UMACS 2025 Conference
Advancing a More Sustainable and Just Upper Midwest
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September 26 & 27, 2025
Luther College, Decorah, IA
Luther College, Decorah, IA
CONFERENCE ATTENDEE INFORMATION
Introduction to Luther College
UMACS is grateful to Luther College for hosting the conference! Nestled in the beautiful Driftless region of northeast Iowa, Luther College is a Phi Beta Kappa campus in the Lutheran (ELCA) tradition with nearly 1,400 students and 60 academic programs. We are nationally recognized for our unique, engaging Paideia program and ongoing commitment to sustainability—as well as our impressive roster of Rhodes and Fulbright scholars. Our curriculum, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact.
We hope you will take time to explore Decorah and the surrounding area. See below for suggestions from Luther College students for things to do!
Conference Schedule
Download this Conference App to see the full conference schedule. When you finalize your schedule, please take time to learn about the many exhibitors in our Exhibit Hall, we are confident that each of them can help you advance sustainability on your campus. (Please note the Conference App works better when used as a mobile device than on a desktop computer.)
Thursday Evening
If you are in Decorah on Thursday, September 25, please join UMACS Executive Director Megan Voorhees for a beverage and/or dinner between 6:00 and 8:00 pm at Toppling Goliath Brewing Company.
Friday Registration
Registration is located in Luther's Valders hall in the Bridge. (Follow the signs from the Library Parking Lot). Unless you arriving early for a Pre-Conference Activity, please plan to register between 10:00 am and 12:45 pm on Friday.
Pre-Conference Activities
Registered for a pre-conference activity? You should have received an email from info@umacs.org with additional details.
UMACS is grateful to Luther College for hosting the conference! Nestled in the beautiful Driftless region of northeast Iowa, Luther College is a Phi Beta Kappa campus in the Lutheran (ELCA) tradition with nearly 1,400 students and 60 academic programs. We are nationally recognized for our unique, engaging Paideia program and ongoing commitment to sustainability—as well as our impressive roster of Rhodes and Fulbright scholars. Our curriculum, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact.
We hope you will take time to explore Decorah and the surrounding area. See below for suggestions from Luther College students for things to do!
Conference Schedule
Download this Conference App to see the full conference schedule. When you finalize your schedule, please take time to learn about the many exhibitors in our Exhibit Hall, we are confident that each of them can help you advance sustainability on your campus. (Please note the Conference App works better when used as a mobile device than on a desktop computer.)
Thursday Evening
If you are in Decorah on Thursday, September 25, please join UMACS Executive Director Megan Voorhees for a beverage and/or dinner between 6:00 and 8:00 pm at Toppling Goliath Brewing Company.
Friday Registration
Registration is located in Luther's Valders hall in the Bridge. (Follow the signs from the Library Parking Lot). Unless you arriving early for a Pre-Conference Activity, please plan to register between 10:00 am and 12:45 pm on Friday.
Pre-Conference Activities
Registered for a pre-conference activity? You should have received an email from info@umacs.org with additional details.
What to Bring:
For dinner at Luna Valley Pizza Farm :
Contra Dancing: Luther College invites everyone to join contra dancing on campus at 8:30 pm on Friday. We will be leaving straight from dinner at the Luna Valley Pizza farm to Contra Dancing, so dress comfy! If you would like to roast marshmallows at the fires during Contra Dancing, please bring a "roaster stick" if you are able.
Getting There
In GPS you can put the “Preus Library Parking Lot in Decorah” and that should give you the directions (if not, you can also enter “Decorah Municipal Swimming Pool”). Signs will be at the parking lot to direct you to Conference Registration at Valders Hall.
If you do not have GPS, here are driving directions:
From Downtown Decorah:
Lodging, Food and Internet
Exhibitor and Presenter Information: Thank you for sharing your expertise with the UMACS Community! If you are hosting an Exhibit Hall booth or presenting a poster, please set up by noon on Friday. If you are leading a breakout session, please plan to use your own laptop and bring any adaptors you own (don't worry if you don't have any adaptors!).
How you can help during the conference: Please let photographers know if you do not want your photo taken, be sure to spend time at the Exhibit Hall and complete the conference evaluation. Thanks!
Questions? Please email info@umacs.org. If you need to reach someone during the conference, please text Megan Voorhees at 415-336-1340.
For dinner at Luna Valley Pizza Farm :
- Please be prepared for rain! We've doing all we can to arrange for a beautiful two days in Decorah, but if it rains we still be outside at the pizza farm (under a tent and open air pavilion).
- Comfortable Shoes and Clothing-Wear clothes that are suitable to walking around a farm (It’s a short walk on a grassy trail and up a small hill to the pavillion unless you need to use the more accessible parking area) and that can get smoky if you choose to sit by a fire. And bring layers in case the weather changes when the sun sets.
- Blanket: If you are driving and its easy, bring a blanket to sit on or share with others who don't mind sitting on the ground. Don't worry if this is not easy, we have you covered!
- Water Bottle: please bring your own water bottle as we will provide still and sparkling water their taps.
- Cash/Credit card and/or debit card if you would like to buy a drink, snacks, popsicles, ice cream or shirts from the farm store (Learn more on the farm website about what you can buy.) If you are under 35, please bring your ID if you hope to purchase alcohol.
- Mosquito Repellant (the team at Luther College warns they are bad this year! Those of you who are camping should take note!)
