The Outside Media Summit is all the time a good time. It’s not the most important gathering of out of doors people, however every year, it’s a first-rate group to attach, community, and be taught from. OMS brings collectively media and types from throughout the huge spectrum of out of doors recreation. It’s maybe probably the most noteworthy meeting of this trade’s media voices and creatives within the nation.
It’s additionally an opportunity to mingle with manufacturers like Patagonia, Simms, and Nemo. Breakout periods give insights into the whole lot from the state of the trade to keep away from wild animal conflicts. It’s a novel alternative for editors and types to put aside differing agendas and share insights that assist uplift everybody.
After all, it wraps up with the awards, which GearJunkie is proud to as soon as once more have been a recipient.
At most of those exhibits, I usually really feel like a little bit of a “backrow child.” In a room crammed with bikers, backpackers, skiers, climbers, and runners, I’ve usually been among the many few hunters within the crowd — if not the one one.
Looking doesn’t fairly have the crossover participation that the others do; it divides folks, even inside the looking house. I imply, we’re individuals who kill issues; that’s going to convey robust opinions.
The ethics, morality, or tradition of looking are both embraced, rejected, or someplace in between. It’s a straightforward group to outcast within the better woods of the outside house — the one vegan backpackers may glare at (understandably).
However at this present, one thing felt completely different. From the conversations I had with “hunt-curious” backpackers to the foodies who have been not within the tradition or custom of looking, however within the locavore, natural, eco-conscious advantages of it, the sensation was way more considered one of acceptance and curiosity than it had been in years previous.
Not solely was there a tone of acceptance, but it surely appears this 12 months, we have been the tone.
‘Area & Stream’ Keynote
In what could also be one of the vital inspiring keynote speeches I’ve heard, Colin Kearns of Area & Stream kicked off this 12 months’s summit. That alone speaks volumes. For the keynote speaker to be the editor-in-chief of a strictly looking and fishing publication actually charted a route for OMS. Looking content material within the outside house was entrance and middle in a giant method.
I feel it might have struck me greater than most, however to spotlight writers and editors within the hunt house is huge. Not solely does it legitimize the media that hunters produce, but it surely factors out that these aren’t simply backwood tales from the sticks.
The brand new period of Area & Stream is a shift towards creating absolute artwork in journal type. These aren’t disposable magazines. The primary two editions are sitting in entrance of me now, and I’ll possible put them in mud jackets.
They’re crammed with poetic tales from wild locations, adorned with artwork and images that belong in frames. Hunters and anglers are additionally usually unbelievable writers, photographers, and poets. That recognition is a breath of recent air for a looking author who usually looks like our area of interest of writing lacks some literary legitimacy.
To cap the keynote, Yoon Kim, founding father of OMS, introduced Kearns with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
On the gear aspect, there has all the time been some hunt-specific presence at OMS so long as I’ve been attending. However this 12 months, that was actually cemented with manufacturers like Montana Knife Firm, Thriller Ranch, and onX all current.
In an area that has been dominated by kayaks, ultralight daypacks, hammocks, and sustainably harvested wool sweaters, I noticed way more hunting- and fishing-specific manufacturers becoming a member of the summit. For these corporations to not solely have the chance, but in addition to really feel welcome within the room, was a shift.
Gear Velocity Relationship is a superb a part of OMS, the place media attendees can transfer shortly from sales space to sales space and get all these compulsory gear chats and conferences whipped via. It’s not terribly completely different from precise pace courting, with all of the perks introduced and speak to data exchanged. It takes the mundane assembly up a notch, leading to minimal wasted time and most gear publicity.
The occasion felt oddly snug with way more acquainted faces than I’m used to seeing at this huge of an trade occasion.
In a room the place I usually felt like somebody might have been losing time pitching their not-hunt-centered merchandise to me, it appeared each three cubicles had one thing particularly helpful to a hunt viewers.
The Camo Ball
The opening reception discovered people from throughout the county two-stepping on the “Camo Ball.” Sponsored by onX, the Camo Ball was an evening of line dancing, beer ingesting, camo-wearing enjoyable. It was fairly the icebreaker to kick off this 12 months’s summit.
Although the camo interpretation actually wasn’t what you may discover within the deep woods, the theme was very a lot hunt-centered. From Western music to line dancing, within the coronary heart of western Montana, the theme felt warmly acquainted and, to be trustworthy, fairly comical. There’s one thing enjoyable about seeing somebody put on flip-flops, board shorts, and a camo high, notably as somebody who has a closet that’s primarily fabricated from invisible cloth.
The opening reception felt like a “welcome to the membership” social gathering for the looking trade.
Will This Acceptance Stick?
It could have solely been the looking phase’s first crack on the highlight, however deep down, I feel it says extra.
Possibly the “children within the again” even have one thing to supply in spite of everything. I feel this shift towards being self-sufficient, eco-conscious, and making certain we ethically supply our meals is extra broadly accepted throughout the outside house.
Maybe what I noticed is a shrinking divide between those that drink truthful commerce espresso and people who solely eat regionally harvested wild recreation, the non-hunting metropolis dweller and the non-trendy camo wearer. That hole wasn’t all that huge, to start with, however culturally, the shrink appears to be taking place in actual time.
I’m right here for the camo revolution. For as soon as, I even have the fitting outfit for the event.