# data[].attributes.location_name
The Ecology School, Simpson Road, Saco, ME

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The Ecology School, Simpson Road, Saco, ME

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The Ecology School, Simpson Road, Saco, ME

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Welcome to the ANCA 2023 Community Resilience: The Maine Coast Summit!

What are you most looking forward to? What do you want to talk to your peer about?

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Bear Lake State Park on the Utah/Idaho border. 

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I can't wait to see all of you at the ANCA Summit in Maine! This is my 24th Summit and 17th as executive director of ANCA. We will be welcoming more than 70 first time attendees! See you soon!

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Here's when I was at The Ecology School in January. I think it will feel a little different this time!

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I'm the Director of Marketing & Communications for ANCA. I'm thrilled to be going to Maine for the Summit — we're all in for a real treat! I was at The Ecology School in January, and I especially look forward to seeing what the place is like during the warmer months.

(Also looking forward to music! Please bring an instrument if you play 🙂)

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At Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling, Michigan, standing next to the state tree, the Eastern White Pine. One of the last old growth stands in MI.

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Dan Auer (he/him) ANCA Membership & Programs Coordinator. Detroit, MI, USA

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Dan Auer (he/him) ANCA Membership & Programs Coordinator. Detroit, MI, USA

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Hello! I look forward to being in Maine with all of you to share in good convocation and food!

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My name is Alex Grindle and I have the great pleasure of being part of The Ecology School at River Bend Farm. We are so looking forward to having you here! August is a fabulous time to visit Maine. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about Southern Maine or The Ecology School.

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This is my ninth Summit and each one gives me such excitement and hope for our profession. Looking forward to my first trip to Maine!

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This will be my 15th Summit! Looking forward to connecting with my colleagues and meeting new ones. Always energized by learning from everyone at the Summit. See you in Saco!

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Seth Engelbourg (He Series), Linda Loring Nature Foundation

Looking forward to this summit, my 4th overall but only 2nd in-person! I used to go to the Saco area every summer when I was younger, excited to be back!

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Wesselman Woods, North Boeke Road, Evansville, IN

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Wesselman Woods, North Boeke Road, Evansville, IN

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Wesselman Woods, North Boeke Road, Evansville, IN

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Very excited to represent Wesselman Woods at the Summit.

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Linda Loring Nature Foundation, Eel Point Road, Nantucket, MA

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Sarah Bois, Director of Research and Education

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Linda Loring Nature Foundation, Eel Point Road, Nantucket, MA

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Linda Loring Nature Foundation, Eel Point Road, Nantucket, MA

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Kristin Smith (she/her), Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District

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Kristin Smith (she/her), Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District

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Can't WAIT to meet all of you at the Summit and get to know you and your centers! Looking forward to being in Maine for the first time and flying from Portland to Portland! :)

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Lori Whalen, Assistant Director, Environmental Nature Center

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Looking forward to reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones as well!

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Blue Lotus Center, 5501 County Highway M, West Bend, WI

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Blue Lotus Center, 5501 County Highway M, West Bend, WI

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Blue Lotus Center, 5501 County Highway M, West Bend, WI

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Mike Larson (he/him), Executive Director, of the Blue Lotus Center in southeastern Wisconsin. We make nature accessible for people with disabilities and other significant life challenges. First time at the ANCA conference; attending with friend, colleague, and ANCA All-Star Glenna Holstein. Recent trip to the Galapagos was a lifetime highlight, though Lake Michigan holds a special spot in my heart as my favorite place.

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2600 S Park Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44120, USA

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Peter Bode- President and CEO; Nature Center at Shaker Lakes on the "All People's Trail."

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Nature Center at Shaker Lakes- 2600 S Park Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44120, USA

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Nature Center at Shaker Lakes- 2600 S Park Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44120, USA

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I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you next month!

Home - Discover Nature Here - Nature Center at Shaker Lakes

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I'm the Executive Director at North Branch Nature Center in Montpelier, VT and am looking forward to the summit, especially since I've always wanted to visit The Ecology School! See you all soon.

