SESSION SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Hike Expo COLORADO 2026

Thank you for your interest in speaking at Hike Expo COLORADO 2026! This document provides detailed information about our session requirements and expectations to help you prepare a successful submission.

ACCEPTABLE TOPIC AREAS

We welcome submissions in the following areas related to hiking and outdoor recreation:

1. Technical Knowledge & Skills

🆘 Trail navigation and orienteering

🆘 Wilderness first aid and emergency preparedness

🆘 Weather interpretation and safety

🆘 Backcountry cooking and nutrition

🆘 Gear selection, use, and maintenance

🆘 Camp setup and backcountry living

2. Environmental & Conservation

🍃 Leave No Trace principles and practices

🍃 Trail maintenance and stewardship

🍃 Climate change impacts on hiking environments

🍃 Wildlife awareness and safety

🍃 Ecological restoration projects

🍃 Water conservation and management

3. Destination & Trail Insights

࿚ Colorado trail systems and hidden gems

࿚ National parks and wilderness areas

࿚ International hiking destinations

࿚ Urban hiking opportunities

࿚ Thru-hiking experiences and preparation

࿚ Historical and cultural significance of trails

4. Health & Wellness

🫀 Physical conditioning for hiking

🫀 Injury prevention and recovery

🫀 Mental health benefits of hiking

🫀 Adaptive hiking techniques

🫀 Age-specific hiking considerations

🫀 Nutrition and hydration strategies

5. Community & Culture

🤝 Diversity, equity, and inclusion in outdoor spaces

🤝 Building hiking communities and clubs

🤝 Family hiking and youth engagement

🤝 Solo hiking safety and empowerment

🤝 Hiking with pets

🤝 Volunteer opportunities and organizations

6. Technology & Innovation

📱 GPS and navigation apps

📱 Photography and content creation

📱 Social media for outdoor enthusiasts

📱 Emerging gear technologies

📱 Virtual and augmented reality in hiking

📱 Data collection and citizen science on trails

SESSION FORMATS

We offer several presentation formats to accommodate different teaching styles and content types:

1. Educational Sessions (45 minutes)

📚 Traditional presentation format with slides (if desired)

📚 30 minutes of content followed by 15 minutes of Q&A (if desired)

📚 Focus on knowledge transfer and information sharing

📚 Ideal for presenting research, experiences, or specialized knowledge

2. Interactive Workshops (45 minutes)

💪 Hands-on learning experiences with audience participation

💪 Skill demonstration with practice opportunities

💪 May require specific equipment or materials (to be provided by speaker or expo)

💪 Limited to 30-50 participants depending on activity

3. Panel Discussions (45 minutes)

🔸 3-5 experts discussing a specific topic

🔸 Moderated conversation with audience Q&A

🔸 Diverse perspectives and expertise encouraged

🔸 Submit as a complete panel or as an individual willing to participate in a panel

4. Demonstration Sessions (30 minutes)

𖭦 Focused on showing specific techniques or equipment use

𖭦 May be repeated multiple times throughout the expo

𖭦 Often conducted in dedicated demo areas

𖭦 Emphasis on visual learning and practical application

5. Lightning Talks (15-20 minutes)

🎙️ Concise, focused presentations on a specific topic

🎙️ Often grouped with other lightning talks in a themed block

🎙️ High-energy, engaging delivery style

🎙️ Perfect for specific tips, techniques, or focused stories

EXPERTISE LEVELS

Please indicate the expertise level your session is designed for:

1. Beginner

🔰 Content accessible to those new to hiking

🔰  Focus on fundamental concepts and entry-level skills

🔰  No prior knowledge or experience assumed

🔰  Emphasis on safety, basic gear, and getting started

2. Intermediate

✅  Content for regular hikers with some experience

✅  Builds upon basic knowledge and introduces more complex concepts

✅ Assumes familiarity with standard hiking terminology and practices

✅  Focus on skill improvement and expanding knowledge

3. Advanced

⭕️  Content for experienced hikers seeking specialized knowledge

⭕️  Technical information and advanced techniques

⭕️  Assumes substantial prior experience and knowledge

⭕️  Focus on mastery, optimization, and specialized situations

4. All Levels

🙌  Content designed to provide value to hikers of all experience levels

🙌  Layered information delivery with basic concepts and advanced applications

🙌  Inclusive approach that engages the entire audience

🙌  Particularly suitable for universal topics or inspirational content

TARGET AUDIENCE

Our attendee demographics include:

