Network for Network Leaders

Applications are now open!

The Center for Environmental Learning is proud to partner with Justice Outside in Network for Network Leaders: Justice, Community, & Outdoor Learning, which brings together leaders of networks that impact the outdoors, environmental education, and environmental justice fields. This “backbone network” endeavors to advance a more equitable, just, and influential network model that centers the experiences and knowledge of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color by:

• supporting leaders’ personal and professional relationship-building & wellness
• strengthening leaders’ knowledge and capacity about anti-racism, equity, and justice within the context of the outdoors
• accelerating the leaders’ capacity to design their network activities with justice and equity principles at the forefront
• supporting member-driven advocacy and awareness-raising efforts

2024 Network Events & Opportunities:

The Network for Network Leaders is recruiting a new cohort of aspiring or current leaders whose networks relate to the outdoor, environmental education, and/or environmental justice fields. Professionals  who participate in the Network for Network Leaders will engage in events that promote individual wellness, collective joy, community building, the cultivation of brave spaces, and professional development. The following is a list of the key activities that will be offered in 2024:

• Virtual Orientation Event (Aug. 29, 2024 9:00am-11:00am PST, approximately) where Leaders will build community, share their network purpose and values, and ground themselves in the goals of the Network for Network Leaders (required attendance, barring unforeseen circumstances).
• Fall In-Person Convening (September 16-19, 2024, inclusive of two dedicated travel days and two days of connection), This convening will host 2023 cohort members as well as new 2024 cohort members and serve as a professional development experience and community building opportunity between cohorts. Leaders will experience joy together in the outdoors, identify areas for collaboration or knowledge sharing, and explore equity centering practices and a movement building framework to support their leadership development. (required attendance, barring unforeseen circumstances).
• Virtual Professional Learning Workshops (Oct.17 9am-11am & Nov.14th 9am-11am PST, approximately) Professional learning workshops will take place over Zoom, and provide participants opportunities to learn from each other and other field leaders. Topics will be determined collaboratively by network leaders based on interest, need, and self-identified areas for growth.
• Virtual Open Space Conference (Dec. 5th, 2024 9:00am-1:00pm PST, approximately): The Open Space Conference is an opportunity in which participants create their own agenda  to discuss ideas and topics that feel most relevant to them. Topics may draw on, for example, conversations related to the previous professional learning sessions or challenges experienced in leaders’ networks.
• Coaching: Participants will have an opportunity to partner with a coach to receive up to 2 hours of leadership coaching in an area of interest identified by each participant. 

Supports for participation:

Network for Network Leader members will receive travel and lodging for the in-person event.  Justice Outside will work directly with participants requiring accommodations (ability, dietary, gender affirming, etc) so that we may meet these needs to the best of our abilities.

Eligibility:

We anticipate selecting up to 10 participants to join the second cohort of Network for Network Leaders. We are looking for: 

• Leaders of networks in the outdoor, environmental education, and/or environmental justice fields
• Leaders of emerging or newly developed regional*, statewide, or multi state based networks (i.e.-a network that is not national or hyper-local in scope)
• Leaders with the desire to establish a new regional, statewide, or multi state network (i.e.-a network that is not national or hyper-local in scope)
• Leaders who are motivated by the idea of justice for people and the planet; are committed to racial equity in their individual and collective efforts; and recognize the importance of centering BIPOC experiences and promoting the various ways of learning and being in connection with the outdoors that communities have been practicing for decades and even centuries. Priority will be given to those who identify as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color

*Regional network refers to efforts that are addressing the needs and wants of a geographic region. This is often seen in regional references such as Pacific Northwest, Southwest. It can also refer to multi-county efforts or efforts that span a state or multiple states.

How to Apply