Events

Sample Schedule & Programs

We're currently planning the 2027 Annual Summit and will publish more details soon. In the meantime, view the full 2026 Summit schedule here to see what the event includes.

This page references multiple types of programs:

Field Workshops – Field Workshops are your opportunity to visit nature education sites and learn firsthand from their operations. Representatives from the organization host each workshop and demonstrate how they put their missions into action.
Facilitated Discussions – Facilitated Discussions are collaborative sessions where all participants contribute to the discussion. Facilitators guide the dialogue but do not give a formal presentation.
Workshops – Workshops are presentation-based sessions where you can learn in-depth on a single topic, expand your skill set, and engage directly with experts.
Open Space – Open Space sessions provide an opportunity for Summit participants to create their own meeting or continue a session that needs more time. To develop these sessions, participants gather during the Summit to collectively design the session topics.
Field Trips – Field Trips add to your professional development experience while taking advantage of unique opportunities to visit additional sites and interact with peers.

Monday

3pm – Check-in

Sign in, pick up Summit materials, and introduce yourself.

5pm – Networking Social

6pm – Dinner

7pm – Summit Welcome

A warm welcome and introduction with ANCA and host-site staff.

Tuesday

7-8:30am – Early Morning Activities

Optional activities to start your day, including birding and a hike.

9am-12pm – Field Workshops

Restoring Landscapes: 30 Years of Land Stewardship at Chippewa Nature Center

Exploring and Expanding Nature Preschool: A Look at the Spaces and Funding of Early Childhood Learning

Program Facilities: Creating Spaces Where All People Are Welcome

Confluence in Action: The Executive Solutions Lab

Cultivating Knowledge: Agriculture Education in a Public Garden

12:15-1:15pm – Lunch

1:30-3pm – Facilitated Discussions and Workshops

FD = Facilitated Discussion, WS = Workshop

WS — Mastering the Elements: Weather Safety & Preparedness

WS — From the Ground Up: How to Integrate Your Interpretive Goals in Your Next Building Project

WS — From the Field: Operating and Scaling a Nature-Based Preschool

What does it really take to run and grow a thriving nature-based preschool? This workshop offers a field-informed look at the systems and strategies that support high-quality programs. Participants will explore day-to-day operations such as scheduling, curriculum design, and risk-benefit approaches to outdoor learning, alongside the bigger-picture elements that sustain a program over time.

We’ll dig into staffing structures and recruitment and retention strategies that help maintain consistency and quality. The session will also guide participants through key questions to assess readiness for growth, offering a framework for scaling a program in ways that align with mission and capacity.

Along the way, participants will deepen their understanding of how to operationalize nature-based early childhood education within real-world constraints, strengthening their ability to lead programs that advance environmental education and connection to the natural world.

Presenter:

John Vincent, Chief of Early Childhood Education, ODC Network

John Vincent serves as Chief of Early Childhood Education for the ODC Network, overseeing five nature-based early childhood sites and leading strategic initiatives to advance outdoor education across Michigan. A lifelong advocate for children, John found his calling in early education. He believes deeply in getting kids outdoors, nurturing their curiosity about the natural world, and helping them build the foundational skills that will set them up for success throughout their educational journey. John's impact on outdoor education in West Michigan has been transformative. He spearheaded the expansion of the ODC Early Childhood Network, including building a nature-based early childhood campus within a former strip mall—transforming over 20 acres of neglected woods into a thriving educational space with trails and conservation areas that embody ODC's mission. He led the development of Gentex Discovery Preschool, a first-of-its-kind on-site partnership providing top-tier, nature-based care and education for Gentex Corporation employees, serving children from birth through kindergarten entry and offering second-shift care to meet the needs of working families. Currently, John is leading statewide efforts to align nature-based education with Michigan's Universal PreK expansion, building sustainable business models for childcare through corporate and community partnerships, and supporting early childhood leaders in advancing their own nature-based programs. John graduated from Grand Valley State University and taught special education at the K-12 level. Before coming to ODC, he worked for a Head Start grantee, where he advanced to Deputy Director of Early Childhood Services in Northeastern Michigan, overseeing 120 preschool classrooms in 21 counties. Outside of work, John enjoys spending time with his wife and three children in their new community in West Michigan and at their family cottage in Manistee.

WS — Beyond the Patchwork: A Nature Center's Roadmap to Unified Operations

Most nature centers run on a patchwork of disconnected tools: one system for donors, another for camp registration, a separate platform for email, a website that does not talk to any of them, and spreadsheets holding it all together. It works until it doesn't. Staff burn hours on duplicate data entry, members fall through the cracks, and leadership cannot see the full picture of who supports the organization and how.

In this session, Reflection Riding and Lake One will walk through what it actually takes to move from a fragmented stack to a unified operations platform that connects marketing, fundraising, donor management, camp registration, and membership into one source of truth.

You will hear the unvarnished version of the journey, including:

How to know you are ready (and the readiness signals that mean you are not). A practical framework for evaluating organizational, data, and team readiness before you sign anything.
How to evaluate vendors without getting sold to. What to ask, what to ignore, and how to separate platform capability from implementation reality.
How to manage the build without losing your team. Change management lessons from the middle of a live transformation, including how to set expectations with staff, board, and members.
What the unified experience actually looks like once camp families, donors, members, and event attendees live in the same system, and how that changes what your team can do.

You will leave with a readiness checklist, a vendor evaluation rubric, and a clearer picture of what year one of digital transformation really looks like at a nature center, told by people in the thick of it.

