Programs

Every organization runs on stories about who we are, what we value, and what’s possible. In this interactive session, we’ll build on themes from Summit Featured Speaker Amber Parker's "The Stories We Tell" keynote to explore how to intentionally shape the narratives that drive our nonprofit work. Through guided prompts, small-group collaboration, and real-time feedback, you’ll practice identifying core story elements, reframe internal and external narratives, and leave with a working draft of a story you can use in your leadership, fundraising, or team engagement efforts. This is your space to rewrite the story and reclaim your power as a nonprofit storyteller. Come ready to reflect, share, and reshape the stories that define your mission.

Facilitator: Amber Parker, President & CEO, Ijams Nature Center in Knoxville, Tennessee

Amber Parker has worked in nature centers for over 31 years and has a proven track record of guiding organizations through complex challenges to financial stability and operational excellence. As President & CEO of Ijams Nature Center and founder of RootSpark Consulting, she specializes in executive leadership, strategic planning, and organizational change, helping nonprofits build sustainability and amplify their impact.

Whether operating in a pristine natural area or an urban setting, nature centers are deeply connected to their surrounding environments and human networks. This connectivity poses both risk and opportunity when it comes to climate change, natural disasters, and social and economic challenges. In this session, we will explore how principles of resilient and adaptive site and facility design can advance your organization’s mission, strengthen your community, and contribute to healthy ecosystems. Through case studies and examples, we will discuss a range of resiliency approaches including onsite water and wastewater systems, passive sustainability strategies, and designing for equity and inclusion.

Facilitators:

• Erica Thompson, Principal, Hennebery Eddy Architects
• Pete Muñoz, Senior Engineer & Practice Leader, Biohabitats

Erica Thompson, AIA, WELL AP, LEED — Erica prioritizes sustainable design, community engagement, and occupant health and wellness through her project work. She is actively engaged in planning projects for multiple nature centers and serves her community as an advocate for land use policy, climate solutions, and social equity. Erica is a principal at Hennebery Eddy Architects in Portland, Oregon, where she leads the firm’s Net-Positive initiatives, with a focus on implementing sustainable, adaptive design solutions at all project scales.

Pete Muñoz, PE, LEED AP, ECODISTRICTS AP — For 28 years, Pete has helped implement appropriate ecological systems and dynamic water infrastructure on hundreds of projects involving wastewater treatment, stormwater management, rain harvesting, environmental remediation, and watershed restoration with a focus on balancing the water/energy/food/ecology nexus. He implements nature-based solutions that promote healthy communities, resilient infrastructure, and ecological complexity.

As Nature Centers, Outdoor Schools and Environmental Learning Centers, we often center environmental health in our work and programs. Yet as our country grapples with a growing mental health epidemic exacerbated by social justice issues, the argument for a human-health centered approach to programming has never been greater.

A growing body of evidence shows that strengthening an individual's sense of 'belonging in nature' confers significant mental and behavioral health benefits tied to improved life outcomes. The implication: our centers and programs can be powerful social justice tools, bringing nature and its benefits to the table in collective efforts to advance health and wellness outcomes, especially for marginalized groups. What role can our nature-centric organizations play as advocates for our most vulnerable community members? What opportunities exist for our teams to serve as a critical link between social service providers and positive connections to nature?

In this facilitated discussion, we’ll share:

1. Examples of how our centers and programs are offering resources to advance social justice in our communities
2. Suggestions for effective cross-discipline collaboration
3. Ideas for measuring impact and diversifying financial support.

Participants are encouraged to attend regardless of whether their center or school is currently engaged in human health and social justice work, or they are simply curious and wanting to learn more. Discussion participants will be invited to join a network of ANCA organizations looking to expand their ability to create social good.

Facilitator: Lewis Kogan, Executive Director, Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter in Park City, Utah

Lewis grew up in Missoula, Montana and was indoctrinated early with a love of all things wild and outdoors. He and his wife Halle moved to Utah in 2013 and are raising two wonderful, crazy boys there. Lewis is passionate about access to nature, restoring healthy ecosystems, and working to create and strengthen healthy teams and communities. He has previously worked for the National Park Service, the US Forest Service, Salt Lake City's Public Lands Department, and the Five Valleys Land Trust in Montana. Lewis received a B.S. in Microbiology and an M.S. in Geology from the University of Montana. He loves to hike, backpack, bike, climb, ski and paddle... but especially loves torturing his children by dragging them off into the mountains or the desert at every opportunity. He grew up without a TV, so he is culturally stunted, but is otherwise not a bad guy.