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Grass River Natural Area, Alden Highway, Bellaire, MI

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Jenn Wright - Grass River Natural Area, Bellaire, MI

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Grass River Natural Area, Alden Highway, Bellaire, MI

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Grass River Natural Area, Alden Highway, Bellaire, MI

# data[].attributes.body
Jenn Wright

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Emma Vasicek (she/her), Evergreen Audubon & Nature Center, Evergreen, CO

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Emma Vasicek (she/her), Evergreen Audubon & Nature Center, Evergreen, CO

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Ogden Nature Center, West 12th Street, Ogden, UT

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Sarah Lambson, Education Manager, Ogden Nature Center

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Ogden Nature Center, West 12th Street, Ogden, UT

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Ogden Nature Center, West 12th Street, Ogden, UT

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Maine is one of my favorite places and I cannot wait to connect with everyone in a few weeks!

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5700 Okefenokee Swamp Park Road, Waycross, GA

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5700 Okefenokee Swamp Park Road, Waycross, GA

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5700 Okefenokee Swamp Park Road, Waycross, GA

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A view from the Red trail in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in southeast Georgia. With 120 miles of paddle trails, you feel sincerely remote paddling along our peat filled waterways.

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Jennifer Hunt, Oakland Nature Preserve
www.OaklandNaturePreserve.org

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Belle Isle Nature Center, 176 Lakeside Dr, Detroit, MI 48207, USA

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Amy Greene and Ryan Vance from Belle Isle Nature Center in Detroit!

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Belle Isle Nature Center, 176 Lakeside Dr, Detroit, MI 48207, USA

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Belle Isle Nature Center, 176 Lakeside Dr, Detroit, MI 48207, USA

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Nature Centers Director Amy Greene and Nature Center Supervisor Ryan Vance.JPG

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Irvine Nature Center, Garrison Forest Road, Owings Mills, MD

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Irvine Nature Center, Garrison Forest Road, Owings Mills, MD

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Irvine Nature Center, Garrison Forest Road, Owings Mills, MD

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Brooks Paternotte, Executive Director
(he/him)

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Berks Nature/The Nature Place, Saint Bernardine Street, Reading, PA

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Allison Mackley, Vice President for Education

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Fenner Nature Center, East Mount Hope Avenue, Lansing, MI

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Sam Ansaldi, Program Manager - Fenner Nature Center

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Fenner Nature Center, East Mount Hope Avenue, Lansing, MI

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Fenner Nature Center, East Mount Hope Avenue, Lansing, MI

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I am excited to attend my First ANCA Summit as the Program Manager at Fenner Nature Center!

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Kreher Preserve & Nature Center, North College Street, Auburn, AL

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Kreher Preserve & Nature Center, North College Street, Auburn, AL

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Kreher Preserve & Nature Center, North College Street, Auburn, AL

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I choose the scenic route...

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Chippewa Nature Center, South Badour Road, Midland, MI

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Chippewa Nature Center, South Badour Road, Midland, MI

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Chippewa Nature Center, South Badour Road, Midland, MI

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Hello everyone! My name is Dennis Pilaske and I serve as Executive Director of Chippewa Nature Center in Midland, MI. I can't wait to see you all soon.

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John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, Jack Nicklaus Drive, North Palm Beach, FL

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John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, North Palm Beach, FL

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John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, North Palm Beach, FL

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Veronica Frehm, CEO - Friends of MacArthur Beach State Park

This is my first ANCA Summit - looking forward to meeting everyone!

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Silver Lake Nature Center, Bath Road, Bristol, PA

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Silver Lake Nature Center, Bath Road, Bristol, PA

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Silver Lake Nature Center, Bath Road, Bristol, PA

# data[].attributes.body
Robert (Bob) Mercer, retired director

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5287 Otter Lake Rd, White Bear Lake, MN 55110, USA

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5287 Otter Lake Rd, White Bear Lake, MN 55110, USA

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5287 Otter Lake Rd, White Bear Lake, MN 55110, USA

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I recently became the Director of Tamarack Nature Center. I am so excited to network and learn at the summit. I hope to walk away with more tools for being a leader and guiding our team in welcoming more marginalized audiences to our center.