Presenters:

Mary Corson, Managing Director, Reflection Riding Nature Center & Arboretum
Ryan Ruud, Founder and CEO, Lake One
Casey Goodrich, Technical Consultant, Lake One

Mary Corson is Managing Director at Reflection Riding Nature Center & Arboretum in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Ryan Ruud is Founder and CEO of Lake One, an Accredited HubSpot Solutions Partner focused exclusively on nonprofits and purpose-driven organizations. He has spent more than a decade helping purpose-driven teams replace duct-taped tech stacks with systems that actually serve their work.

Casey Goodrich is a Technical Consultant at Lake One, where he leads technical architecture and product development for nonprofit operations on HubSpot.

WS — Build the Board. Grow the Talent. Lead the Future.

WS — Have an Exhibit Project? How to Work with Exhibit Firms

FD — Practicing Purposeful Partnerships

How do nature centers remove barriers to connection with their local communities? How do you build authentic, meaningful relationships that make all people feel welcomed, included, and part of your center or organization? How do we move from providing to partnering?

We'll talk about ways that we can build bridges, remove barriers, and have real, meaningful nature-based opportunities for people that have geographic, language, mobility, transportation, and/or other potential barriers to participation and ways that we as nature organizations can collaborate with and work alongside to lift up, connect, and support our communities. Building community partnerships is a powerful way to build relationships and expand the reach of our work, but it also requires our organizations to be listening, learning, showing up, and following through on our word.

This session is for you if you have specific groups or organizations that you’d like to connect with, you want to brainstorm new and creative ways to develop partnerships, or if you have a great partnership experience to highlight. Let’s share our successes and challenges with creating thriving, purposeful, collaborative work that connects us and our communities. We’ll consider how to understand who comes to your programs and sites, who doesn’t currently participate, how to explore the region around your facility, and brainstorm ways to move your organization into more authentic community outreach and engagement.

Community engagement is messy, rewarding, and meaningful!

Facilitator:

Erin Parker, Community Outreach Interpretive Services Supervisor, Huron-Clinton Metroparks

Erin Parker is the Community Outreach Interpretive Services Supervisor for the Huron-Clinton Metroparks, a 13-park regional park system in five counties in and around Detroit, Michigan. Erin and her team build bridges into communities ranging from rural to urban, bring our nature programming into schools where our staff are embedded in the schools teaching alongside teachers 2 times weekly, into assisted living centers where we conduct programming for multiple senior audiences and their caregivers, early childhood centers where we focus on empowering teachers and staff to conduct nature-based activities on their school grounds, and more! We love to creatively engage our diverse community on site and bring nature experiences to them through partnerships, events, scholarships, and more.

3:30-5pm – Facilitated Discussions and Workshops

FD = Facilitated Discussion, WS = Workshop

WS — How Do We Know We’re Saving the World? Tracking Progress Toward Your Mission

Nature center leaders are driven by a powerful sense of purpose — but how do you know if your work is actually making a difference? And how do you communicate that difference to funders, community members, and your own team?

This interactive workshop explores the why and how of tracking organizational impact. We'll start with the big question: why measure progress at all? Together, we'll examine how strong evaluation practices help you stay true to your mission, make the case to funders, and share your organization's story in a way that resonates.

From there, we'll dig into practical methods for gathering and synthesizing evidence, including a look at what your organization is likely already collecting. You'll leave with a clearer sense of how to connect the data you have to the outcomes that matter most.

Through guided peer conversations and hands-on activities, participants will strengthen their use of key strategy and evaluation tools, including logic models and strategic plans. The goal isn't measurement for its own sake, it's using these tools actively to improve your work and sharpen your organization's focus.

Whether you're just beginning to think about impact measurement or looking to deepen an existing practice, this workshop will give you frameworks, peer insights, and practical next steps you can bring back to your organization.

Participants will leave with:

A stronger understanding of why and how to track mission-driven impact
Familiarity with multiple methods for measuring and communicating results
Hands-on experience with strategy and evaluation tools like logic models
Connections with peers navigating similar challenges

Presenter:

Carolyn Waters, Ph.D., Principal Consultant, Ranger Rabbit Consulting

Dr. Carolyn Waters has twenty years of experience in environmental education practice and research across the U.S. Southeast, Midwest, and Pacific Northwest. She has published and presented on topics such as training for environmental educators and curricular design that involves young people in environmental decision making. As Principal Consultant for Ranger Rabbit Consulting, she provides strategic services to organizations that connect people with nature, including support for impact measurement, strategic planning, and evaluation. Her participatory approach engages and empowers stakeholders at all levels. Her passion is to work with groups to foster critical thinking, collaboration, and action for social and ecological justice. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, she lives on an urban homestead with her partner, dog, cat, and a handful of chickens.

WS — Tech at the Nature Center: Bringing Digital Storytelling into Green Spaces

What does digital storytelling look like in a green space? How does it enrich visitor experiences? What best practices exist for making sure digital storytelling aligns with institutional goals and the capacities of a space? This workshop aims to create a space to pause and reflect. We want to cultivate an environment of thoughtful questions around the real-world benefits of tech in green outdoor spaces, and explore how to strike a balance between a digital and in-person experience.

Participants will understand the workings of Bloomberg Connects, a digital storytelling and interpretation platform, and how it can support their work at nature centers. Participants will come away with a fuller understanding of the digital tools and resources that are available to them, which can help them meet the present moment and better serve a diverse audience. Participants will come away with real-world examples and strategies of how digital tools are being used to facilitate meaningful visitor experiences in green spaces. Participants will understand what they can expect from a digital interpretation platform, how to evaluate a tool and determine how it might support the mission of their organization, and how to build stakeholder engagement around new digital platforms.

