About
Overview
The Midwest Outdoor Leadership Conference (MWOLC) is an annual student-organized event hosted by various colleges and universities throughout the midwest. MWOLC is geared towards those interested in anything and everything having to do with the outdoors, from backpacking to scuba diving to bird watching. The weekend conference consists of skill-development and informational workshops, networking opportunities, career exploration, and fun activities. The three main objectives of the conference are to teach students new technical and leadership skills, to expose students to a variety of professional opportunities based on their similar interests in the outdoors, and to provide an opportunity for students to meet other people with their same interests as themselves.
MWOLC in the Past
While the first MWOLC was held by Ohio State in 2011, the idea for the conference was created by the outdoor recreation staff at the University of Miami of Ohio. The conference came into being to meet the increasing demand for a space that allows young adults from many different backgrounds and geographical locations to connect over their shared passion for the outdoors and to increase their knowledge of outdoor skills. Although there are other conferences that allow outdoor professionals and nonprofessionals to unite and learn from each other, these are often costly and require a longer time commitment of about a week. MWOLC provides college students with similar opportunities to network and to increase their toolbox of skills but in a more cost-effective and timely manner.
The Midwest Outdoor Leadership Conference has continued to grow following the initial event in 2011 and has been passed between many different colleges and universities such as the University of Iowa, Earlham College, Central Michigan University, and Loyola University Chicago. Every year, the students who lead and plan the conference at each school have eagerly used the opportunity as a chance to make the conference even better. There was a pause in MWOLC when COVID-19 canceled it in 2021, but the Midwest Outdoor Leadership Conference has continued to stay strong and provide even more skills training, leadership workshops, and career development opportunities in the years following.
What Does MWOLC Look Like?
This conference, which typically runs Friday through Sunday, consists of technical skills workshops and leadership skills workshops, such as how to set a climbing route, how to tie knots, how to refine your paddling technique, how to plan equitable trips, and how to handle backcountry emergencies. The weekend also provides a chance for students to learn more about career opportunities in the outdoors by hearing from skilled professionals, whether it be through a tabling event, panel Q&A, or keynote speaker.
MWOLC also offers fun, competitive activities between workshops like the canoe battleships and rock climbing competition in 2023. One of the pillars of MWOLC is the fact that it provides an opportunity to “meet other like-minded people that share the same passion,” as one of the conference attendees noted in a 2023 post-conference survey. Frequently, one of the favorite parts of the conference is getting to connect with other college students who love the outdoors, and this is made possible by the collaborative workshops, meal times together, and free time for games and snacks after the day’s activities have concluded.