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Indian Creek Nature Center, Otis Road Southeast, Cedar Rapids, IA

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I serve as the director of land stewardship at Indian Creek Nature Center, and love learning about different ways to help people connect with the land. I see the summit as an extraordinary way to forge relationships within the field and strengthen all of our organizations.

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Sara Jose, Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve, Corpus Christi, TX - this will be my third summit (second in person) and I'm excited to gather with everyone.

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The Nature Museum, Townshend Road, Grafton, VT

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The Nature Museum, Townshend Road, Grafton, VT

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The Nature Museum, Townshend Road, Grafton, VT

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Greetings! I'm Nick, the Executive Director of The Nature Museum in Grafton, Vermont. While I'm deeply in love with my home and community in the woods of Southern VT, I also have a fondness for Mt. Hunger, which is a peak in central VT (and has stunning sunset views of the Green and White Mountains, especially in the winter). Looking forward to seeing folks in Maine soon!

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Ruffner Mountain, 81st Street South, Birmingham, AL

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Ruffner Mountain, 81st Street South, Birmingham, AL

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Ruffner Mountain, 81st Street South, Birmingham, AL

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Staff from 3 of Jefferson County's largest preserves will be attending: Ruffner Mountain, Red Mountain, and Turkey Creek!

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Louisville Nature Center, Illinois Avenue, Louisville, KY

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Louisville Nature Center, Illinois Avenue, Louisville, KY

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Louisville Nature Center, Illinois Avenue, Louisville, KY

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Rebecca Minnick, Louisville Nature Center. I'm as excited to be in Maine as I was to have snow in Louisville!

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Merry Lea Environmental Learning, Albion, IN

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Jason Martin, Executive Director, Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College

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Merry Lea Environmental Learning, Albion, IN

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Merry Lea Environmental Learning, Albion, IN

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This will be my second ANCA summit (first in-person). Looking forward to it!

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Golden eagle survey on the Alameda Creek Watershed, Sunol, CA

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Adrienne De Ponte (she/her) San Francisco Bay Area - Alameda Creek Watershed Center

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Adrienne De Ponte (she/her) San Francisco Bay Area - Alameda Creek Watershed Center

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I'm excited to be a first-time attendee to this conference. I'll be representing the Alameda Creek Watershed Center along with my supervisor. The Center is a facility of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. Looking forward to meeting all of you and learning about your work!

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Ready to re-unite with friends, ANCA family, and my fellow nature nerds!

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Autrey Mill Nature Preserve & Heritage Center, Autrey Mill Road, Johns Creek, GA

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We are both strange birbs in a strange world.

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Autrey Mill Nature Preserve & Heritage Center, Autrey Mill Road, Johns Creek, GA

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Autrey Mill Nature Preserve & Heritage Center, Autrey Mill Road, Johns Creek, GA

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I am very honored to be the Executive Director of a Nature Preserve and historic village in the middle of what is now sprawling Atlanta Suburbs. The preserve and history center was created by the local community and continues to thrive because of the support of a growing and diverse community. My work is built upon the work of many before me and I intend to honor their work by including and incorporating all of the stories of the community that built this area.

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Brookside Nature Center, Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD

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Brookside Nature Center, Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD

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Brookside Nature Center, Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD

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Looking forward to presentations, discussions, campfires, walks, field trips!

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Monday - Closed
Tuesday - Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday and Sunday 1-5pm
Outdoor park areas and trails are open from dawn to dusk daily.

1400 Glenallan Ave.
Wheaton, Maryland 20902

301-962-1480
mcp-brooksidenc@montgomeryparks.org

Weather-Related Cancellations Notice

Montgomery Parks encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities.

