Adventure awaits

This year’s Adventure Speaker Series is designed to inspire and amaze.

Wright State University and Five Rivers Metroparks will host a series of seven virtual talks that celebrate the spirit of outdoor adventure.

The speaker series begins March 11 and runs every Thursday through April 22. The series is free and open to the Wright State community and the public.

“This is the first time that we’ve had it virtually so it’s very exciting for us,” said Erin Sherrets, program manager for Outdoor Recreation at Wright State. “We can create a wider option of speakers because travel is not an issue.”

The series kicks off March 11 at 7 p.m. with a talk by Tom Helbig, of Tomfoolery Outdoors, who traveled the perimeter of the United States on his bicycle. He will share inspiring stories about his trip and the amazing people that he encountered along the way.

Six additional speakers and panels will feature stories of endurance, survival, running, adventuring with kids of all ages, diversity in the outdoors and polar adventures.

The series concludes with a talk by Dale Sanders on April 22 at 7 p.m. Sanders set a Guinness World Record in the fall when he became the oldest person to complete the rim-to-rim-to-rim hike from one edge of the Grand Canyon to the next and back again.

“We have a really incredible lineup this year, and I hope people come to our Adventure Speaker Series inspired to have their own adventures,” said Sherrets.

Since this year’s event is virtual, organizers hope spectators from around the country will appreciate what outdoor recreation at Wright State and the Dayton area have to offer.

A complete list of speakers and dates is available at theadventuresummit.com.