April 26, 2022

A Summit Update from Executive Director Jen Levy

Thrive Outside sqFriends,

ANCA and Irvine Nature Center have been working hard to coordinate the Thrive Outside Summit, August 1-5 at Irvine Nature Center in Owings Mills, Md. We are thrilled to be planning this in-person event and hope you will be able to join us.

We will open registration in mid-May, but in the meantime I want to share some things to know in preparation for registration and travel.

Schedule & Programs

The Summit will start with an evening Welcome & Networking Reception on Monday, August 1 and conclude with optional field trips on Friday, August 5. Throughout the week we will offer a variety of programs that will enable you to expand your skill set, learn from experts and peers, and strengthen your professional network.

Location & Accommodations

Irvine Nature Center is set on 210 acres less than 20 miles northwest of downtown Baltimore, and includes a 17,200-sq-foot indoor hall, classrooms, outdoor classroom, amphitheater and trails. We will have plenty of space to Thrive Outside!

We have secured housing at the Garrison Forest School (GFS), located two miles from the nature center. The GFS campus is beautiful and provides a relaxing space for connecting with nature and with peers. Shuttles will run daily between GFS and the nature center. 

Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) is 23 miles from the nature center.

Scholarships

We will offer two Summit Scholarship opportunities this year. The scholarship application will open when we announce registration.

  • Thrive Outside Summit Scholarships are awarded to senior management staff who demonstrate the greatest need and potential impact the Summit will have on their position. 
  • Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor Brown Advisory, we will offer five scholarships of $1000 each to cover Summit registration and travel for first-time attendees who identify as or working with underrepresented groups (e.g., urban centers, rural centers, BIPOC, Differently-abled, LGBTQIA+ members).
Vaccination

To attend the Summit, all participants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless eligible for a legal exemption.

It will be three years since we gathered with members in person at the Summit. While I am grateful for the regular connection of our virtual programs, I am especially excited to unite at Irvine Nature Center in August. Please join me at this Summit that prioritizes time outside, provides more opportunity to network with your peers, and explores the abundance of resources that Irvine and the Baltimore area have to offer.

I look forward to seeing you there. For more information about the Summit in the meantime, please see the Summit's main page.

— Jen Levy, ANCA Executive Director