Please contact 301-495-2581 (Voice/TTY), MD Relay 7-1-1 or 800-552-7724 or ProgramAccess@MontgomeryParks.org.

Brookside Nature Center, located in Wheaton, Maryland, is surrounded by natural open areas and wooded trails. Outdoor spaces are open from dawn to dusk.

Discover a wooded nature play area or learn about the forest habitat on accessible, interpretive boardwalks. Gaze at a great blue heron at the pond while exploring our natural habitats. Step back in time and visit the 1870s Harper Homestead.

Nestled within 536 acres of Wheaton Regional Park, Brookside Nature Center provides quality programs for people of all ages, interests, and abilities.

Rent a campfire ring at Brookside Nature Center!

You must have a permit to have a campfire at Brookside Nature Center:

Campfire Ring Permits available 7 days a week, 3 hours/$175 permit fee. Firewood and fire starter materials are included.

Subscribe

Montgomery Parks' News

Recent Brookside Nature Center Videos

What Are Animal Adaptations?

Naturalist Geri Drymalski teaches about animal adaptations and survival with the help of a box turtle, an educational animal from Brookside Nature Center, Montgomery Parks.

Mason Bees

Alex, a volunteer Master Naturalist, introduces the Mason Bee, their importance, and their solitary nature.

Brookside Nature Center: Sixty Years of Memories

Brookside Nature Center celebrates its sixtieth anniversary in 2022. We asked visitors to share their memories with us about their time at the facility. During the anniversary celebration on October 9, 2022, adults and children wrote down their stories and sat with us for interviews. These are excerpts from just a handful of those memories.

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Brookside Nature Center - Montgomery Parks

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Brookside Nature Center, located in Wheaton, Maryland, is surrounded by natural open areas and wooded trails, open from dawn to dusk.

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RMSC Cumming Nature Center, Gulick Road, Naples, NY

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RMSC Cumming Nature Center, Gulick Road, Naples, NY

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RMSC Cumming Nature Center, Gulick Road, Naples, NY

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2335 Richmond Pkwy, Richmond, TX 77469, USA

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2335 Richmond Pkwy, Richmond, TX 77469, USA

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2335 Richmond Pkwy, Richmond, TX 77469, USA

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October Smith- Long Acres Ranch, Richmond, TX
Formal science educator turned manager at a ranch that services our local school district for filed trips and non-profit meeting space. This will be my first year at ANCA and looking forward to making connections.

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Gabe Buckley | Canopy Strategic Partners

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Gabe Buckley | Canopy Strategic Partners

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Very excited to dive into the Nature Center world with you all in Maine. My firm facilitates Strategic, Business, and Master Planning services at organizations across the country - feel free to introduce yourself at the Summit if you want to learn more!

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VP of Finance and Administration at the Cibolo Center For Conservation. Excited to meet, collaborate and learn from all of our wonderful colleagues out there. 

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Jennifer Farrar, Executive Director, Asbury Woods, Erie, PA

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Williamstown Rural Lands, Dana Williams (she/her) 

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Williamstown Rural Lands, Dana Williams (she/her) 

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Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, 23 Science Center Rd, Holderness, NH 03245, USA

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Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, 23 Science Center Rd, Holderness, NH 03245, USA

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Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, 23 Science Center Rd, Holderness, NH 03245, USA

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Welty Environmental Center, West Big Hill Road, Beloit, WI

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Welty Environmental Center, West Big Hill Road, Beloit, WI

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Welty Environmental Center, West Big Hill Road, Beloit, WI

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I'm Brenda Plakans, Executive Director of Welty Environmental Center located in 193-acre Big Hill Park, Beloit, WI. This is my first Summit and I'm looking forward to convening with you all!

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Cibolo Center for Conservation, City Park Road, Boerne, TX

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Cibolo Center for Conservation, City Park Road, Boerne, TX

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Cibolo Center for Conservation, City Park Road, Boerne, TX

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Greetings from the Cibolo Center for Conservation. I'm Ben Eldredge, the VP of Conservation and will be joined at the conference by our VP of Education and VP of Operations. We are looking forward to hanging out swapping solutions with everyone!

