ANCA (Association of Nature Center Administrators)

Save the date for the 2025 ANCA Annual Summit: August 25-29 at the Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach, California. The Summit is the premier professional development opportunity for professionals at nature centers, outdoor schools, and environmental learning centers. Located just minutes from the beach in Southern California, the Environmental Nature Center offers a scenic coastal setting for this week of professional development and networking. We'll open Summit registration in the spring. Stay tuned for more info soon!

In mid-January, over 75 professionals from outdoor schools, overnight camps, and residential environmental learning centers gathered for the 2025 ANCA Outdoor School Summit. Outdoor schools and related organizations transform lives by offering overnight, multi-day programs that connect participants to nature and each other. Based in environmental education, program participants — most often students — learn about a variety of topics by using the outdoors as a classroom. Because they host programs over multiple days, outdoor schools have unique logistical challenges in our field, such as providing meals and overnight accommodations for large groups. The Outdoor School Summit offers a space for professionals to share solutions on these logistics and to learn about best practices for growing their impact. This Summit took place at NorthBay Education, an outdoor school in North East, Maryland. With a scenic campus on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay, NorthBay was the perfect location for Summit participants to network and learn in a variety of programs and events. We’re grateful to NorthBay for hosting this event, as well as Summit sponsors Hennebery Eddy Architects and The Kipos Group for their support! Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators): https://lnkd.in/ddx5bkcC License code: MEUET4VGPIEA62HE

Nature centers are more than just places of environmental exploration—they are vital hubs of community health, resilience, and connection. Whether providing outdoor recreation, fostering environmental stewardship, or offering conservation education, nature centers play a central role in shaping how communities engage with and protect their natural environments. However, the success of these centers depends on the strength and expertise of the professionals who run them. That’s where ANCA comes in. ANCA aims to equip nature center professionals with the tools, knowledge, and networks they need to lead their organizations to success. Through our programs, we offer tailored support to these leaders—providing opportunities for professional development, peer learning, and resource sharing that they cannot find elsewhere. If you believe in ANCA’s work supporting nature centers across North America, please donate here: https://natctr.org/donate Your investment in ANCA will: ?? Equip nature center professionals with leadership skills to strengthen their organizational impact ?? Expand environmental education and community engagement across North America ?? Promote equitable access to the outdoors in hundreds of communities Thank you.

Imagine this: A group of students gathers after a full day of hands-on learning outside. Their faces glow with excitement as they share discoveries—a salamander near the stream, the sound of an owl at dusk, the joy of exploring a landscape teeming with life. Better yet, there’s more to come tomorrow. These moments are more than just stories. They’re seeds of connection, growth, and lifelong learning. Overnight programs in environmental education create moments like this. By spending several days immersed in a natural learning environment, participants build a lasting bond with the outdoors and with each other. These types of programs are fundamental to a variety of organizations that we serve: outdoor schools, residential environmental learning centers, and overnight camps. By offering overnight, multi-day programs, these organizations provide an immersive environment for program participants to learn, reflect, and connect. We’re currently gearing up for the 2025 ANCA Outdoor School Summit, which brings together the professionals who make these transformative programs possible. Leaders and staff from outdoor schools, residential environmental learning centers, and nature-based camps gather to share best practices and innovative solutions for running effective overnight, multi-day programs. This Summit takes place January 10-14 at NorthBay, an outdoor school situated on the shores of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay. We’re looking forward to visiting this beautiful region while delving into the professional aspects of operations and management in this unique field. If the Outdoor School Summit sounds right for your professional growth, check out our website to learn more. Registration is open until January 3. ??: Students in a program at NorthBay, near North East, Maryland.