- Vans: If you driving a van to the conference, please consider driving to the Pizza Farm and filling your vehicle with passengers. We have rented two buses but would love your help getting as many people to the farm as quickly as possible. It is about 15 minutes
Contra Dancing: Luther College invites everyone to join contra dancing on campus at 8:30 pm on Friday. We will be leaving straight from dinner at the Luna Valley Pizza farm to Contra Dancing, so dress comfy! If you would like to roast marshmallows at the fires during Contra Dancing, please bring a "roaster stick" if you are able.
Getting There
In GPS you can put the “Preus Library Parking Lot in Decorah” and that should give you the directions (if not, you can also enter “Decorah Municipal Swimming Pool”). Signs will be at the parking lot to direct you to Conference Registration at Valders Hall.
If you do not have GPS, here are driving directions:
From Downtown Decorah:
- Proceed northwest on College Drive past Casey’s for about 0.5 miles.
- Turn left onto Pool St. at the Decorah Park and Recreation and Event Parking signs.
- Continue straight into the library lot.
- Turn east onto Pole Line Road.
- At stop sign, continue straight onto College Drive and go past the Luther College sign.
- Pass the Decorah Public Pool and take the next right onto Pool St. at the Decorah Park and Recreation and Event Parking signs.
- Continue straight into the library lot.
Lodging, Food and Internet
- Lodging: Learn more about your lodging options here. If you signed up to stay with a Luther student, you should have received an email with more details.
- Meals: Your conference registration includes Friday dinner, Saturday lunch and an Ice Cream Bar during our closing session. Please note that we are not providing Saturday breakfast, see information below for suggestions on local restaurants and there are also options on campus.
- Internet Access: The Luther Guest Account can be accessed without a password.
Exhibitor and Presenter Information: Thank you for sharing your expertise with the UMACS Community! If you are hosting an Exhibit Hall booth or presenting a poster, please set up by noon on Friday. If you are leading a breakout session, please plan to use your own laptop and bring any adaptors you own (don't worry if you don't have any adaptors!).
How you can help during the conference: Please let photographers know if you do not want your photo taken, be sure to spend time at the Exhibit Hall and complete the conference evaluation. Thanks!
Questions? Please email info@umacs.org. If you need to reach someone during the conference, please text Megan Voorhees at 415-336-1340.
Visit Decorah!
All other options are within a 5-15 minute driving range from campus!
Lunch Suggestions for Friday:
Old Armory BBQ
- VisitDecorah has a directory with all of Decorah's various dining options! The Landing Market, Decorah's indoor food court, is a 15-minute walk from campus and offers food from many different locally sourced vendors.
- Join the Harvest Table with Chef Jessica Baldus on Saturday, September 27 from 5:00 - 8:30 pm CST. Enjoy a 4-course meal sure to delight your tastebuds as you take in the sights, sounds, and smells at Tailwind Acres!
All other options are within a 5-15 minute driving range from campus!
Lunch Suggestions for Friday:
Old Armory BBQ
- 11a-8p
- Barbecue
- 208 College Dr. Decorah, IA 52101
- Open 10a-2p
- Vegetarian rice bowls and salads focused on seasonal foods.
- 120 E Water St, Decorah, IA 52101
- Open 11a-9:30p
- Mexican cuisine
- 201 E Water St, Decorah, IA 52101
- Open 11a-2p
- Japanese cuisine
- 207 W Water St, Decorah, IA 52101
- Open 11a-12p
- Pizza
- 110 East Water Street Decorah, IA 52101
- Open 7:30a-2p
- Breakfast, salads, and sandwiches
- 202 West Water Street Decorah, IA 52101
- Open 6:30a-2p
- Pastries, Nordic-inspired meals and desserts
- 400 W Water St, Decorah, IA 52101
- 10a-11p
- Bar and grill food.
- 206 W Water St, Decorah, IA 52101
We hope you have some time to explore Decorah and the surrounding area, its a beautiful place! You can learn more about the area on this website and below are suggestions from Luther College students about their favorite activities in the area.
Outdoor Activities
Shopping/Food
- The Depot (510 Montgomery St)
- Goodwill (915 Short St #117)
Social
Outdoor Activities
- Put up a hammock anywhere on campus
- Sand Volleyball pits (outside of Sam-hoff)
- Frisbee golf course (start near Lindeman Pond)
- Walk around Water Street (downtown) and support local businesses
- Pulpit Rock Hiking
- Phelp’s Park
- Dunnings Spring/Ice Cave
- Library Bike Check out (ride around town/ trout run trail)
- Campus Prairies and Hickory Ridge
Shopping/Food
- Decorah Gear Exchange - September 27 from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
- Dixies Biergarten
- Pulpit Rock Brewery
- Toppling Goliath Brewery
- Get Ice cream at Whippy Dip (Cash only) or Sugar Bowl
- Get Coffee at Impact, Magpie, The Buzz (in the Landing) or Millstreet Mocha
- Thrifting options:
- The Depot (510 Montgomery St)
- Goodwill (915 Short St #117)
Social
- SAC Concert: Men I trust - September 27 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
- Visit the Decorah Impact Crater!
- ArtHaus (10a-6p) paint your own pottery, etc.
- Vesterheim museum
- Check out scorpion display in Valders Hall and learn more about the Decorah Impact Crater in the Union
Have other questions? Email us!