Many nature centers are elevating programming and activities that spur visitors and community members to actively engage in conservation activities that address climate change and other threats to wildlife and the natural environment. The National Audubon Society is developing and implementing a new model of Conservation Action Centers that engage individuals and communities in addressing our strategic conservation priorities. We will discuss this model and facilitate a discussion of approaches and best practices in this arena.

Facilitators:

• Loren Smith, Director of Center & Sanctuary Operations, National Audubon Society
• Evelyn Serrano, Center Director, Audubon Center at Debs Park in Los Angeles, California

Loren Smith is a paleontologist turned fundraiser turned not-for-profit manager who currently supports Audubon's network of 31 Centers and an additional 30 sanctuaries and ranches.

Evelyn (Evy) Serrano is the Director of the Debs Park Audubon Center in Los Angeles CA. Previously she spent 12 years conducting outreach programs at the California Science Center, where she developed and managed four separate educational initiatives and greatly expanded the museum’s virtual programs. She holds degrees in marine biology and conservation biology.

As the needs of our communities grow and diversify, how are nature centers responding? We invite participants to explore the evolving role of outdoor education in creating inclusive, welcoming environments for all learners — particularly individuals and families with differing abilities, learning differences, and neurodiverse perspectives.We’ll begin by examining the philosophies and values that share inclusivity at our respective sites and move toward a practical exchange of ideas and experiences. Key questions include:

• How do we adapt or design educational programming to ensure full participation?
• What specific offerings support individuals and families with differing needs?
• How are staff and volunteers trained to engage meaningfully and respectfully with all visitors?

Bring your insights, challenges, and curiosity to a collaborative conversation to reflect, learn, and grow together toward a more inclusive future for outdoor education.

Facilitator: Brittney Beck, Education Program Coordinator and Park Naturalist, El Dorado Regional Park and Nature Center in Long Beach, California

Brittney Beck comes to El Dorado Regional Park and Nature Center with experience teaching high school science in Los Angeles. Prior to that, she gained experience in aquarium husbandry at Aquarium of the Pacific and led informal education experiences for all ages at California Science Center. Brittney earned her B.S. in Marine Biology from California State University, Long Beach, and a M.A. in Education from California State University, Los Angeles. In her current role at El Dorado Nature Center, she shares her passion for helping children uncover nature's magical qualities through science exploration.

A well-structured and engaged board of directors is the backbone of a successful nonprofit. In this training session, you'll learn how to identify, recruit, develop, and manage a high-performing board that drives your organization's mission forward. We’ll cover key topics such as board roles and responsibilities, board dysfunction and burnout, board orientation, and using a board self-sssessment annually. Whether you're forming a new board or strengthening an existing one, this session will provide practical insights and actionable strategies to build a board that is committed, effective, and aligned with your nonprofit’s goals.

Presenter: Paul Acosta, Executive Director, Sibley Nature Center in Midland, Texas

Paul is a fifth-generation Texan who joined Sibley Nature Center as Executive Director in August 2018. Prior to joining Sibley, Paul was the Associate Director for The Nonprofit Management Center, a nonprofit firm that provided consulting, training, and advocacy to support the effectiveness and sustainability of nonprofit organizations in the Permian Basin. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degree in History and has a certificate in Nonprofit Management. His professional experience includes public education and nonprofit management. Paul has sat on the board of directors for a nature preserve, a private school, and cancer support organization. However, his most important role is being Dad to his 9-year old daughter, Kai, and husband to Valerie.

This workshop is the culmination of two national studies that were funded by the National Science Foundation in partnership with ANCA and its members. These studies involved observing over 400 field trip programs, systematically monitoring the characteristics and pedagogical approaches, and measuring student learning outcomes immediately after the programs. This work has produced important empirical findings and broad principles that are relevant for all nature center administrators and their staff and we would like to translate and share this research widely!

