Call for Presenters

Welcome to the official call for presenters for the CALPA 2026 Conference! With this year's theme, “Common Ground: Connecting People, Parks, and Purpose,” we will be hosting sessions that foster deep engagement, interactive participation, and meaningful connections among attendees. If you have innovative ideas and interactive session formats, we invite you to submit your proposal. 

What We Are Looking For 

We are seeking dynamic presenters who can lead sessions that prioritize our theme of finding common ground and developing engaged partnerships. Our goal is to create a collaborative environment where attendees can share best practices, tackle real-world challenges, and build lasting relationships. 

Format

FACILITATED CONVERSATIONS 

Guided discussions led by experienced facilitators focusing on specific topics relevant to park co-ops. These sessions aim for deep dives into issues, sharing of best practices, and generation of actionable ideas. 

INTERACTIVE SESSIONS 

Hands-on activities designed to foster learning and collaboration. Participants will work in groups on real-world challenges, brainstorm solutions, and share insights. 

FEEDBACK SESSION 

Structured opportunities to provide and receive constructive feedback on ongoing projects, proposed initiatives, and conference activities. 

Suggested topics

We welcome additional topic ideas beyond those listed, as we aim to cover a diverse range of interests and challenges relevant to our community. 

  • Access / Inclusion 

  • Advocacy 

  • Collaboration / Partnership 

  • Communications 

  • Community Engagement 

  • Expanding Circles

  • Fostering Stewardship

  • Fund Development / Fundraising

  • Marketing  

  • New Reservation System 

  • Nonprofit Best Practices / Board Governance 

  • Interpretive Initiatives / Multiple Narratives / Renaming Place Names

  • Shared Goals / Shared Missions

  • Tribal Engagement

  • Volunteer Programs

SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL HERE

How to Submit Your Proposal 

We invite you to submit your session proposal by completing our brief form. Your submission should include detailed information about your session, its interactive elements, and how it aligns with the CALPA Mission and Vision.

Submission deadline is June 1, 2026 - please submit today!

We look forward to your innovative and engaging session proposals that will help make the 2026 CALPA Conference & Training a memorable and impactful conference. If you have any questions, please contact Carolyn Christian at carolyn.christian@calpa.org or Linsey Fredenburg Humes at linsey.humes@calpa.org. 

Thank you for your interest in contributing to the success of the 2026 CALPA Conference & Training!