NORC

(Local View from 4'2, Lake County Press, May 28, 2026)

Recently Above & Beyond With U had the honor and adventure of partnering with the National Outdoor Recreation Conference (NORC) hosted at the DECC in Duluth. We began working months in advance with two amazing leaders and event planners, Candace and Rachel. Through this process we did site audits of a couple hotels in downtown Duluth and in Canal Park as well as the skywalk system. We learned a lot about these spaces, event planning, and the lack of accessibility in our area.

As we partnered with NORC, we were also selected to present a panel discussion with our pal Michelle from the Gitchi Gami Trail Association (GGTA) and the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC). In our ninety minute presentation entitled, “Creating and Sustaining Community with Accessible Trails”, we created a space where we all created accessible trail adventures, shared our 6 word trail tale and learned about some adaptive gear like the ATZ Trackchairs and Sunrise Medical’s Magic Mobility Extreme 8. I also shared about my Rio Mobility Firefly and Emma from Northland Adaptive shared about their programs and adapted cycles.

Throughout the week Jaime and I encountered a lot of learning opportunities due to access barriers. I received my new manual wheelchair and Firefly just before NORC that I can independently get on and off! Thanks to our family and friends we were able to stay in a local hotel for almost a week so we could wheel from our hotel to the DECC each day. We found issues with many doors due to their heaviness or tension, elevator buttons being inaccessible, and curbs that had no logical or updated curb cuts. We also found communication errors in being told hot tub lifts were not functional for many days of our stay when in fact it was working. We developed many off-road abilities when encountering broken up cobblestones, construction impacting sidewalks with no accessible detour given, and sidewalks blocked by barriers not currently in use.

We also found amazing new friendships in fellow outdoors people. We gathered a lot of information on new products as well as started connections with businesses specializing in data collection to help rural communities receive more funding for future projects. Two of my favorite conversations with suppliers were around accessible seating options in green spaces and accessible bathrooms in parks.

We gave many local suggestions of amazing locations and businesses all the way up the Shore. We created partnerships with organizations throughout Minnesota and seven other states. We had amazing food including the new donut shop, Voyageur Donuts- Canal Park.

I think the greatest takeaway for Jaime and I in this amazing opportunity was that all we need is the help of family, friends, and new friends. We need the right gear for mobility and safety. We need time to plan ahead and then time to adapt on the fly because even the greatest plan always needs a plan B. We can do great things and they are more fun when we are together.