Presenters:

• Bob Powell, Director of the Institute for Parks at Clemson University and the George B. Hartzog, Jr. Endowed Professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management
• Kelley Anderson, Senior Research Associate, Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation at Virginia Tech and the Co-founder and Director of Social Science at Human Nature Group

Bob Powell is the director of the Institute for Parks at Clemson University and the George B. Hartzog, Jr. Endowed Professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management where he teaches courses on interpretation, environmental education, and park and protected area management. As part of his research program, Bob has conducted several national studies in partnership with Marc Stern and Kelley Anderson (Virginia Tech) that was supported by the National Science Foundation and investigate the program characteristics that most powerfully influence learning outcomes in environmental education school field trips and interpretive programs for adults.

Kelley Anderson is a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation at Virginia Tech and the Co-founder and Director of Social Science at Human Nature Group.  Her research and evaluation efforts focus on environmental education and interpretation, organizational capacity building, adaptive management, and human behavior change. She has contributed to several national studies with Bob Powell and Marc Stern regarding best practices in informal education and interpretation. She received her Ph.D. from Virginia Tech in Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, her M.S. from the University of Florida in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, and her B.S. from Virginia Tech in Forest Resources Management.

How can emerging technologies deepen our connection to the natural world rather than distract from it? In this interactive session, we will explore how mobile Augmented Reality (AR) can serve as a bridge, not a barrier, to place-based environmental learning. The format will be suited to outdoor facilitation, as users will engage in place-based educational experiences, with the opportunity to explore nearby sites on their own time in Orange County Parks.

Participants will learn how AR can be leveraged to transform nature centers, preserves, and public lands into dynamic learning environments that foster joy, curiosity, and a more profound sense of belonging. By linking digital missions to real-world locations, centers can create playful, culturally sustaining experiences that are accessible both on-site and remotely. This approach supports inclusive, multigenerational engagement and fosters well-being by encouraging outdoor exploration, storytelling, and connection to place.

As part of the workshop, participants will experience hands-on learning by playing a demo “Mission” on the Agents of Discovery app. They will leave with practical ideas for integrating mobile AR into their own sites to enhance place-based learning, promote joy and health, and center community voices.

Presenters:

• John Bello, Assistant Director, Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve, Arizona State University's School of Human Evolution and Social Change
• Joel Krupa, Chief Administrative Officer, Agents of Discovery

John Bello is the Assistant Director at the Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve, part of ASU’s School of Human Evolution and Social Change. He oversees site operations, staff, programming, and community outreach. Formerly Director of Education at Boyce Thompson Arboretum, he led innovative and diverse programs. His work centers on inclusive, community-driven learning experiences that connect people to place. Bello’s research explores nature play and risk management in the Sonoran Desert across age groups. He holds a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Innovation and a Master’s in Museum Studies from ASU.

Joel Krupa supports organizations in enhancing visitor engagement as Chief Administrative Officer at Agents of Discovery. He also teaches Sustainability Economics at the University of British Columbia. His career spans leadership roles in government, business, and non-profits, starting with an internship in the office of former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Joel collaborates with partners across North America and Australia to make learning more playful and accessible. He completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard after earning degrees from UBC, Oxford, the London School of Economics, and the University of Toronto.

From forest bathing to farm to table dining nights, our facilities are seeing new and exciting program opportunities. Understanding safety concerns that come with these events can be a challenge. We will look at different scenarios and learn to identify, manage, and effectively communicate rules and policies to staff and guests that help to protect our resources and our liability.

Presenter: Meaghan O’Neill, Community Services Supervisor, El Dorado Regional Park and Nature Center in Long Beach, California

Meaghan O’Neill is a Certified Park and Recreation Professional with NRPA. CIP and CIG certified with the National Association for Interpretation, and has 24 years of experience in environmental education and resource management. Her current role as the Community Services Supervisor for the City of Long Beach’s Parks, Recreation and Marine Department has her overseeing a 500-acre regional park and nature center. Over the past decade her role as supervisor has expanded to include CIP projects and looking at risk assessment in park management. Seeing over 2.5 million guests annually from the greater Los Angeles and Orange County areas, she has hand-on experience managing diverse user groups and resolving conflict situations.