Presenters:

Isabel Cuellar, Community & Partner Success Manager, Bloomberg Connects
Mary Corson, Managing Director, Reflection Riding
Michaela Wright, Director of Exhibitions Content & Interpretation, The New York Botanical Garden

Isabel Cuellar, from the Bloomberg Connects team, has worked with recruiting, onboarding, marketing, and community engagement teams. She manages a Botanic Gardens + Living Collection Partners Community within Bloomberg Connects. This experience gives her the perspective needed to moderate this digital adoption conversation.

Mary Corson is the Managing Director at Reflection Riding, a 300-acre nature center in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She leads organizational strategy and operations, with a focus on visitor experience, interpretation, and cross-functional initiatives. Mary has played a key role in the development and implementation of Reflection Riding’s signage and digital guide strategy, bringing a practical perspective on how nature centers can thoughtfully integrate digital tools to support engagement, accessibility, and connection to place.

Michaela Wright, Director of Exhibitions Content & Interpretation at the New York Botanical Garden, can address signage options and training tactics that have been used onsite to enhance visitor experiences. Her perspective working at a large institution will help create a diverse array of voices in the workshop.

FD — Building a Michigan Coalition for Outdoor/Nature-based Early Childhood Learning

In this facilitated discussion, representatives of the Michigan Early Childhood Outdoors (MiECO) Hub will share a brief history of the group’s emergence, early history, and aspirations for expanding access to outdoor/nature-based early childhood education. Then, facilitators will guide attendees through a series of discussion questions relating to necessary strategies for coalition-building in this field: building interest, awareness, and pathways for learning about and initiating outdoor early childhood education; cultivating resources and commitments to best practices for the field; and organizing support for broader access to nature for children of all ages.

Facilitators:

Caleb Carlton, President & CEO, Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative & MiECO Advisory Group Leader
Brooke Larm, Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative & MiECO Advisory Group Leader
John Vincent, Chief of Early Childhood Education, ODC Network & MiECO Advisory Group Leader
Lisa Marckini, Program Evaluator & Administrative Specialist, Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative & MiECO Advisory Group Leader

Caleb Carlton earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Applications from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in Environmental Geoscience from Mississippi State University. Before joining the GLSI in 2023, he worked as a residential environmental educator in southern California, then at the Tremont Institute in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Throughout his career he has worked to build durable partnerships between schools and nature-based organizations so that young people have ongoing connections to nature as part of their schooling.

Brooke Larm holds a Master of Arts in Teaching and Curriculum from Michigan State University, with concentrations in K–12 Administration and Nature-Based Early Childhood Education. She also earned a Certificate in Nature-Based Early Childhood Education from Antioch University New England and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Michigan State University, with minors in Environmental Science and English and a Spanish K–12 endorsement. Her degree work and professional preparation inform more than twenty years of experience designing integrated, place-based curriculum and advancing high-quality outdoor and nature-based learning for children, youth, and educators.

John Vincent is the Chief of Early Childhood Education for the ODC Network, where he leads a growing network of nature-based early childhood programs serving infants through PreK. With a background in special education and systems leadership, John’s work bridges classroom practice, policy, and implementation to expand equitable access to outdoor learning. He has helped shape Michigan’s nature-based licensing guidance, supported statewide professional learning efforts, and contributes nationally through a NIEER committee focused on integrating nature-based education into public PreK systems. John believes the most powerful learning environments are those that invite curiosity, inclusion, and shared discovery—supporting children and educators alike in learning alongside the natural world.

Lisa Marckini earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science from Wayne State University. Through her consultancy, Civic Research Services, Inc., she has worked on numerous evaluations and program-development efforts with the environment as a common theme. Since 2007, she has managed the evaluation of the Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative. She has expertise in an array of evaluation strategies as well as data management, data visualization and analysis, and facilitation skills.

WS — Weaving the Green Thread of Alliance: A Curated Guide

FD — Building on a Mission: Aligning Capital Projects with Your Organizational Values

WS — Shared Leadership Practicum: A Role-Playing Experience

Shared Leadership is the idea that decisions are more smarter, more effective, and have greater buy-in when they leverage the collective wisdom of your team. That sounds great ... but how does it actually work in a larger organization? We will be playing a role playing game that models a major decision making process in a larger organization that utilizes the principles of shared leadership. Come ready to be part of the action. Cosplay and d20s are optional. Participants will learn:

Why shared leadership is important and how it works
Effective tools to facilitate a decision-making progress while maximizing input and buy-in from the team
How to avoid getting stuck
How to organize a medium-sized to large organization around shared leadership

Presenters:

Michael Larson, Executive Director, Blue Lotus Center
Lisa Starke, Associate Director, Blue Lotus Center
Glenna Holstein, Director of Development, Fondy Food Center

Michael Larson is the Executive Director of the Blue Lotus Center, a nonprofit nature center for people with disabilities and other profound life challenges in West Bend, WI. He has two adult children and a lovely wife, who is also an executive director. If you find yourself sitting next to Mike you could strike up a conversation with him about biology, religion, board games, the nonprofit sector, and/or shared leadership and collaborative teams as an organizational strategy. Or, for that matter, you can bring up whatever is interesting to you… he just likes talking to people. He is also the DM for an elaborate Dungeons & Dragons campaign, hence the RPG vibes.

