ANCA CONNECTS: Outdoor Adventure Center in Detroit, MI
Description
Friday, October 10 — 9:30am-4pm ET
Strengthen your organization's impact through this day of connection and learning. Join us at the Michigan DNR Outdoor Adventure Center in Detroit, Michigan, for this ANCA CONNECTS program featuring professional development and networking, specifically for nature center professionals.
You’ll connect with peers from across the region, dive into the operations of nature centers and related organizations, and explore the Outdoor Adventure Center while gaining firsthand insights from their facilities and programs. The day will feature a variety of sessions, all about nature center operations and management.
This program is open to all professionals at nature centers, outdoor schools, and related organizations. We welcome both ANCA members and non-members, as well as participants traveling from outside Michigan.
Registration
Registration includes the full day of programming, a light breakfast, snack, and a boxed lunch. Registration fees are:
- $40 - ANCA Members and staff of ANCA Organization Members
- $60 - Non-Members
Registration closed on October 3.
Sessions
Sessions will include:
Voices of Inclusion: Insights from Community Engagement
How can nature spaces truly feel welcoming to everyone? Join us as we explore findings from two community engagement studies focused on how people of diverse abilities and backgrounds connect with urban nature. Together, we’ll unpack barriers to participation, share strategies for inclusive programming, and discuss how to foster a deeper sense of belonging, both at the nature center and in neighborhood green spaces. This session invites you to reflect, share, and co-imagine how we can create spaces that feel like a “home away from home” for all.
Facilitators:
- Amy Greene, Nature Centers Director, Detroit Zoological Society/Belle Isle Nature Center
- Ryan Vance, Nature Center Supervisor, Detroit Zoological Society/Belle Isle Nature Center
Stone Soup for the Outdoor Soul
Creating space for everyone in your programming and in your organization can begin with the recognition that everyone has something important to offer. Detroit Outdoors works to connect youth, particularly from communities of color, with meaningful outdoor experiences. This session will describe how Detroit Outdoors offers a gear library, leadership training, and nature based outings in a collaborative network encompassing partners ranging from neighborhood groups to Federal agencies. Like making delicious soup from three smooth stones, powerful moments can begin with simple gestures of sharing.
Facilitator: Jac Kyle, Detroit Parks & Rec/Detroit Outdoors Collaborative
Special Event Planning for the Busy Nature Center Professional
Special events, from milestone anniversary celebrations to alumni weekends, create opportunities to engage with your families and supporters beyond the traditional camp season. Using the OAC’s annual Lumberjack Days as a case study, this presentation will share tips and strategies for building an outstanding special event for your audience. You’ll leave this session with six solid strategies for event success, plus the confidence to plan an amazing experience!
Facilitator: Emily Grant, Education, Events and Camps, DNR Outdoor Adventure Center
Active Aging Adventures – Meeting Seniors Where They Are
The Outdoor Adventure Center staff will share what they have learned from their two monthly programs for adults – Senior Brunch & Learn and SeniorStrolls. These programs are designed to engage adults in learning about natural and cultural history with a local flavor give them an opportunity to explore local parks and points of interest while meeting their accommodations and interests.
Facilitator: Michelle Serreyn, Educational Programmer, DNR Outdoor Adventure Center
About the Outdoor Adventure Center
Located on Detroit’s riverfront in the historic former Globe Building, with the Dequindre Cut Greenway running through its front yard, the Outdoor Adventure Center gives you a taste of Michigan’s great outdoors in the heart of the city.
Experience exciting outdoor adventures with hands-on activities, exhibits and simulators — walk behind and touch a waterfall, step into a fishing boat and reel in a big fish, hit the trail on a mountain bike or snowmobile, and much more. At the OAC, you’ll learn about how the DNR manages forests, wildlife and fish as you climb the roots and explore the canopy of a bur oak tree, hop aboard an airplane, and see what’s swimming in the aquarium.
Visit the Outdoor Adventure Center and discover all there is to explore in Michigan's spectacular outdoors, parks, public lands and waters that are yours to enjoy.
Location
Address: 1801 Atwater Street / Detroit, MI 48207