FAQs

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.

Great to focus on professional development with my EXACT peers — they truly get it.

— 2021 Outdoor School Summit Participant

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.

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.

Of all the trainings I attend, it is the most pertinent. It is so worthwhile for the ideas, the inspiration, and the community support and re-ignition of passion and energy in what we do.

— 2021 Outdoor School Summit Participant

All things pertaining to the management of outdoor schools and related organizations. Examples of topics include:

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.

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.

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.

Please attend! We welcome veteran and retired professionals, and appreciate the experiences and wisdom they share.