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 as 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.

Glenna Holstein is the Director of Development at Fondy Food Center, an organization that focuses on issues of healthy food access and economic opportunity in the greater Milwaukee area. Glenna works at the intersection of community and nature, putting her energy toward efforts that will nurture connections between people and place, help us live more lightly on the earth, and build the kind of world that she wants her daughter to grow up in. Her work and studies have taken her to many remarkable places, from California to New Mexico to Russia to Ecuador, but she has always felt the deepest sense of belonging at home in Milwaukee, preferably with her hands in the soil or her feet in Lake Michigan.

FD — Square Foot Nature Center-ing: Making the Best Use of Small Nature Centers

5pm – Networking Social

6pm – Dinner

7pm – Leadership Awards Ceremony

Celebrate excellence in our field at the ANCA Leadership Awards Ceremony, a special evening honoring individuals who exemplify outstanding leadership in the nature center profession.

8pm – Evening Activities

Conclude the day with some fun, including options to explore the nature center and downtown Midland.

Wednesday

7-8:30am – Early Morning Activities

Optional activities to start your day, including bird banding at the nature center.

9am-12pm – Field Workshops

Program Facilities: Creating Spaces Where All People Are Welcome

Exploring and Expanding Nature Preschool: A Look at Pedagogy and Staffing

Insights into Infrastructure: Maintaining Facilities and Infrastructure that Serve the Mission

Accessible by Design: Exploring Dow Gardens Without Limits

Alden B. Dow Home & Studio: Architecture, Education, and Mission in Practice

12:15-1:15pm – Lunch

1:30-5pm – Open Space Sessions

Open Space sessions provide an opportunity for you to create your own meeting, continue a session that needs more time, or find a group to address an issue that was not presented elsewhere during the Summit. Participants first go through a collaborative process to design the session topics and develop a session schedule, then break into two one-hour sessions.

At the 2026 Summit, sessions created for this time included:

Fundraising and development
Organizational structures for small nonprofits
Native/Indigenous Partnerships
Teen engagement
Incorporating accessibility into programs & spaces
Volunteer Recruitment
Effective Boards of Directors
Playground Design
Using storytelling to share impact
HR Trainings & practices for small orgs
Summer camp staffing models

6pm – Evening at the Ballpark: Great Lakes Loons

Enjoy a summer evening with the Great Lakes Loons, Midland's own Minor League Baseball team. We'll gather in the Northern Lights Pavilion, a flexible, open-air space designed for conversation, connection, and plenty of room to move around. Dinner is provided.

Thursday

7-8:30am – Early Morning Activities

Optional activities to start your day, including birding and a wetlands exploration.

9-10:30am – Facilitated Discussions and Workshops

FD = Facilitated Discussion, WS = Workshop

WS — Adventures in Accessibility: How the Outdoor Adventure Center Creates an Inclusive Space

It is important that everyone feels welcomed and accepted in all spaces. The DNR Outdoor Adventure Center creates accessible ways for visitors to engage with all types of our programming. Whether visiting our building with family or their school, participating in a public program or recreational experience (such as fishing or archery), or attending a large expo event we strive to provide a diverse selection of inclusive experiences and continuously improve and raise our standards. We will start our workshop by walking through what our facility has implemented to be more inclusive to all; including our Sensory-Friendly Days available to the public and private groups. We will leave 20-30 minutes with time for discussion on what could be done at your facility!

Workshop objectives include:

Learn how to expand access to your programming, including large scale events.
Expand knowledge of accessibility tools and resources available to be more inclusive.
Better understanding of needs that your guests may have and how they could be met while visiting your location.
Techniques and training for staff learning and awareness.

Presenters:

Katie Gillies, Assistant Director, DNR Outdoor Adventure Center
Danielle Wilemski, Educational Programmer, DNR Outdoor Adventure Center

Katie Gillies is the Assistant Director for the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center. Katie has worked at the OAC since the doors opened in 2015, in multiple roles. She oversees the OAC's general facility operations, guest experience and customer service, and group reservation processes. With a strong commitment to accessibility and inclusion, she serves on the OAC’s accessibility and marketing teams alongside the OAC's education staff to support and promote inclusive programs across the facility. She also works alongside the accessibility team to ensure staff are appropriately trained on available offerings and resources, to maintain a welcoming and informed experience for all visitors.

Danielle Wilemski is an educator for the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center. She has worked passionately to connect guests of all abilities to the outdoors and created Sensory-Friendly Days at the OAC. Sensory-Friendly Days have grown into monthly offerings for families and individuals for adventure. In 2025, Danielle launched Sensory-Friendly Days for schools and summer camp which has turned into a monthly availability. These days give groups an opportunity to visit the OAC when they are closed to the public, smaller capacity, and the same building standards as public Sensory-Friendly Days.

WS — Building What We Believe: Spaces with Purpose

How can the places we create reflect the values we hold? This workshop explores how mission, vision, and values can serve as guiding tools in shaping the built environment of a nature center or environmental organization. Through guided exercises and collaborative discussion, participants will work directly with their organization’s existing values to explore how those principles can inform decisions about land use, facilities, programming, and visitor experience.

Together, we’ll examine how concepts such as stewardship, sustainability, resiliency, access, education, and community can move from abstract ideals into tangible spatial choices. Participants will gain frameworks and prompts to help guide future building and planning efforts, using mission-driven thinking as a filter for decision-making.

