“I feel truly fortunate to be part of ANCA — it’s been an invaluable resource for growth and guidance. It's the most enriching professional community I've been involved with, and I’m grateful for the chance to connect with such exceptional people in the field.”
— Veronica Frehm, Chief Executive Officer of the Friends of MacArthur Beach State Park
ANCA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and supporting best leadership and management practices for nature and environmental learning centers. We are the only such organization in North America, and support more than 700 dues-paying members. As an ANCA Member, you gain access to resources, events, and a network that will help you excel at your role in the nature and environmental learning center field.
You may also use the form above to give a membership as a gift. This is a great way to welcome someone new to the profession or show support to a colleague.
Membership Benefits
Access to peer network
As a member you will gain access to a community of nature and environmental learning center professionals who understand the unique challenges and opportunities of your work. The ANCA network is a trusted space to ask questions, share resources, and build meaningful professional relationships that will strengthen your organization and your leadership.
Exclusive resources and communications
With a membership you will receive member-only communications with news, programs, and resources specifically for our field. This includes the exclusive biweekly ANCA Updates email newsletter in addition to standalone communications about unique opportunities and resources.
Mentorship
The ANCA Mentor Program fosters partnerships and collaboration by pairing ANCA members based on specific needs, areas of expertise, and desired outcomes. A unique service to our profession, the Mentor Program is available exclusively to current ANCA members.
Members-only programs and events
We host exclusive programs for ANCA members throughout the year, including special members-only ANCA CONNECTS programs, the ANCA Annual Summit, and the ANCA Outdoor School Summit.
Reciprocal Program
The ANCA Reciprocal Program is a group of ANCA member centers that reciprocate benefits, such as free/discounted admission, gift store purchases, and program attendance to one another’s members. More than 140 organizations participate in this program.
Participation in the Reciprocal Program is available to Organization Members at no cost, and to Professional Members for $40/yr.
Discounts
ANCA membership comes with discounts on a variety of opportunities, including:
- ANCA CONNECTS programs (both virtual and in person)
- Posting to the ANCA Job Board (for Professional and Organization Members)
- Annual membership to GrantStation, a platform for grantmaking tools, resources, and training
- Services from Firespring, including website development, marketing strategy plans, and brand development
Types of Membership
Associate - $75 per Year
The Associate Membership is for people working in the nature and environmental learning center field who may be new to ANCA or a staff member not in an administrative position. This is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to further develop their leadership and management skills, possibly with the goal of an administrative position in the future.
Professional - $115 per Year
This membership is for people who have been working in the nature and environmental learning center field and are an Executive Director or top-level Administrator. Professional Members have leadership and management skills that they continue to refine, and can use new tools and resources to carry out their organization's mission. In addition to receiving the standard membership benefits, Professional Members also receive discounts for inclusion in the ANCA Reciprocal Program and for posting to the ANCA Job Board.
Extra Benefits:
- $40 per job posting, usually $80
- $40 a year for inclusion in the ANCA Reciprocal Program
Organization - $245 per Year
Organization Memberships are for nature and environmental learning centers that want to spread their ANCA membership benefits beyond just one person. This is our most popular membership, with reason — at this level, you can access extra benefits to maximize how your organization engages with your audience and other nature center professionals.
Organization Membership includes memberships for two individuals at an organization including staff, board members, or volunteers. Want more than two individuals to receive benefits? Organizations may also add additional members for $55 each.
Extra Benefits:
- Free job postings, usually $80
- Free inclusion in the ANCA Reciprocal Program
- Any staff or board member from your organization receives member pricing on ANCA CONNECTS programs
Note: ANCA Organization Members have a unique physical site. Some city- or statewide environmental or natural resource organizations include multiple nature centers; in this case, each nature center should maintain its own distinct membership. This rule does not apply to nature centers that have separate administrative offices or secondary sites.
Emeritus - $60 per Year
Emeritus Membership is for people who have retired from the nature and environmental learning center field. Emeritus Members hold valuable insights from their time in the field, and maintain the sense of community that energizes both themselves and those currently working at nature centers.
Student - $40 per Year
If you are studying to be part of the nature and environmental learning center field in the future, this membership is for you! By joining ANCA at this level, you can get a head start on developing the network, skills, and resources you will need to thrive in our profession.
