Schedule

Check-in

Drop by the main ENC building to sign in, pick up Summit materials, and introduce yourself!

Networking Social

Live music with Sweetwater Creek Band — kick off the week with lively tunes during and after the social hour.

Dinner

Summit Welcome

A warm welcome and introduction with ANCA and ENC staff.

Early Morning Activities

• Birding at Sea & Sage Audubon Sanctuary (7-8:30am) — Enjoy a start to your day with a guided birding experience at the Sea & Sage Audubon Sanctuary with ENC staff member Chris. Located in the San Joaquin Marsh, this birding hotspot offers excellent opportunities to observe a variety of wetland and riparian species in their natural habitat.
• Outdoor Yoga at the ENC (7:30-8:30am) — Join us among the trees for gentle movement designed to help you stretch out, warm up, and find focus before a full day of inspiration and learning. Dress in layers for comfort, and feel free to borrow one of our mats if you don’t have your own. All levels welcome!

Field Workshops

Field Workshops are your opportunity to visit nature education sites and learn firsthand from their operations. Choose one Tuesday Field Workshop from five options when you register.

Lunch

Facilitated Discussions and Workshops

In these sessions you will learn alongside peers and explore new ideas to apply in your work. With a variety of topics and formats to choose from, sessions are designed to support your professional growth and strengthen your leadership.

Networking Social

Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere to connect with fellow professionals. Beverages will be provided.

• Special Activity: Prickly Pear Processing — Roll up your sleeves for a fun, hands-on experience turning prickly pears into delicious syrup!

Dinner

Featured Speaker: Amber Parker

Join us for an evening with experienced ANCA member Amber Parker, as she explores the power of storytelling in advancing our missions and transforming our leadership. In "The Stories We Tell: Crafting a Narrative for Mission-Driven Impact," Amber will guide us in reshaping both the narratives we share and those we hold within, helping us move from scarcity to abundance — and from intention to lasting impact.

Evening Activities

• Silent Disco — Dance under the stars at our headset-powered silent disco—choose your vibe and dance like no one’s watching!
• Cozy Campfire — Enjoy s’mores, impromptu sing-alongs, and bring your own instruments for a cozy community gathering.
• Casual Games — Giant Jenga, cornhole, and other lawn games will be set up and ready for you to enjoy at your leisure.

Early Morning Activities

• Birding the Back Bay (7-8:30am) — Start your morning surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature! Join ENC staff member Wendy for a relaxing early morning birding walk through the Upper Newport Bay. Bring your binoculars or borrow a pair from ENC.
• Outdoor Yoga at the ENC (7:30-8:30am) — Join us among the trees for gentle movement designed to help you stretch out, warm up, and find focus before a full day of inspiration and learning. Dress in layers for comfort, and feel free to borrow one of our mats if you don’t have your own. All levels welcome!

Field Workshops

Field Workshops are your opportunity to visit nature education sites and learn firsthand from their operations. Choose one Wednesday Field Workshop from five options when you register.

Lunch

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. We'll first go through a collaborative process to design the session topics and develop a session schedule, then break into two one-hour sessions.

Networking Social

Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere to connect with fellow professionals. Beverages will be provided.

• Special Activity: Soundbath Experience — Relax and recharge with a restorative soundbath session, perfect for winding down after a full day.

Dinner

Leadership Awards Ceremony

Celebrate excellence in our field at the 2025 ANCA Leadership Awards Ceremony, a special evening honoring individuals who exemplify outstanding leadership in the nature center profession.

Evening Activities

• Karaoke — Grab the mic and show off your singing skills!
• Cozy Campfire — Enjoy s’mores, impromptu sing-alongs, and bring your own instruments for a cozy community gathering.
• Casual Games — Giant Jenga, cornhole, and other lawn games will be set up and ready for you to enjoy at your leisure.

Early Morning Activities

• Kayaking & Paddleboarding at Newport Aquatic Center (7-8:30am) — Start your day on the water with a peaceful morning paddle! Join us at the Newport Aquatic Center for kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding. Explore the beautiful Back Bay while enjoying a refreshing and energizing start to your morning. Participants can choose between single or double kayaks or a paddleboard.
• Outdoor Yoga at the ENC (7:30-8:30am) — Join us among the trees for gentle movement designed to help you stretch out, warm up, and find focus before a full day of inspiration and learning. Dress in layers for comfort, and feel free to borrow one of our mats if you don’t have your own. All levels welcome!

Facilitated Discussions and Workshops

In these sessions you will learn alongside peers and explore new ideas to apply in your work. With a variety of topics and formats to choose from, sessions are designed to support your professional growth and strengthen your leadership.

Lunch

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.

Networking Social

Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere to connect with fellow professionals. Beverages will be provided.

• Special Activity: Nature Bathing — Immerse yourself in a calming and mindful nature experience that engages all the senses.

Dinner

Summit Closing

Evening Activities

• Live Music by The Whiskey Throwbacks — Close out the week with more live music and good vibes with this high-energy band.
• Cozy Campfire — Enjoy s’mores, impromptu sing-alongs, and bring your own instruments for a cozy community gathering.
• Casual Games — Giant Jenga, cornhole, and other lawn games will be set up and ready for you to enjoy at your leisure.

Field Trips

Field Trips add to your professional development experience while taking advantage of unique opportunities to visit additional sites, spend time with local experts, and interact with peers. See full details here.

• San Juan Capastrino with Mindy — 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.
• Old Towne Orange with Kass — 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.
•  Excursion to Catalina Island — Take a 90-minute boat ride to Catalina, 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.