Takeaways from the 2024 ANCA Annual Summit
Working at a Nature Center and for a Conservation District allows for myriad opportunities. There are many conferences and summits out there for staff to explore and to help expand their professional network. One organization that we connect with here at Macon County Conservation District is the Association of Nature Center Administrators, or ANCA. ANCA is a non-profit professional organization that is dedicated to leaders in the nature and environmental learning profession. Their mission is to promote and support the best leadership and management practices, and ANCA serves more than 700 members across North America. They are an inclusive, welcoming, and supportive community designed to enhance professionalism and provide a support system to progressive management.
In early September, two of our staff were able to attend the 2024 Annual Summit hosted by ANCA at Lichterman Nature Center in Memphis, Tennessee. The annual ANCA summit is a professional opportunity for leaders of nature centers, outdoor schools, and related organizations. It focuses on leadership and management practices for the unique careers that exist in these professions, but there are sessions for everyone. At this Summit, staff attended sessions on animal care, collaborative leadership, fundraising, program planning, and more. One thing that makes this conference so unique is that instead of sessions with a lecturer, every session is discussion-based and interactive.
This way, everyone has an opportunity to share, ask questions, and ensure they are getting beneficial information out of the conference. They also encourage participants to create and facilitate their own sessions at the tail-end of the week, adding an extra layer of participation and engagement.
It is always exciting to attend new conferences, network with other professionals in similar fields, and learn about new ideas, methods, and resources. We hope to attend this conference again in the future, and will keep our ears to the ground as we search for other professional development opportunities for our staff!
by Taylor Buley
