2025 ANCA Outdoor School Summit
Jan 10-14 at NorthBay in North East, Maryland
The Outdoor School Summit centers on programs that elevate your work and foster connections. Each program offers you the chance to connect with peers in a collaborative learning space, gaining fresh insights and practical tools, while building a network of professional relationships that will strengthen your work throughout the year.
"The Outdoor School Summit is a conference like no other. If there is one professional development opportunity that is a must-have for anyone in this industry, this is it!
— 2023 Outdoor School Summit Participant
A participant speaks in a session at the 2023 Outdoor School Summit.
Sessions
Open Space Sessions
The Outdoor School Summit uses an "Open Space" system to conduct conference sessions. On Saturday of the Summit, all participants come together to collectively suggest and select session topics. Summit organizers then create a session schedule for the following two days. Given this system, we invite you to bring management-level and program topics to the Summit to suggest as sessions.
All sessions have a discussion-based format so that everyone can contribute ideas and experiences. If you suggest a topic, you will be asked to facilitate the session by introducing the topic and creating a discussion among the participants.
Participants in a session at the 2023 Outdoor School Summit.The role of the facilitator is to create fair opportunities for sharing, keep the discussions on track, and make sure everyone has the opportunity to participate. These sessions are not presentations followed by questions and answers, nor the place where the facilitator is expected to answer all of the questions. Such sessions are an advantage to the facilitator because the discussion requires less formal preparation, and the facilitator does not need to be perceived as the expert.
This system allows you to collaboratively create your Summit experience, and provides the opportunity for you to be an active participant rather than a passive listener. This is also an excellent way for you to get to know your peers and how similar organizations work.
“Open Space sessions were highly effective for this group of people. This was my first time experiencing this type of collaboration and it is by far the most value I've ever received from a conference.”
— 2023 Outdoor School Summit Pariticpant
Facilitated Discussions
This year, we are excited to invite participants to submit proposals in advance for a limited number of planned Facilitated Discussions. Facilitated Discussions are conversational sessions in which all participants contribute to the discussion. Facilitators guide the dialogue and do not give a formal presentation. These sessions last 90 minutes.
We are introducing Facilitated Discussions to the event for multiple reasons:
- Planned discussions ensure we include topics relevant to our audience.
- An invitation to lead a discussion can justify Summit participation, and help anyone who must request approval to attend.
- Planned discussions are an opportunity to provide training and experience in facilitating a discussion with a group of peers.
Field Trips
Taking place on Saturday, January 11, Field Trips offer a unique opportunity to explore nature education sites in the region alongside your peers. You will have the option to attend a full-day Field Trip or two half-day Field Trips. Transportation is provided.
Full-Day Field Trips (9am-4:30pm)
National Aquarium and Baltimore Inner Harbor
The National Aquarium in Baltimore is one of the most prominent aquariums in the United States. Known for its extensive aquatic exhibits and dedication to marine conservation, the aquarium draws visitors from around the world. The aquarium houses thousands of animals across hundreds of species, including fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals.
Field Trip participants will have ample time to explore the National Aquarium. Following the aquarium visit, participants can independently explore the sites and cuisine surrounding Baltimore's Inner Harbor.
Please note you will need to purchase admission to the National Aquarium. Standard admission fare is $49.95.
Driving time to the National Aquarium is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Explore the Eastern Shore
Spend the day exploring the unique culture, history, and ecology of Maryland’s Eastern Shore with Rick Garber, NorthBay Director of Education.
In this Field Trip we’ll visit the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park to learn about the legacy of the American abolitionist and the Underground Railroad as a whole. Following this visit, we’ll tour the Horn Point Oyster Hatchery and experience how they are leading the field in oyster restoration, research, and education.
Driving time to the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park is approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Skipjack and Havre de Grace Tour (FULL)
Explore the town of Havre de Grace, where the Susquehanna River creates the Chesapeake Bay. Havre de Grace has an extensive history as an important waterfront town with world-class fisheries and waterfowl hunting, and remains a charming area to explore.
In this Field Trip we’ll visit the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum and the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum and Environmental Center. Using the Skipjack Martha Lewis, we’ll take a tour of the Susquehanna Flats to showcase the vital history, current charm, and unique ecology of the area.
This Field Trip is full. To be added to the waitlist, email .
Driving time to Havre de Grace is approximately 30 minutes.
Half-Day Field Trips
Morning (9am-12pm)
NorthBay: Behind the Scenes
Join us for an in-depth behind-the-scenes tour of NorthBay! Meet the key players that make each part of this complex organism work. Meet our adventure and education managers, learn about our guest services program, and meet the folks that craft our media program. See the sweeping vistas and the back office corners that make NorthBay an amazing experience for students from around Maryland.
White Banks Hike
Take a hike with Ian Palkovitz, NorthBay Associate Director of Education, and see the forests and wetlands that make the Elk Neck Peninsula beautiful and diverse. We’ll utilize single-track trails that lead to a sweeping view of the upper Chesapeake Bay, offering a scenic experience through multiple habitats. Along the way we’ll discuss the unique ecology of this area.
This hike is approximately 3.5 miles, with moderate elevation gain and some steep spots.
Birding at the Susquehanna Flats
Located at the mouth of the Susquehanna River where it meets the Chesapeake Bay, the Susquehanna Flats and the surrounding wetlands support a diverse array of bird species throughout the year. As a significant spot along the Atlantic Flyway, this area is particularly notable for its role in migration as well as wintering for waterfowl.
In this Field Trip, we’ll explore with a local expert to see our birding hotspots and meet the many birds that spend their winters here.
Driving time to the Susquehanna Flats is approximately 30 minutes.
Afternoon (1:30-4:30pm)
NorthBay: Behind the Scenes
Join us for an in-depth behind-the-scenes tour of NorthBay! Meet the key players that make each part of this complex organism work. Meet our adventure and education managers, learn about our guest services program, and meet the folks that craft our media program. See the sweeping vistas and the back office corners that make NorthBay an amazing experience for students from around Maryland.
White Banks Hike
Enjoy a hike with Ian Palkovitz, NorthBay Associate Director of Education, and see the forests and wetlands that make the Elk Neck Peninsula beautiful and diverse. We’ll utilize single-track trails that lead to a sweeping view of the upper Chesapeake Bay, offering a scenic experience through multiple habitats. Along the way we’ll discuss the unique ecology of this area.
This hike is approximately 3.5 miles, with moderate elevation gain and some steep spots.
Networking
Here's where you can build a network of professional relationships that will strengthen your work throughout the year — but don't worry, you won't be milling about in a stuffy environment. The culture of the Summit is engaging, welcoming, and fun, and those qualities shine in our evening networking activities.
“Great to focus on professional development with my EXACT peers — they truly get it."
— 2021 Outdoor School Summit Participant
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