Outdoor School Summit
The ANCA Outdoor School Summit brings together directors and management staff from overnight outdoor schools, residential environmental learning centers, and nature-based camps across North America. These organizations share the unique challenges of housing and feeding program participants for multiple days, and the Summit fosters a space to solve problems and build connections in this particular field. ANCA holds the Outdoor School Summit in person every two years.
This Summit is relevant to any organization that offers overnight, multi-day programs that are based in environmental education, and we welcome all professionals in leadership or management positions at these organizations.
The next Outdoor School Summit will take place in January 2027. We will provide more information in the future.
The Outdoor School Summit is the single most useful gathering of practitioners in the country for residential EE programs. Imagine all of the biggest challenges you have at your center, and in this one weekend gathering you will leave with ideas and ways to approach all of them ... from people who have been in the same place as you!
— John DiDiego, Education Director, Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont
FAQs
Curious about the Outdoor School Summit? Here are some frequently asked questions about the event.
Who is the Outdoor School Summit for?
Leadership staff from outdoor schools, residential environmental learning centers, and camps that offer overnight, multi-day programs based in environmental education. This includes executive directors, CEOs, managers, and education directors, as well as staff who are interested in leadership within the outdoor school profession.
It's wonderful to feel that you are part of a larger movement and that this type of work is being done all over the country. These people are inspiring and extremely open and sharing.
— 2025 Outdoor School Summit Participant
How many people attend?
Typically 80-120 people. This small size means that you have the time and space to build meaningful connections with nearly everyone in the room.
Why should I attend?
If you’re part of the outdoor school profession, there is no better space for your professional growth — the Summit is a supportive environment where you can learn in-depth about management and operations at outdoor schools, residential environmental learning centers, and overnight camps. In the programs you will connect with peers who truly understand the challenges you face and have insights to offer. Beyond programs, too, you have the opportunity to explore the host organization and see their operations firsthand.
I love this conference! Continuously the best conference I have ever been to. I leave every time feeling energized and full of ideas.
— 2025 Outdoor School Summit Participant
What can I expect to learn about?
All things pertaining to the management of outdoor schools and related organizations. Examples of topics include:
Advocacy and civic engagement
Building maintenance
Dining facilities
Diversity, equity, and inclusion
Food systems and farms
Fundraising
How to connect with teachers
Marketing and communications
Program management
Registration software
Risk management
Staff recruitment
Strategic and master planning
Succession planning
Workplace environments
How is this Summit different from other conferences?
Outdoor schools occupy a unique niche within the environmental field, and the Outdoor School Summit is the only conference that serves administrators within this particular industry. While other conferences may lightly touch on topics that are relevant to outdoor schools and related organizations, this Summit exclusively explores the logistics of organizational management and leadership in this field.
It was truly inspiring to be in the presence of other leaders in the industry, and the collective knowledge shared was invaluable.
— 2025 Outdoor School Summit Participant
How is the Outdoor School Summit different from the ANCA Annual Summit?
The ANCA Annual Summit includes a broad diversity of ANCA members, many of whom represent day-use centers that have no overnight programming. While topics at the Annual Summit will still be relevant to leadership staff from outdoor schools, the Outdoor School Summit provides a space exclusively for organizations that deal with the challenges of housing and feeding program participants. This focus allows Outdoor School Summit attendees to connect solely with peers who face similar challenges.
What if I'm new to the field?
Please attend! You don’t need to have been in the profession for any set amount of time. Even if you're just starting in your position, we welcome you to the event and know that it will help you in your work.
What if I'm retired from the field?
Please attend! We welcome veteran and retired professionals, and appreciate the experiences and wisdom they share.
