The Stewardship Network Conference

The Stewardship Network

January 17-18th | 2020

KELLOGG CENTER | EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN

Every year, over 400 environmental stewards gather in East Lansing, Michigan for the annual Stewardship Network Conference where we explore the science, practice & art of collaborative conservation. This interdisciplinary gathering convenes professional land managers, non-profit leaders, private business representatives, government agency officials, tribal representatives, academics and researchers, private land owners, volunteers, and students from around North America.

The Stewardship Network Conference is an opportunity for participants to attend training sessions, network across a broad spectrum of fields, learn about new advancements, compare best practices and lessons learned, and renew their excitement for environmental work. Sessions include topics such as prescribed fire, climate change mitigation and resilience, invasive species control, community engagement, and essential skill development.

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About the Conference

The Stewardship Network Conference is where theory meets practice and curiosity leads to solutions. Each year, hundreds of representatives from an array of environmental fields gather to share their setbacks and successes; technological advancements and analytical techniques; and diverse perspectives as we collectively find the best ways to care for our land and water. The Stewardship Network provides the structure, space, and catalytic resources for meaningful collaboration that benefits our natural world. This interdisciplinary conference harnesses the power of the network to build bridges between knowledge, culture, and community in order to support the ecosystems around us that are continually threatened and changing.

The Stewardship Network Conference prides itself on cultivating a welcoming and accepting atmosphere. Come as you are and be ready to explore new thoughts and perspectives. Whether you’re new to the environmental field or seasoned veteran, there’s something for everyone at our Network’s annual gathering!

About The Stewardship Network

 

As a 501c(3) nonprofit with a strong record of apolitical, transformational change leadership, our organization provides a unique function in the conservation community: empowering individuals and organizations of all kinds by facilitating connections between volunteers, practitioners, experts, government agencies, local organizers, tribes, researchers, and anyone else working to craft and implement solutions to a multitude of the most pressing and challenging community conservation problems that pose a threat to our local, native ecosystems. As a nationally and internationally recognized organization in this field, the Stewardship Network is committed to practicing collaborative conservation in pursuit of collective impact.

Nature Threads: Weaving our Stories of Stewardship

We will have a story loom set up at the 2020 conference, and we encourage you to weave a row (or a few!) throughout our time together.

Choose from a selection of materials that we will supply, including grapevines, reeds, jute twine, and wool roving, or bring your own! Try to find a material that represents the stewardship work that you do. It takes a few short minutes to weave a strand or two into the loom, and we can watch the strands of our lives merge to make a whole work of art.

Some ideas for materials to bring:

An item of used clothing that is cut into strips. (Cotton or wool preferred, as synthetics are usually more difficult to work with.), Yarn (If you’re a crafter, bring along some leftovers from your stash!), natural materials from your yard or garden (woody vines such as grapevine and bittersweet work well, or large ornamental grasses). Feel free to get creative!

While the weaving will be the central activity, we will also provide a journal where you can share the story of the strands you weave. What material did you use, and how does it represent your stewardship efforts or connection to the natural world? Reflect in advance or be spontaneous, it’s up to you!