The session will also feature a case study of the Wild Bear Nature Center, highlighting how organizational values shaped the design process and influenced key decisions throughout a major development project. Topics will include navigating financial constraints, sustainability goals, regulatory realities, community partnerships, and long-term operational needs.

Designed as a studio-style conversation, this workshop will give participants the opportunity to reflect on their own organizations and identify mission-aligned next steps for future growth and development.

Presenter:

Linnaea Stuart, AIA, LEED AP, NOMA, Principal Architect, Arch11

Linnaea resides in Colorado where she is a licensed architect and principal at Arch11, a Colorado based firm dedicated to resilient and impactful design. With an interest in searching for unique projects in her field, Linnaea's work has focused on the design and construction of cultural landmarks, including Wild Bear Nature Center a new net-positive education center in Nederland, Colorado. Her passion lies in turning great ideas into tangible, built realities driven by thoughtful collaboration, meticulous attention to detail, and creative problem-solving. During her free time, she enjoys taking early morning walks with her dog, Ladybird, and tasting new culinary treats at all times of the day.

WS — Using the NABERS Tool to Identify the Quality of Nature-based Programs

WS — Constructing Meaning Outdoors: Literacy-Infused Science Learning in Nature Centers

Nature centers and outdoor learning environments are uniquely positioned to strengthen both science achievement and literacy development through meaningful, content-rich experiences. This interactive workshop explores a literacy-infused outdoor learning model grounded in the Science of Reading, experiential learning theory, and standards-aligned science instruction.

Using a 5th grade organism classification field investigation as a case study, participants will examine how structured literacy practices — including academic vocabulary development, morphology, informational text structures, oral language routines, and evidence-based discussion strategies — can be intentionally embedded into inquiry-driven environmental education experiences without sacrificing student curiosity or engagement.

Participants will engage in practical strategies for designing interdisciplinary learning experiences that connect reading comprehension with authentic scientific observation and investigation. The session will also highlight how nature centers can serve as essential academic partners by building background knowledge, strengthening disciplinary literacy, and supporting equitable access to rich learning experiences for diverse student populations.

Presenter:

Christina Maldonado, Director, Oatland Island Wildlife Center
S. Michelle West, M.Ed., Science Teacher, Oatland Island Wildlife Center

Christina Maldonado serves as Director of Oatland Island Wildlife Center, where she leads standards-aligned environmental education programs designed to connect experiential learning with measurable academic outcomes. With more than 25 years in education, including roles as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, school administrator, and K–5 District Science Content Specialist, she specializes in interdisciplinary learning experiences that integrate life science, literacy, and inquiry-based instruction. Christina is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership with research focused on the impact of standards-aligned experiential learning on student engagement and achievement. She is passionate about positioning nature centers as vital partners in advancing science learning, literacy development, and educational equity.

Michelle West has been in the field of education for over 20 years. Michelle started her career as a gymnastics coach and classroom teacher. Her love of teaching and the outdoors led her to be the Education Coordinator at a nature center in Florida. Her passion is to inspire others to explore and discover the world around them. Michelle is currently working as a Science Teacher at Oatland Island Wildlife Center in Savannah, Georgia.

WS — From Gadgets to Mission Impact: Practical Technology Planning for Nature Centers

Nature centers are being asked to do more with technology than ever before: visitor engagement tools, digital interpretation, database systems, camera traps, acoustic recorders, environmental sensors, digital exhibits, trail-use monitoring, and a growing wave of AI-enabled workflows. The real challenge is rarely choosing a tool. It is deciding what technology is actually worth the staff time, budget, maintenance, training, and long-term commitment a nature center can sustain.

This interactive workshop helps nature center leaders make practical, mission-aligned decisions about technology adoption. Too often, tools get adopted reactively, because something seems exciting or a peer organization is already using it, before there is a clear plan for staffing, maintenance, interpretation, or long-term value. Nature centers are especially exposed to this pattern because they work across education, land stewardship, public programs, exhibits, and operations all at once, usually with lean teams.

Participants will work through a simple Technology Planning Canvas to identify one priority use case at their own center, define the audience or operational need it serves, assess site constraints, weigh risks and tradeoffs, and build a realistic 12-month roadmap for one or two pilot efforts. Pilots might range from a camera trap network, a sensor deployment, or a digital exhibit. The session emphasizes outcomes that matter to nature centers: stewardship, interpretation, education, visitor experience, communications, and operations. It is not about technology for its own sake.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to identify where technology can create meaningful value at their center, evaluate choices based on mission fit, staffing capacity, maintenance burden, accessibility, privacy, and budget rather than novelty, and write clear objectives and success criteria for a pilot. They will leave with a draft 12-month roadmap that includes roles, training, documentation, data workflows, replacement and upkeep needs, and evaluation, plus a reusable planning framework they can bring back to staff, leadership, and boards.

The goal is not to convince people to use more technology. It is to help leaders decide where technology genuinely strengthens their mission, where it may create unnecessary burden, and how to pilot new tools in ways that are realistic, inclusive, and sustainable. The session is designed to be facilitated outdoors or in a low-tech setting, using printed worksheets, small-group discussion, and peer feedback rather than slides or demos. Participants will walk away with something concrete they can use immediately, not just ideas to think about later.

