Circa 1960s. Photo courtesy of Douglas Johnson.
The Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame is currently supported by 35 Voting Member Organizations. This month we introduce The Wisconsin Outdoor Communicators Association, an organization of outdoor writers, editors, bloggers, videographers, photographers, and radio and television communicators. Its membership is open to anyone working professionally in outdoor communications on a full- or part-time basis.
WOCA has about 75 members, and they meet each summer at a conference to share their skills, knowledge, and communications networks with fellow outdoor communicators. The annual conference boasts a full day of speakers and newsmakers that includes state politicians, DNR biologists, DNR administrators, UW researchers, NGO representatives, community leaders and other experts who deal with Wisconsin’s natural resources.
WOCA also conducts silent auctions on select outdoor gear during the conference to raise money for its annual college scholarship program which benefits Wisconsin undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in outdoor recreational communications. Since establishing the annual scholarship in 2016, WOCA has awarded more than $12,000, an annual average of $1,715.
The WOCA 2022 annual meeting is July 22-23 in Eagle River at Trees for Tomorrow.
WOCA was established in 1976, and has been active in the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame since its creation. The late Don L. Johnson, a founding WOCA member, was inducted into the WCHF in 2019 for his work at the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram and Milwaukee Sentinel. Likewise, founding WOCA member Tim Eisele has served on the WCHF’s Board of Governors since 2000. WOCA President Patrick Durkin has represented the group on the Board and various WCHF committees since 2010.