Directors, Board Members, and Staff all approach a site planning process from different perspectives and with different objectives. It is critical to build a collaborative vision starting with the planning process itself. We will discuss the core components of a holistic master planning process — but more importantly we will outline 10 direct impacts that together build a foundation toward realization that serve new audiences, deliver dynamic programs, and advance the mission.

Presenters:

• Andrew Duggan, Principal & Partner, Studio Outside
• Brian Halsell, Principal, Studio Outside

Andrew Duggan has been working with the team at Studio Outside for 25 years. As a father of four, he is passionate about creating meaningful experiences for children of all ages out in nature. He has worked with numerous nature centers and camp organizations across the country including Audubon, State Parks, Girl Scouts, the Y, and 4-H. His nature center and botanical garden design projects always seek to forge a connection between mission and site experience, yielding a site that is as inspiring for guests as it is efficient and functional for staff.

Brian Halsell, a Master Naturalist and Studio Outside’s in-house horticultural expert, brings over 15 years of experience in natural systems, native plants, and sustainable site design. He leads multidisciplinary teams with a whole-systems approach, integrating mission, budget, and experience into projects such as botanical gardens, nature centers, and youth camps. A passionate advocate for education and conservation, Brian speaks on native plants and volunteers with local parks and nature centers.

As a leader in your organization, do you ever feel like you just jump from solving one problem to another over and over again? Come join this workshop to discuss how to turn your team members from problem finders to problem solvers through share leadership and collaborative problem-solving techniques.

Key takeaways from this workshop include:

1. Empower your team members to find solutions to their own problems and why it matters.
2. Learn how to "admire" a problem.
3. Leave with a set of tools you can use to facilitate a problem-solving process.
4. Foster a culture of collaborative problem solving in your team.

Presenters:

• Michael Larson, Executive Director, Blue Lotus Center
• Lisa Starke, Associate Director, Blue Lotus Center

Michael Larson has two adult college-aged children and lives with his wife in West Bend, Wisconsin. He loves his role as executive director of the Blue Lotus Center, a nonprofit nature center for people with disabilities and other profound life challenges. With over twenty years of experience in nonprofit administration, he has a varied background managing diverse departments in environmental health, community programs, visitor services, volunteer coordination, and wildlife rehabilitation. His greatest passion, however, is for coaching and developing teams. He has learned so much from the people he has had the honor to lead, and takes great pride in developing leaders and coaching his staff through difficulties by challenging them directly while treating them with compassion and dignity. He does this by fostering an environment of trust, motivation, and mutual respect.

Lisa Starke is the proud mother of two grown sons and lives with her husband in Barton, Wisconsin. She is honored to be the associate director of the Blue Lotus Center, a nonprofit that provides access to a relaxing and empowering day in nature for people of all ages with profound life challenges. Her primary areas of focus are building a thriving core of volunteers, monitoring and writing grants, and assisting with programming. She deeply enjoys utilizing important skills gained from her counseling and marketing degrees as well years of experience working with children with disabilities to help provide Blue Lotus’ wide range of guests with an experience that will have a positive impact.

Nature center leaders tend to look at program evaluation through a similar paradigm; a problem-based model. Hallmarks of this model are tools such as SWOT analysis and the mission/money matrix. Although effective, problem-based program evaluation can focus on the negative aspects of your organization, discourage creativity, and fail to see the big picture. A different framework is Appreciative Inquiry, a strengths-based approach to organizational development that identifies what is working well and replicates it throughout your organization. Appreciative Inquiry works to find the 'special sauce' of your programs rather than dwelling on problems. Through this workshop, attendees will learn the four steps of Appreciative Inquiry and how to use it for program evaluation at their centers. They will also observe a case study from the Linda Loring Nature Foundation and see the process of Appreciative Inquiry in action.