Presenter:

Shah Selbe, Engineer and Conservation Technologist, FieldKit

Shah Selbe is an engineer, conservation technologist, and National Geographic Explorer working at the intersection of open-source technology and field science. He is CEO and Executive Director of FieldKit, a nonprofit building open-source environmental monitoring hardware, a data platform, and field-training programs used by researchers and communities in roughly a dozen countries. Before moving into conservation through Stanford's Center for Ocean Solutions, Shah was a satellite propulsion engineer at Boeing. He is a Rolex Award Finalist, a Hackaday Prize winner, a Nelson Institute Fellow at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a PopTech Social Innovation Fellow, and a former National Geographic Society Fellow. He serves on the board of International Bird Rescue.

WS — Listening to the Land: Using Observation to Strengthen Leadership

Leadership at nature centers often pulls us inside — into budgets, staffing, strategic decisions, and putting out “fires” — while the landscapes that first inspired our work wait quietly outside the window. In this workshop, we will step away from the noise and constant inputs of daily work and turn to the natural world for perspective, renewed energy, and a deeper sense of purpose.

Through a guided walk and shared observation, participants will pay close attention to the living systems around them — the persistence of plants, the movement of pollinators, and the relationships that allow ecosystems to flourish over time. Together, we will explore what these patterns can teach us about responding to challenges, supporting healthy workplace cultures, nurturing long-term partnerships, and staying grounded during uncertain moments. Participants may discover that careful observation not only changes the way we see the landscape, but also the way we approach our work, our decisions, and one another.

The workshop will also invite participants to reflect on their own “pulse point” — the work that motivates and sustains them — and to consider how a clearly shared sense of purpose can inspire and align staff, board members, donors, volunteers, and visitors around a common vision.

Participants will leave with practical ways to use observation as a leadership tool, along with renewed appreciation for how the natural world can restore perspective, spark creativity, and strengthen the way they lead.

Presenter:

Tavia Cathcart Brown, Executive Director, Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve

Tavia Cathcart Brown is Executive Director of Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve in Goshen, Kentucky, a 170-acre public charity serving 60,000 visitors annually. A trained botanist, she brings an ecological lens to leadership, education, and conservation. Her work includes the development of nationally recognized native gardens, habitat restoration initiatives, and expanded access to nature. Tavia is co-author of Wildflowers of Tennessee, the Ohio Valley, and Southern Appalachians, a field guide to 16 states, and co-author/lead photographer of Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, recipient of a Gold Nautilus Book Award. She hosted a KY Educational TV show, Kentucky’s Secret Gardens, nominated for an Emmy Award. She regularly presents on ecology, stewardship, and interpretive storytelling, and how close observation can inspire curiosity, care, and conservation.

FD — Endowments: Building, Growing, Sustaining, and Using Them

11-12:30pm – Facilitated Discussions and Workshops

FD = Facilitated Discussion, WS = Workshop

WS — Buildings for People Who Would Rather Be Outdoors: Seven Strategies for Better Nature Center Design

Nature center buildings serve a unique purpose: supporting experiences in the outdoors without overshadowing them. This session explores mission-driven approaches to planning and designing buildings that strengthen the visitor experience and deepen connection to place.

Drawing on years of experience, presenters will share seven guiding strategies for creating spaces that truly serve people who would rather be outside. Topics will include assessing the building’s purpose, identifying the right location and scale for development, creating welcoming outdoor spaces, and designing experiences that resonate with a variety of audiences.

Learning objectives include:

Discover how nature-based buildings (and their surrounding sites) can respect the land while better supporting your mission
Learn about smart site and facility planning ideas from experts with decades of experience
Explore sustainability strategies that fit your values, resources, and identity while going beyond mere greenwashing
Understand how a thoughtfully executed master planning process can support and enhance fundraising

Presenters:

Erik Hancock, AIA, LFA, NOMA, Partner, The Kubala Washatko Architects
Therese Hanson, Project Architect, The Kubala Washatko Architects

Erik Hancock, AIA, LFA, NOMA believes in the power of collaboration to make buildings that are beautiful, humane, and interconnected with the living world. As a TKWA partner, he seeks to more fully integrate the firm’s wholeness-based philosophy, both in design outcomes and in studio culture. Erik is an experienced designer, architect, and project manager, as well as a nationally-recognized leader in planning and design for outdoor camps and nature-based educational facilities. Erik’s undergraduate and graduate training in music performance and education provide a uniquely empathetic perspective on this complex and challenging project. On a typical work day Erik can be found accompanied by his miniature schnauzer, Mojo—the studio’s unofficial emotional support animal.

As a project designer, Therese Hanson enjoys being involved with each phase of a project as it evolves from just a good idea into remarkable spaces that bring people joy. Each project is unique, but all projects need vision, a collaborative spirit, and an embrace of the details; Therese endeavors to bring these characteristics to every team. She believes that it is our responsibility to leave the world more beautiful and more whole than when we found it, and each project is an opportunity to make that a reality.

WS — Field Tours: How to Take Your Natural History Knowledge on the Road

FD — Wildly Creative Rotating Art and Installations

Come learn the integration of art, place-based experiences, and immersive installations within nature centers to deepen visitor connection and inspire return visitation. By introducing rotating exhibits and seasonal activations, it keeps the experience fresh, engaging, and relevant—encouraging guests to return throughout the year.

Mission based art exhibitions are creative partnerships with artists and the broader arts community, while also opening opportunities for earned revenue, grants, and collaborative programming. These experiences serve as an accessible entry point for new audiences, transforming first-time visits into lasting relationships and strengthening a sense of belonging in nature.

Through innovative, visually compelling, and interactive experiences, the speakers will position nature centers as dynamic destinations—places where art, environment, and community come together to inspire exploration, connection, and sustained engagement.