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Retired Education Supervisor, Nature Center and Museum Director, Jefferson County Open Space. Looking forward to returning to an in person Summit and seeing all of you.

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Claytor Nature Center, Woods Road, Bedford, VA

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Claytor Nature Center, Woods Road, Bedford, VA

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Claytor Nature Center, Woods Road, Bedford, VA

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https://claytor.lynchburg.edu/
Human and Environmental Wellbeing
Environmental Education
Biological Field Station
Community Science and Outreach
Art & Writing

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This will be my first ANCA conference, so looking forward to meeting everyone and hearing about the amazing work you are doing.

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Hi I'm Ky! Soooo excited to escape Austin heat to beautiful Maine! TheVisitorExperience.org

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Hi! I am Erin Shultz, Program Manager here at The Ecology School. I grew up just 30 minutes south of here in York and am glad to get to share this beautiful place with all of you. I've got a few local ice cream recommendations if you are in need!

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Stony Creek Metropark Nature Center, Main Park Road, Shelby Township, MI

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Stony Creek Metropark Nature Center, Main Park Road, Shelby Township, MI

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Stony Creek Metropark Nature Center, Main Park Road, Shelby Township, MI

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erin parker (she/her), Interpretive Services Supervisor for the Huron-Clinton Metroparks - Photo taken this summer on Isle Royale National Park on a chilly June day

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The Ridges Sanctuary, Wisconsin 57, Baileys Harbor, WI

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Hi! Katie! I am the executive director of The Ridges Sanctuary in Door County, Wisconsin.

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The Ridges Sanctuary Nature Center, Wisconsin 57, Baileys Harbor, WI

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The Ridges Sanctuary Nature Center, Wisconsin 57, Baileys Harbor, WI

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The Ridges Sanctuary Nature Center, Wisconsin 57, Baileys Harbor, WI

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Anna Foster, Director of Programming at The Ridges
This is my first ANCA summit. I’m excited to connect with other organizations!

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Williamstown Rural Lands, Cold Spring Road, Williamstown, MA

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Hi. I am Robin Sears (she), Executive Director of our local land trust, Williamstown Rural Lands. We conserve land and also excite people about nature and rural life through programming and festivals. We may take on more elements of a nature center (undergoing strategic planning now), so we look forward to learning from the experts.

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Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center, Garden Road, Chattanooga, TN

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Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center, Garden Road, Chattanooga, TN

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Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center, Garden Road, Chattanooga, TN

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Hi there! I’m Mark McKnight from Chattanooga, TN, and I’m uploading a pic from last week’s staff paddle. We’re located on Lookout Creek and were learning more about the Civil War battle that took place on our campus. Several thousand soldiers crossed the creek near this photo.

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Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center, Garden Road, Chattanooga, TN

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Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center, Garden Road, Chattanooga, TN

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Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center, Garden Road, Chattanooga, TN

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Hi I’m Mark McKnight (left) and my partner Chris Lykins is joining for the dinners this week. Here we’re at home in Chattanooga, TN, enjoying the fantastic view from a friend’s house on Lookout Mountain. I work at Reflection Riding, a 300 acre nature center on the other flank of Lookout from where this photo was taken. Chris is the marketing and communications director at our local community college.

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Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center, Audubon Drive, Sandstone, MN

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Bryan Wood (he/him), Executive Director, Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center

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Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center, Audubon Drive, Sandstone, MN

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Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center, Audubon Drive, Sandstone, MN

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wood@ospreywilds.org, 320-290-8246

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Love exploring the Eno River and the forest with my pup! -Ashley Meredith

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Hello, my name is Katie LeBoeuf. I’m the Park Naturalist at Lake Houston Wilderness Park near Houston, Texas.

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Todd Cullison
Hawaii Nature Center