Presenter: Seth Engelbourg, Director of Education and Interpretation, Linda Loring Nature Foundation

Seth Engelbourg has worked at the Linda Loring Nature Foundation (LLNF) since 2016. At LLNF, Seth develops, implements, and evaluates a broad suite of ecological education programs for audiences of all ages and backgrounds. He also leads the organization’s birding field trips and assists with research on LLNF’s 275-acre property. Seth holds an MS in Environmental Conservation from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

United by a common mission of land preservation and education about the natural world, “other” nature-based (but not “nature center”) institutions have plenty of stories to share. Come learn from several allied professionals about how they have approached various topics related to serving up immersive and memorable experiences to the public.

Presenters:

• Andrew Duggan, Principal & Partner, Studio Outside
• Lee Clippard, Executive Director, The University of Texas at Austin Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas

Andrew Duggan has been working with the team at Studio Outside for 25 years. As a father of four, he is passionate about creating meaningful experiences for children of all ages out in nature. He has worked with numerous nature centers and camp organizations across the country including Audubon, State Parks, Girl Scouts, the Y, and 4-H. His nature center and botanical garden design projects always seek to forge a connection between mission and site experience, yielding a site that is as inspiring for guests as it is efficient and functional for staff.

Lee Clippard is the Executive Director of The University of Texas at Austin Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. He has been a member of the leadership team at the Wildflower Center since 2014, and prior to serving as executive director led the Center’s communications, marketing, plant information and guest experience efforts. Lee holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from UT Austin and a master’s degree in entomology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before joining the Wildflower Center, he was the Senior Director of Communications for the UT Austin College of Natural Sciences. He is a native plant and natural history enthusiast committed to plant and wildlife conservation and creating beautiful, resilient environments.

Creating a facility that reflects environmental values is a complex undertaking. In this field workshop, you'll learn about the full process behind designing and constructing the Environmental Nature Center’s first building (that wasn’t a trailer) — a LEED Platinum-certified nature center that now serves as a community model for sustainable architecture.

From initial vision to final details, the workshop will cover the challenges, innovations, and decisions that shaped the project. In addition to the building itself, participants will explore the center’s broader sustainability initiatives, including their Zero Waste Policy, Living Building Challenge Petal Certification, and TRUE Zero Waste Certification. This is an opportunity to examine how sustainability goals can be embedded into both infrastructure and day-to-day operations.

Presenter: Bo Glover, President of the Environmental Nature Center

The ENC Nature Preschool is about to embark on its sixth year of operation. Building a preschool from scratch had its challenges, including landing on an identity for the school. Families kept asking, “What’s your educational philosophy going to be?”, “What are your values?”, and “What kind of school is this?” 

It was hard to land on a cohesive framework of who we wanted to be, other than a school that values nature and sustainability. Over the course of a few years (and ongoing!) we started building rituals and traditions that helped shape our school culture. Join this field workshop for a taste of how we landed on that framework and experience some of those rituals for yourself.

Learning objectives include: 

• Understand some of the ‘growing pains’ involved with opening up a Nature Preschool
• Learn how to intentionally build school framework and educational philosophy from scratch
• Learn tactics for a bottom-up approach, using teachers, parents, and students to mold your school culture

Presenters: 

• Vanessa Sener, Nature Preschool Director
• Nicolle Callan, Nature Preschool Assistant Director
• Devon O’Connor, Nature Preschool Teacher

This Field Workshop takes place 8am-12pm. 

The Environmental Nature Center gained stewardship of Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary amid the pandemic, stepping in to preserve and reactivate this unique site when it was on the brink of closure. In the years since, the ENC has navigated the complex realities of operating a second nature center — managing everything from a historic home renovation to wildfire mitigation strategies, all while preserving the legacy of birding that defines Tucker.

Located in Modjeska Canyon — in the foothills of the Cleveland National Forest, about 40 minutes from the ENC’s Newport Beach campus — the sanctuary includes a natural history museum, scenic trails, a restored historic residence, and a bird observation deck. With ties to world-famous actress Helena Modjeska and the inventor of the hummingbird feeder, Benjamin Tucker, the site offers both cultural richness and ecological importance.

Join us for a guided hike through Modjeska Canyon’s oak woodlands as we reflect on lessons learned in land stewardship, site acquisition, and program integration. Expect heat, hills, and a lot of inspiration.

