WHY ATTEND?
NORC is the premiere conference for outdoor recreation professionals with opportunities for learning, networking, and field-based case studies. During each conference, we create a program that inspires, challenges, and empowers the broad community of outdoor recreation professionals.
WHO ATTENDS?
NORC brings together over 400 people that include recreation resource planners, land managers, policy makers, tourism and destination stewardship partners, researchers, consultants, innovators, and leaders in outdoor recreation.
WHEN?
May 11-14, 2026
More details on the schedule and registration will come closer to 2026.
WHERE?
Join us at the Harbor Side Convention Center at 350 Harbor Dr, Duluth, MN 55802!
WHAT TO EXPECT?
The 2026 conference will take place in Duluth, MN in partnership with Duluth Area Outdoors Alliance. The engaging program will include 4 days of classroom and field workshops, concurrent sessions, and a stellar lineup of keynotes. Conference registration opens in early 2026.
Agenda
Monday, May 11, 2026
- Pre-conference workshops and training (morning and early afternoon)
- Exhibit hall opens (afternoon)
- Scholarship recipient lunch
- Welcome general session (afternoon)
- Poster reception and silent auction (light apps and cash bar)
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
- Concurrent sessions (all day)
- Exhibit hall open (all day)
- Awards luncheon
- Evening offsite networking event at Great Lake Aquarium hosted by Duluth Area Outdoor Alliance (light apps and cash bar)
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
- Field workshops (lunch and choice of one workshop included)
Thursday, May 14, 2026
- Concurrent sessions (all day)
- Exhibit hall open (morning and early afternoon)
- Closing keynote lunch
- Takeover Night/Closing Social at local brewery Canal Park Brewing Company (dinner and drinks on own)
Schedule subject to change. A detailed list of sessions is expected to be available in February 2026.
Registration Rates
A full registration, over the course of 3.5 days, includes all sessions, lunch on 3 days (Tuesday to Thursday), option of one offsite Wednesday workshop (transportation included), refreshments throughout the day, and evening social events including the poster reception, scholarship fundraiser, and silent auction (light apps and cash bar), and offsite network event at the Great Lakes Aquarium (light apps and cash bar).
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Full Registration
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Type
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Amount
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Deadline (EOD)
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Early Member
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$575
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2/28/2026
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Regular Member
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$675
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5/8/2026
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Regular Nonmember
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$775
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5/8/2026
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Student
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$275
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5/8/2026
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Single Day Registration (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thur options)*
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Type
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Amount
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Deadline (EOD)
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Regular Single Day (member/nonmember)
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$375
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5/8/2026
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SPONSORSHIP
Your brand will be seen by thousands of agency, business, academic, and nonprofit outdoor recreation leaders from across the US and Canada through social media and direct email. Onsite, you will have access to 400+ attendees, 75+ speakers, and multiple outreach channels. Help us build better ways to work together by attending, sponsoring, and developing a conference providing premier learning and networking opportunities for all within the outdoor recreation field. View the Sponsorship Packet to learn more about the different levels and benefits. Register as a sponsor today!