- **Age Range**: Primarily 25-45 (45% millennials), with significant representation across all adult age groups

- **Experience Level**: Mix of serious/experienced hikers (40%) and casual/beginner hikers (60%)

- **Geographic Focus**: 70% Colorado residents, 30% national and international visitors

- **Special Interests**: Conservation (35%), Photography (25%), Family Hiking (20%), Long-Distance Hiking (15%), Gear Technology (40%)

- **Professional Involvement**: Includes outdoor industry professionals, retail buyers, land managers, and conservation organization representatives

When submitting your proposal, please indicate which audience segments your session will most appeal to and how you'll address their specific interests and needs.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Submissions will be evaluated based on:

①. Relevance: Connection to hiking and outdoor recreation themes

②. Originality: Fresh perspectives, unique insights, or innovative approaches

③. Expertise: Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the subject area

④. Engagement: Potential to create an interactive and memorable experience

⑤. Inclusivity: Consideration of diverse audiences and perspectives

⑥. Practicality: Actionable takeaways and applicable knowledge

⑦. Alignment: Fit with overall expo programming and audience interests

PRESENTATION REQUIREMENTS

Technical Requirements

👨‍💻 Standard AV equipment provided: projector, screen, microphone, speakers

👨‍💻 Special requirements must be specified in your submission

👨‍💻 Presenters must provide their own laptops (adapters available)

👨‍💻 Presentations should be tested at least 1 hour before scheduled time

👨‍💻 Backup copy of presentation materials required (USB drive)

Content Guidelines

𝌞 Content must be original or properly attributed

𝌞 Commercial promotions should be minimal and relevant

𝌞 Presentations should be accessible to diverse audiences

𝌞 Politically divisive content should be avoided

𝌞 Accurate information based on current best practices

𝌞 High-quality visuals and engaging delivery

Accessibility Considerations

♿️ Use high-contrast slides with readable fonts

♿️ Verbally describe important visual elements

♿️ Provide digital handouts when applicable

♿️ Consider mobility needs for interactive components

♿️ Use inclusive language and examples

CODE OF CONDUCT

All speakers at Hike Expo COLORADO are expected to adhere to our Code of Conduct, which promotes a respectful, inclusive, and harassment-free environment for all participants. The complete Code of Conduct can be found at [hikeexpocolorado.com/code-of-conduct](https://hikeexpocolorado.com/code-of-conduct).

Key principles include:

🔴 Treating all participants with respect and consideration

🔴  Refraining from demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior

🔴  Being mindful of your surroundings and fellow participants

🔴  Alerting expo staff if you notice violations of the code of conduct

🔴  Respecting the venue and following all safety guidelines

Violations of the Code of Conduct may result in expulsion from the expo without refund and prohibition from future events.

SUBMISSION PROCESS

1️⃣. Initial Application: Submit your proposal through our online form or via email

2️⃣. Review Period: All submissions reviewed by our content committee (4-6 weeks)

3️⃣. Notification: Accepted speakers will be notified throughout the call process

4️⃣. Confirmation: Speakers must confirm participation within 2 weeks of notification

5️⃣. Preparation: Final presentation materials due by April 15, 2026

6️⃣. Orientation: Virtual speaker orientation sessions in April 2026

SPEAKER SUPPORT

We are committed to supporting our speakers throughout the process:

🎤 Speaker liaison assigned to each confirmed presenter

🎤 Technical support for presentation preparation

🎤 Promotion of your session through our marketing channels

🎤 Speaker lounge available during the expo

🎤 Post-event feedback

CONTACT INFORMATION

For questions about the submission process or speaking at Hike Expo COLORADO:

- Email: hello@hikeexpocolorado.com

- Phone: ‪(720) 248-8684‬

- Website: hikeexpocolorado.com/speakers

We look forward to receiving your submission and potentially featuring you as a speaker at Hike Expo COLORADO 2026!