Learning objectives include: 

• Explore the cultural and ecological history of Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary, including the influence of Helena Modjeska and Benjamin Tucker, and how these historical figures shaped the site’s birding legacy.
• Understand the process and logistics of assuming stewardship of an existing nature center, including legal, operational, and relationship-building aspects during a period of crisis (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic).
• Identify the unique challenges and opportunities involved in managing multiple sites, such as staffing, communication, programming, and aligning mission-driven goals across locations.
• Examine the realities of managing a remote, fire-prone site, and discuss best practices in fire preparedness, community engagement, and land stewardship in vulnerable habitats.
• Gain insight into historic structure preservation within a natural setting, including lessons learned from renovating and interpreting a historically significant home as part of a public-facing nature center.
• Participate in an immersive field experience, with a guided hike to observe Tucker’s native habitat and bird populations, and reflect on how on-site experiences can be designed to educate and inspire diverse audiences.

Presenters: 

• Wendy Green, Nature Center Manager
• Julie Williams, Naturalist

Driving time to Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary is approximately 40 minutes. Transportation is provided from ENC.

Once a tight-knit beachside community and now a beloved State Park, Crystal Cove is a coastal treasure with a remarkable story of preservation, public access, and partnership. This Field Workshop will take you into the heart of the Crystal Cove Historic District to explore how Crystal Cove Conservancy — a nonprofit working in partnership with California State Parks — manages a complex, place-based operation that bridges education, historic preservation, conservation, and hospitality.

Through a tour of the Historic District and discussions with Conservancy leaders, this session will highlight how nonprofit and public agencies can build mutually beneficial relationships while managing sensitive natural and cultural resources, generating earned income, and serving the public good.

This workshop will feature:

• A 40-minute walk-and-talk of the Crystal Cove Historic District, led by Crystal Cove Conservancy President & CEO Kate Wheeler, offering insight into the site's transformation from a coastal community to a model for public-private partnership.
• An inside look at the Conservancy’s unique role operating within a California State Park, including how it balances historic preservation, public access, education, and conservation.
• A closer look at the Conservancy’s mission-aligned social enterprise model, including the operation of cottage rentals, concessions, and retail through its for-profit subsidiary, Crystal Cove Management Company.
• A Q&A session with Conservancy department directors at the Japanese Language Schoolhouse, offering perspectives on how operations, education, development, and retail teams work together to support park stewardship and financial sustainability.

Learning objectives include: 

• Explore a public-private partnership model that balances conservation, education, historic preservation, and sustainable tourism.
• Consider the challenges and opportunities in restoring and operating a historic district within a highly visited public space.
• Learn how the Conservancy has structured and operationalized a mission-aligned social enterprise model within a State Park.
• Explore how different departments coordinate to manage daily park operations, support education programs, and sustain long-term conservation goals.
• Consider the challenges and rewards of operating within a State Park while also advancing environmental and educational missions.

Presenters: 

• Kate Wheeler - President and CEO
• Hallie Jones - Executive Vice President
• Lisa Levenson - Director of Programs

Driving time to Crystal Cove is approximately 20 minutes. Transportation is provided from ENC. Please wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk and stand on uneven ground for ~40 minutes. From the carpark to the meeting site there is a downhill slope. From the walk-and-talk to the Q&A meeting site there is a set of steep stairs. If participants require mobility accommodations, please let us know in advance and we will provide a golf cart to assist with transport between locations.

Growing educational programs and community connections with limited resources is no small task — but it’s exactly what staff at the Back Bay Science Center have accomplished in just a short time.

In two years, the Back Bay Science Center went from less than 1,000 visits to almost 5,000 through re-building old relationships, developing new partnerships, and a lot of listening and creative problem-solving. This Field Workshop offers a look at how the Science Center revitalized its programs and facilities in the wake of the pandemic. 

The visit will include a tour of the Science Center with its beautiful view of the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve estuary and its tidepool touch tanks. Hosts from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife will discuss rebuilding the education programs and re-designing the facility with minimal resources post-covid and their partnership with Orange County Coastkeeper, a nonprofit that organizes field trips for local Title I High School Programs.