Facilitators:

Leigh Ann Miller, Ohio Centers Director, National Audubon Society
Sandy Libertini, Sr. Manager Community Building, Ohio Centers, National Audubon Society
Carolynn Paten, Director of Programming & Guest Services, Dow Garden

Leigh Ann Miller serves as Ohio Centers Director for Audubon, a strategic leadership role overseeing the organization’s two Ohio-based Centers: The Grange Insurance Audubon Center in Columbus and Aullwood Audubon in Dayton. In this role, Leigh Ann excels at unifying staff, programs, and day-to-day operations across both Centers, creating exciting opportunities for collaboration, shared learning, and collective impact throughout the state. Previously, Leigh Ann served as Director of Development at The Dawes Arboretum, where she built and strengthened philanthropic strategy, cultivated community and corporate partnerships, and successfully developed a vibrant volunteer program. She brings a deep passion for telling an organization’s story and leveraging data analytics to advance philanthropy and mission-driven outcomes. A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Temple University.

Sandy Libertini is a creative marketing and events professional, currently serving as Senior Manager, Audubon Ohio Centers Community Building where she oversees all aspects of delivering meaningful relationships and connecting the community to Audubon at both Ohio Centers (Grange Insurance Audubon Center, Columbus and Aullwood Audubon Center, Dayton) through public programs, informal education, Art at Audubon, volunteers and membership.

Carolynn Paten is the Director of Programming & Guest Services and leads the teams responsible for ensuring all guest experience offerings are of the highest quality, compatible, and true to the Dow Garden’s mission. Carolynn earned a Bachelor of Applied Sciences in Communication and Business from Saginaw Valley State University and is currently pursuing her MSOL at Northwood University.

WS — Conservation and the Built Environment

Join us to explore a series of case studies on high-performance and sustainably designed facilities, that support conservation missions and carbon reduction efforts. emersion DESIGN is passionate about creating highly sustainable, cost effective, and beautiful places, spaces, and buildings. One of our key areas of expertise is collaborating with nature-centric organizations seeking high levels of sustainable design.

In this workshop, you will learn about:

Opportunities within New Construction and Renovation, that support reducing an organization's carbon footprint
The differences in Embodied vs. Operation Carbon for facilities
Potential funding mechanisms, such as the Inflation Reduction Act, to support Geothermal and Solar installations

To explore these topics, we'll look at a variety of case studies, including:

Cincinnati Nature Center's New Conservation Field Station with On-Site Net Zero Energy
Modernizing Great Park’s of Hamilton County’s Seed Nursery, which included rehabilitating an over 100-year-old seed drying barn to an event center — while creating a renovated bat habitat for an existing colony
Renovating a blighted building to a modern office for Pepper Construction; while achieving Historic Preservation with Historic Tax Credits, On-Site Net Zero Energy, LEED Gold, and WELL Gold Certifications
Utilizing Mass Timber for Cincinnati Public Radio's New LEED Gold Headquarters

Presenters:

Brett Macht, RA, LEED AP BD+C., Architect and Principal, emersion DESIGN
Nikki Goldstein, RA, LEED AP BD+C, Design Architect, emersion DESIGN

Brett Macht, RA, LEED AP BD+C.Brett is an architect and principal of emersion DESIGN, the world’s first architecture and engineering firm to have a LEED Platinum office. With over 15 years of experience, Brett serves as emersion’s Cultural Market Leader, focused on master planning, design, and construction administration for high performing, regenerative, learning environments and cultural facilities. Brett has managed and designed complex, multi-phased projects ranging from small renovations to 250,000 sf educational facilities. He is personable, people focused, and values true collaboration. He always strives for high levels of team communication to ensure that expectations are clearly identified, met, and exceeded when possible. Brett enjoys working on home improvement projects with his wife; and building everything from woodworking projects to Legos with his children.

Nikki Goldstein, RA, LEED AP BD+C, is a design architect at emersion DESIGN. In the ever-changing nature of architecture, Nikki uncovers the best possible outcomes at the intersection of cost, function, & aesthetics. With expertise in visualization, Her thoughtful approach and inquisitive nature allows her to sift through multiple design solutions to find the right fit for all stakeholders.

WS — Teambuilding in Nature: Creating Space for Every Participant and Staff Member

WS — Becoming a Nature-Based Educator: Understanding the Journey to Pedagogical Ownership

FD — Community Partnerships in Starting and Operating Nature-based Preschools

12:30-1:30pm – Lunch

1:30-5pm – Open Space Sessions

A continuation of the Open Space sessions that Summit participants collectively developed on Wednesday. Open Space sessions provide an opportunity for all Summit participants to create a new session, continue a session that needs more time, or find a group to address an issue that was not presented elsewhere during the Summit.

In 2026, sessions here included:

Community science
Founders Syndrome
Off-season programming
Transitioning roles within an organization
Advice for new executive directors
Neurodiversity
Generational differences among staff
Capital campaigns
Partnerships
Membership programs
Time-saving technology tips

5:30pm – Networking Social

6:30pm – Dinner

7:15pm – Summit Closing

Friday

Field Trips (Time Varies)

Field Trips add to your professional development experience while taking advantage of unique opportunities to visit additional sites and interact with peers.