We just published the Fall 2024 issue of Directions, the ANCA journal. A distinguished resource for professionals at nature centers, outdoor schools, and related organizations, Directions explores our field's current trends and best practices. The Fall 2024 issue features articles about: ?? Communicating the value of our profession ?? The recently-blocked overtime regulations ?? A unique BIPOC gathering space ? Restoring a former golf course to natural habitat ?? An inventive outdoor escape room ?? Partnering to reach new audiences ?? Succession planning and leadership transition ?? An innovative solar-powered solution See the new issue here: https://lnkd.in/ezM_wxFm Content and contributions come from Lime Hollow Nature Center in Cortland, New York; Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center in Lanesboro, Minnesota; the Highlands Center for Natural History in Prescott, Arizona; North Branch Nature Center in Montpelier, Vermont; Severson Dells Nature Center in Rockford, Illinois; the DOUGLAS-HART FOUNDATION in Mattoon, Illinois; Linda Loring Nature Foundation in Nantucket, Massachusetts; Dr. Corky McReynolds; and Soler Solutions, Ltd. ?? Cover photo: An autumnal scene from the Lehigh Valley Trail at Lime Hollow Nature Center.

We had an excellent ANCA CONNECTS program yesterday at the ODC Network's Outdoor Discovery Center in Holland, Michigan. Nature center professionals from across Michigan gathered to network and share best practices for managing nature centers and related organizations. Michigan has a strong nature center community, and it really shows at programs like these! Thanks to the Outdoor Discovery Center for hosting and showing off their impressive site and facilities.

We want to thank Orgill for sponsoring the 2024 ANCA Annual Summit last month. By supporting professional development and collaboration in our field, Orgill’s sponsorship helps organizations nationwide stay true to their mission of connecting people with nature. Orgill, Inc. is the world’s largest independently-owned hardlines distributor. Serving more than 13,000 stores across North America and over 50 additional countries, Orgill supports a balanced mix of hardware stores, home centers, pro dealers, and farm stores. Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, Orgill employs approximately 6,800 people across its home office and eight distribution facilities. Thank you, Orgill! Pictured: 2024 Summit participants connect at MoSH-Lichterman Nature Center in Memphis, Tennessee.

We want to thank Nephrology One for sponsoring the 2024 ANCA Annual Summit last month. By supporting professional development and collaboration in our field, Nephrology One’s sponsorship helps organizations nationwide stay true to their mission of connecting people with nature. Nephrology One, directed by Dr. John Morris, a Board-Certified Nephrologist, is a solo medical practice dedicated to advancing kidney health in the greater Memphis area. Dr. Morris’ commitment to personalized care and exceptional service positions Nephrology One as a leader in nephrology services. Thank you, Nephrology One! Pictured: A variety of scenes from the 2024 ANCA Annual Summit at MoSH-Lichterman Nature Center in Memphis, Tennessee.

We want to thank the LICHTERMAN-LOEWENBERG FOUNDATION for sponsoring the 2024 ANCA Annual Summit last month. By supporting professional development and collaboration in our field, the Foundation’s sponsorship helps organizations nationwide stay true to their mission of connecting people with nature. The Foundation has a rich history with the Summit’s host, MoSH-Lichterman Nature Center. In 1944 Ira J. Lichterman and William A. Loewenberg purchased 300 acres of land east of downtown Memphis; today part of this land makes up Lichterman Nature Center. Even at the time of their purchase, Lichterman and Loewenberg always intended for a portion of the land to become a “unique public park.” Thank you, Lichterman-Loewenberg Foundation! Pictured: Scenes of MoSH-Lichterman Nature Center in Memphis, Tennessee during the 2024 ANCA Annual Summit.

We want to thank Hennebery Eddy Architects for sponsoring the 2024 ANCA Annual Summit last month. By supporting professional development and collaboration in our field, Hennebery Eddy’s sponsorship helps organizations nationwide stay true to their mission of connecting people with nature. As part of Summit programs, Hennebery Eddy Vice President and Principal Will Ives and Associate Principal Erica Thompson led an informative workshop on how nature centers can plan for sustainable building and renovations. This topic is of great interest to our members, as many organizations are looking to demonstrate sustainability in all aspects of their operations and facilities. Hennebery Eddy Architects includes an expansive team of architects, planners, interior designers, and preservationists who create spaces where people gather, work, learn, and recreate. With studios in Portland and Bend, Oregon, and Bozeman, Montana, Hennebery Eddy serves clients nationwide. Thank you, Hennebery Eddy! Pictured: Will and Erica’s Summit workshop on sustainable buildings at the 2024 ANCA Annual Summit.