Learning objectives include:

• Understanding the design of an education facility for high school and college programs (that is also useful to the public)
• How to create new bridges with educators in the community to promote visitation and engagement
• How to organize funding, buses, substitutes and working with high school teachers  to provide access to environmental education programs

Presenters: 

• Jene Dietz, California Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Genessee Ouyang, Orange County Coast Keeper

Driving time to Back Bay Science Center is approximately 20 minutes. Transportation is provided from ENC.

Creating a facility that reflects environmental values is a complex undertaking. In this field workshop, you'll learn about the full process behind designing and constructing the Environmental Nature Center’s first building (that wasn’t a trailer) — a LEED Platinum-certified nature center that now serves as a community model for sustainable architecture.

From initial vision to final details, the workshop will cover the challenges, innovations, and decisions that shaped the project. In addition to the building itself, participants will explore the center’s broader sustainability initiatives, including their Zero Waste Policy, Living Building Challenge Petal Certification, and TRUE Zero Waste Certification. This is an opportunity to examine how sustainability goals can be embedded into both infrastructure and day-to-day operations.

Presenter: Bo Glover, President of the Environmental Nature Center

The ENC Nature Preschool is about to embark on its sixth year of operation. Building a preschool from scratch had its challenges, including landing on an identity for the school. Families kept asking, “What’s your educational philosophy going to be?”, “What are your values?”, and “What kind of school is this?” 

It was hard to land on a cohesive framework of who we wanted to be, other than a school that values nature and sustainability. Over the course of a few years (and ongoing!) we started building rituals and traditions that helped shape our school culture. Join this field workshop for a taste of how we landed on that framework and experience some of those rituals for yourself.

Learning objectives include: 

• Understand the ‘growing pains’ involved with opening up a Nature Preschool
• Learn how to intentionally build school framework and educational philosophy from scratch
• Learn tactics for a bottom-up approach, using teachers, parents, and students to shape your school culture

Presenters: 

• Vanessa Sener, Nature Preschool Director
• Nicolle Callan, Nature Preschool Assistant Director
• Devon O’Connor, Nature Preschool Teacher

Please note this Field Workshop is full. If you would like to be added to the waitlist, please email ANCA Director of Programs & Member Services Daniel Auer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This Field Workshop offers a guided hike and a behind-the-scenes look at the operations of Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, part of a 22,000-acre coastal sage scrub open space. Managed through a public-private partnership between Orange County Parks and Laguna Canyon Foundation, the park is supported by a range of public and private stakeholders.

Participants will learn how the two organizations collaborate to manage the site, including operating a successful volunteer program and navigating complex stakeholder relationships. The workshop will also explore how public and private agencies coordinate efforts to meet regulatory requirements related to endangered species and the urban wildland interface.

The visit will provide time for discussion, information sharing, and reflection on the benefits and challenges of collaborative land management.

Presenters: 

• Nathan Taxel, Orange County Parks
• Christie Sweeney, Laguna Canyon Foundation

Driving time is approximately 25 minutes. Transportation is provided from ENC.

This Field Workshop is 9am to 1:15pm.

Tired of the noise? Overwhelmed by the details? Let's cut through the chatter and reconnect with the core of our mission: saving the damn world. This isn't about incremental change; it's about radical regeneration and organizational sustainability. Join us at The Ecology Center, a 28-acre oasis of hope amidst urban sprawl, and reignite your passion for the "Big Picture" while discovering the keys to building a thriving nature center.

We're here to talk about the raw, unfiltered truth: the urgent need to shift culture and create a future where humanity thrives in harmony with nature. At The Ecology Center, they're not just talking about it — they're doing it. This Regenerative Organic Certified™ farm is a living testament to the power of action, a place where visionaries, farmers, educators, community builders, entrepreneurs, and master collaborators are forging a new path.

This isn't your typical conference workshop. We'll explore how The Ecology Center has transformed a barren lot into a thriving ecosystem and a successful social enterprise. We'll examine their innovative approach to retail, dinners, café operations, and events. You'll also learn how The Ecology Center is able to pay its staff, including farm workers, living wages — a crucial element of their sustainable model. We'll witness firsthand the power of regenerative agriculture to heal the land and nourish communities and the power of a well-run and well-connected organization to sustain and amplify that work.