Kayak the Chippewa River

Paddling the River in a Voyageur Canoe

Exploring Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge

Authentically Urban: Belle Isle Nature Center and the Outdoor Adventure Center in Downtown Detroit

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Sample Schedule & Programs

Monday

3pm – Check-in

5pm – Networking Social

6pm – Dinner

7pm – Summit Welcome

Tuesday

7-8:30am – Early Morning Activities

9am-12pm – Field Workshops

Restoring Landscapes: 30 Years of Land Stewardship at Chippewa Nature Center

Exploring and Expanding Nature Preschool: A Look at the Spaces and Funding of Early Childhood Learning

Program Facilities: Creating Spaces Where All People Are Welcome

Confluence in Action: The Executive Solutions Lab

Cultivating Knowledge: Agriculture Education in a Public Garden

12:15-1:15pm – Lunch

1:30-3pm – Facilitated Discussions and Workshops

FD = Facilitated Discussion, WS = Workshop

WS — Mastering the Elements: Weather Safety & Preparedness

Jaclyn Anderson is the Warning Coordination Meteorologist from NWS Detroit. She has worked as a Meteorologist and Incident Meteorologist in the NWS for over 10 years at various locations across the country before arriving in southeast Michigan.

WS — From the Ground Up: How to Integrate Your Interpretive Goals in Your Next Building Project

Amber Sausen is an architect who leads projects that connect people to the world around them, with a special emphasis on park facilities, visitor centers, outdoor recreation, and performing arts spaces. Amber is a principal at Alliiance in Minneapolis, MN.

Patty Maher works on a team of 15 staff who provide nature and outdoor recreation programming and amenities in a community-focused park along the Mississippi River.

WS — From the Field: Operating and Scaling a Nature-Based Preschool

WS — Beyond the Patchwork: A Nature Center's Roadmap to Unified Operations

Mary Corson is Managing Director at Reflection Riding Nature Center & Arboretum in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Ryan Ruud is Founder and CEO of Lake One, an Accredited HubSpot Solutions Partner focused exclusively on nonprofits and purpose-driven organizations. He has spent more than a decade helping purpose-driven teams replace duct-taped tech stacks with systems that actually serve their work.

Casey Goodrich is a Technical Consultant at Lake One, where he leads technical architecture and product development for nonprofit operations on HubSpot.

WS — Build the Board. Grow the Talent. Lead the Future.

WS — Have an Exhibit Project? How to Work with Exhibit Firms

FD — Practicing Purposeful Partnerships

3:30-5pm – Facilitated Discussions and Workshops

FD = Facilitated Discussion, WS = Workshop

WS — How Do We Know We’re Saving the World? Tracking Progress Toward Your Mission

WS — Tech at the Nature Center: Bringing Digital Storytelling into Green Spaces

FD — Building a Michigan Coalition for Outdoor/Nature-based Early Childhood Learning

WS — Weaving the Green Thread of Alliance: A Curated Guide

FD — Building on a Mission: Aligning Capital Projects with Your Organizational Values

WS — Shared Leadership Practicum: A Role-Playing Experience

FD — Square Foot Nature Center-ing: Making the Best Use of Small Nature Centers

5pm – Networking Social

6pm – Dinner

7pm – Leadership Awards Ceremony

8pm – Evening Activities

Wednesday

7-8:30am – Early Morning Activities

9am-12pm – Field Workshops

Program Facilities: Creating Spaces Where All People Are Welcome

Exploring and Expanding Nature Preschool: A Look at Pedagogy and Staffing

Insights into Infrastructure: Maintaining Facilities and Infrastructure that Serve the Mission

Accessible by Design: Exploring Dow Gardens Without Limits

Alden B. Dow Home & Studio: Architecture, Education, and Mission in Practice

12:15-1:15pm – Lunch

1:30-5pm – Open Space Sessions

6pm – Evening at the Ballpark: Great Lakes Loons

Thursday

7-8:30am – Early Morning Activities

9-10:30am – Facilitated Discussions and Workshops

FD = Facilitated Discussion, WS = Workshop

WS — Adventures in Accessibility: How the Outdoor Adventure Center Creates an Inclusive Space

WS — Building What We Believe: Spaces with Purpose

WS — Using the NABERS Tool to Identify the Quality of Nature-based Programs

WS — Constructing Meaning Outdoors: Literacy-Infused Science Learning in Nature Centers

WS — From Gadgets to Mission Impact: Practical Technology Planning for Nature Centers

WS — Listening to the Land: Using Observation to Strengthen Leadership

FD — Endowments: Building, Growing, Sustaining, and Using Them

Brooks Paternotte started developing his affinity for spending time outside while on weekend camping trips with friends and neighbors growing up. After thirteen years at Irvine Nature Center, Brooks is stepping down from his role at Irvine and now serves as Executive Director Emeritus.

John Myers has been executive director of Indian Creek Nature Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa since May 2013. Working with the organization’s board of directors, John leads the strategic planning and growth of the organization ensuring that its vision to create champions of nature is achieved.

11-12:30pm – Facilitated Discussions and Workshops

FD = Facilitated Discussion, WS = Workshop

WS — Buildings for People Who Would Rather Be Outdoors: Seven Strategies for Better Nature Center Design

WS — Field Tours: How to Take Your Natural History Knowledge on the Road

FD — Wildly Creative Rotating Art and Installations

WS — Conservation and the Built Environment

WS — Teambuilding in Nature: Creating Space for Every Participant and Staff Member

WS — Becoming a Nature-Based Educator: Understanding the Journey to Pedagogical Ownership

FD — Community Partnerships in Starting and Operating Nature-based Preschools

12:30-1:30pm – Lunch

1:30-5pm – Open Space Sessions

5:30pm – Networking Social

6:30pm – Dinner