Events
ANCA CONNECTS: Grange Insurance Audubon Center in Columbus, Ohio
- Date
- Oct 09 2024
Description
Wednesday, October 9 — 9:30am-4pm ET
Join us for an enriching day of professional development and networking at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center in Columbus, Ohio. This CONNECTS program offers you the opportunity to connect with professional peers while learning about the operations of nature centers, outdoor schools, and related organizations.
Grange Insurance Audubon Center is a community hub that provides engagement through advocacy, formal and informal education, free admission, outreach programming, and events where all are welcome to enjoy birds and nature. The center is one of thirty-two conservation action centers across the National Audubon Society center and sanctuary portfolio, with a mission to protect birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow.
This program includes discussion-based sessions about operations at nature centers and outdoor schools. These sessions invite all participants to contribute to the discussion, so that you can hear a variety of perspectives from professionals at other organizations.
Throughout the program you will have opportunities to connect with peers and build your professional network. As such you will not only have new ideas and resources to implement at your organization following this CONNECTS, but you will also gain professional connections that can support your work throughout the year.
This ANCA CONNECTS program is for any professional at a nature center, outdoor school, or related organization. We welcome both ANCA members and non-members along with professionals from outside Ohio to attend.
Registration
Registration includes the cost of a light breakfast, snack, and a boxed lunch.
- $37 — ANCA Members and staff of ANCA Organization Members
- $57 — Non-Members
Schedule
All times are ET. Gates open at 8am if participants want to arrive early.
| 8:30-9:15am | Birding hike (optional) |
| 9:30-10am | Check-in and Coffee |
| 10-10:30am | Welcome |
| 10:30-11:30am | Sessions |
| 11:30-11:45am | Break |
| 11:45am-12:30pm | Exploration of Grange Insurance Audubon Center Take a short guided tour with the center’s staff. |
| 12:30-1:30pm | Lunch & Networking |
| 1:30-2:30pm | Sessions |
| 2:30-2:45pm | Break |
| 2:45-3:45pm | Sessions |
| 3:45-4pm | Conclusion |
Sessions
This program will include a variety of sessions for participants to learn and share with peers. These sessions are based on a Facilitated Discussion format, where a facilitator guides the dialogue and all participants contribute to the conversation. These discussions are an excellent opportunity to share with your peers, learn new ideas, discuss trends in the profession, and work together to find solutions.
We'll have three time slots for sessions. We are currently coordinating session details and will post a session schedule in September. You don't need to sign up for sessions in advance.
Suggesting a Discussion
If you have an idea for a discussion topic and/or would like to facilitate a conversation, please email ANCA Membership & Programs Coordinator Daniel Auer at .
Session topics may include any subject pertaining to the management of nature centers and related organizations, as well as trends in our profession.
Examples of topics include:
Advocacy and civic engagement
Capital campaigns
Database management
Diversity, equity, and inclusion
Endowments and investing
Exhibit planning
Marketing and communications
Membership programs
Nature playscape construction
Nature preschool management
Program management
Risk management
Strategic and master planning
Working with a board of directors
Workplace environments
About Grange Insurance Audubon Center
Grange Insurance Audubon Center is a community hub that provides engagement through advocacy, formal and informal education, free admission, outreach programming, and events where all are welcome to enjoy birds and nature. The center is one of thirty-two conservation action centers across the National Audubon Society center and sanctuary portfolio, with a mission to protect birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. More than 30,000 visitors come to the center annually.
Grange Insurance Audubon Center is a trusted force for conservation and an example of urban restoration. The organization supports statewide programs such as Lights Out and the Central Ohio Chapter of Young Birders, as well as vital local programming such as Conservation Classroom, Native Plant Backyard Challenge and offsite programming at several Columbus City Community Centers.
The center is located in the Scioto River Greenlawn Important Bird Area, a designation that protects and enhances the ecosystem to sustain critical habitat for bird species. In 2023 the center installed a Motus tower to detect bird location and migration, providing important data about which habitat is the most crucial for migratory species, in addition to changes in migration timing resulting from climate change.
Location
Address: 505 W Whittier St / Columbus, OH 43215
Directions on Google Maps
