Public Radio International programs To The Best of Our Knowledge and The Tavis Smiley Show. He is also the producer of a blog and podcast series that focuses on adventure culture called The Joy Trip Project.

David Taus
David’s career has always placed him at the intersection of education, nonprofits, youth development, equity and social justice, and outdoor education. BCM speaks to his values as an educator and a person who loves the outdoors. The importance of learning about one’s world and oneself through connection with nature has been a throughline in his career and life. In so many ways, BCM represents an incredible convergence of all the things he has done thus far in his career, and he is humbled and honored to have found an opportunity to help youth find their voice and power through time spent in nature, and simultaneously make outdoor recreation a more diverse and inclusive space. David’s career started as a counselor at a YMCA summer camp in Wisconsin, a job that would change the course of his life. Upon graduating, David taught high school science and psychology for several years in public and charter schools in Boston and San Francisco, where he founded his school’s Outdoor Club. Following his time in the classroom, David co-founded Tutorpedia Foundation, a Bay Area education nonprofit whose mission was to provide personalized academic support to deserving under-resourced students at no cost. As his interests shifted towards teacher training and preparation, David joined the EnCorps STEM Teachers Program at a critical time in the organization’s history; the work he did to improve EnCorps’ Fellowship program has since received local, state, and national recognition. David moved to Denver in 2020, and most recently held a senior leadership position at Denver Kids, one of BCM’s agency partners. In his fleeting spare time, David keeps busy by being a dad for his daughter Sydney and playing guitar in local rock bands. He has the tendency to disappear into incredibly remote sections of wilderness for days at a time with backpack, packraft, and technical canyoneering gear, and treasures every minute he can spend outdoors. David has a BA in Psychology from Brown University and an M.Ed. from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education.

Presentations

Elisabeth Condon, David Taus, James Edward Mills, Christopher Kilgour

#PaddlingSoWhite: Barriers and Solutions to Diversity in Paddlesports

Sylvania - main floor Sat 1:30pm-2:15pm

Do you feel welcome in outdoor settings? Have you ever felt uncomfortable interacting with others at a portage? Are you curious about efforts to build an inclusive paddling culture? Join experts in diversifying outdoor recreation to uncover the reasons behind the lack of diversity in paddlesports. Discover simple steps that you can take to foster inclusivity and support underrepresented communities in paddlesports. Delve into exciting initiatives in Wisconsin that are challenging the status quo and actively transforming the face of outdoor recreation.

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