MDC Discovery Center hosts Urban Outdoor Summit

Kansas City, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will partner with Urban American Outdoors to host the 5th Annual Urban Outdoor Summit July 18 and 19 at its Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Ave., in Kansas City.

The Summit is free and open to anyone interested in the outdoors. A light lunch will be provided. Advance registration is required. To register call 913-334-5177. For more information visit facebook.com/UAOTV?sk=wall.

The program will include speakers and panel discussions about diversity and outdoor opportunities. Activities for youths will also be offered by MDC staff such as instructions in casting or archery.

Events begin with a welcome reception 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, July 18. The main program with speakers and panel discussions will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 19.

Wayne Hubbard and Candice Price host and produce the Urban American Outdoors television show. The show is based in Kansas City but is broadcast on cable television outlets across the country. Their programming focuses on outdoor adventure, skills and cooking. But they also help connect diverse audiences with the outdoors. Price and Hubbard founded the Summit, and this is the first year for the event to be held at Gorman Discovery Center.

"Urban Outdoor Summit was designed to educate, inform and offer new possibilities that exist within nature," Price said. "We will advocate for inclusion in the outdoors and will bring the message to preserve our natural resources, to promote and strengthen the economic vitality of the outdoors, reconnect emerging markets with open spaces, share conservation and environmental sustainable ideas for our future and stewardship of our earth and teach our own children about their rightful place in nature."

MDC panelists will talk about fishing, hunting, shooting and hiking opportunities in the Kansas City region. The Summit will also include speakers national and regional in scope with presenters from the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Conservation Federation of Missouri, Missouri Department of Natural Resources and other experts in topics related to the outdoors.

Families are welcome to attend. The Summit will also be a good place for young people to learn about job opportunities in conservation. Also, displays will be presented by private, non-profit conservation groups that invite people to get involved in using and protecting natural resources.

For more information about the Gorman Discovery Center go to mdc.mo.gov/node/281. Missouri is a great place to enjoy the outdoors, mdc.mo.gov.