This is a call to action. Get ready to roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty, and reconnect with the fire that drives us all.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Rearticulate the core mission of their nature center and develop a renewed vision for their organizational purpose.
• Identify and implement innovative strategies for community engagement, social enterprise, and partnership development.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of social enterprise initiatives for their organization.
• Develop strategies for maximizing organizational impact while ensuring financial viability and organizational sustainability.

Presenter: Jonathan Zaidman, Engagement Director at The Ecology Center

Driving time to The Ecology Center is approximately 30 minutes. Transportation is provided from ENC. Lunch will be provided on-site at The Ecology Center.

A strong board of directors is essential to a nonprofit’s success. In this half-day workshop, participants will explore practical strategies for building and sustaining an effective board. Topics include board recruitment, onboarding, roles and responsibilities, governance best practices, and fostering a productive board-staff relationship. Through interactive discussions and real-world examples from current and past members of the ANCA Board, attendees will gain tools to assess their current board structure, engage members more effectively, and align board efforts with organizational goals. 

Whether you're developing a new board or strengthening an existing one, this session will provide valuable insights into enhancing board performance and supporting your nonprofit’s long-term success.

Attendees will leave with sample documents, resources, and concrete next steps to build and sustain a successful board. 

Learning Objectives: 

• Understand the core roles and responsibilities of a nonprofit board.
• Identify effective board structures and committees.
• Develop strategies for board recruitment and onboarding.
• Enhance board engagement and accountability.
• Strengthen the board/staff partnership.
• Apply best practices in board leadership and governance.

Presenter: Jen Levy, Executive Director, Association of Nature Center Administrators

9am-3pm  |  $25/person

Step back in time and indulge in a charming afternoon in San Juan Capistrano with ENC Education Director Mindy Schwartz. Wander through the historic Mission San Juan Capistrano, soaking in California’s rich history, then unwind with afternoon tea at The Tea House in the picturesque Los Rios Historic District. Enjoy time to explore the area’s quaint shops, antique treasures, and vibrant local flavors. A perfect blend of culture, history, and relaxation!

Cost for activities is on your own: Admission to the Mission is $18 ($15 for seniors), and tea at The Tea House will range from $30-$80 depending on your order. Limited carpooling with Mindy is available — once full, transportation must be arranged through ANCA’s carpooling system. Meet at the Ayres Hotel Lobby at 9am. We will return by 3pm.

Driving time to San Juan Capistrano is approximately 30 minutes from the Ayres Hotel.

10am-2:30pm  |  $25/person

Join ENC Early Childhood Education Specialist Kass DeBoer for a delightful day of treasure hunting in Old Towne Orange! Home to numerous antique, collectible, and specialty shops, this charming historic district is the perfect place to explore unique finds and vintage gems. After browsing, we’ll gather for lunch at one of the many fantastic local restaurants. 

Cost for shopping and dining is on your own. Limited carpooling with Kass is available — once full, transportation must be arranged through ANCA’s carpooling system. Meet at the Ayres Hotel Lobby at 10am. We will return by 2:30pm.

Driving time to Old Towne Orange is approximately 30 minutes from the Ayres Hotel.

Please note this Field Trip is full. If you would like to be added to the waitlist, please email ANCA Director of Programs & Member Services Daniel Auer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

8am-6:30pm  |  $125/person

What better way to cap off your visit to Southern California than with an excursion to Catalina Island? Take a 90-minute boat ride to Catalina at 8:45am, and upon arrival you'll be greeted by scenic views of the Catalina wilderness and bluffs. You'll arrive in the seaside town of Avalon, where you can explore local restaurants, shops and art galleries.  When you're ready for more adventure, you can go snorkeling, hiking, or even zip lining! Or if you just want to spend a day reading a good book on the beach with a tropical cocktail in hand, that can be arranged as well. At 4:30pm you'll catch the boat back to Newport, leaving your magical 1-day island vacation behind.

Fees for this excursion include your boat tickets, as well as transportation from the hotel to the boat dock in the morning, and from the boat dock back to the hotel or ENC in the evening. We'll also provide you with a curated list of restaurant, shop, and activity recommendations for the island.

Depart the Ayres Hotel at 8am. Participants can choose to return to the hotel or ENC following the Field Trip; return will be approximately 6:30pm.