The Emerging Leaders Program

Immediately preceding this year’s SHIFT, The Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) will convene a gathering of rising stars (21 and older) who have distinguished themselves in the fields of outdoor recreation, outdoor education, land-management or conservation to chart a course for the future of the outdoor recreation/conservation partnership. ELP will harness the knowledge, skills and experiences of individual participants to empower a cohesive cohort of leaders with the capacity and resources to 1) think and act across all segments of the outdoor recreation/conservation landscape, 2) identify and address outdoor recreation and conservation issues and 3) use the outdoors to address community needs.

Program Goals

• Emerging leaders will develop systems thinking skills, envision collective impact models and learn strategies to leverage community resources
• Emerging leaders will develop individual, team adaptability and resiliency skills
• Emerging leaders will develop networks of peers and senior leaders across segments of the outdoor recreation and conservation industries who can support their local and national efforts.
• Emerging leaders will synthesize their shared perspectives, needs and vision to share with industry leaders at SHIFT

 

Long-Term Program Outcomes

• Emerging leaders will identify and develop solutions for local and national outdoor recreation and conservation issues
• Emerging leaders will learn how to use the outdoors to address community needs.

 

Prior to ELP

• Emerging leaders complete pre-trip survey asking the following questions:
  • Describe the work you are doing in your community to promote conservation of public lands.
    • Why have you chosen to do this work?
    • What are your greatest successes in engaging your peers and community in this work?
    • What challenges do you face in engaging your peers and community in this work?
    • What skills would help you be more effective in your role?
    • What perspectives can you add to the national conversation about conservation?

DRAFT AGENDA (Dates, times subject to revision)

Monday, October 10

4:00 p.m.: Arrival, welcome and orientation to SHIFT, Jackson, Teton Science Schools and other partnering organizations

5:30: Dinner

7:00:  Keynote: You are the most important part of the conservation movement

• Importance of collective impact models
• Share examples of leaders thinking and acting across all segments of the outdoor industry to identify and address outdoor recreation and conservation issues while using the outdoors to address community needs.

Tuesday, October 11: Developing a Team of Emerging Leaders

9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Who are we?

• Doug Walker Challenge Course (DWCC) progression to build cohort trust and identity

• Focus on developing a high-functioning team of emerging leaders

12-12:45 p.m.: Lunch

1-2:30: Culminating activity on DWCC

2:30-4:00: Open Space Technology

• Emerging Leaders construct the agenda for open space sessions to achieve the goals for ELP

5:30-7:00: Dinner and networking

7:00-9:00: Open Space Session 1 and 2

Wed., Oct. 12: Facilitation Training and Development of Vision for SHIFT

9-10:30 a.m.: Doug Walker Challenge Course

• Leadership principals:
  • Systems thinking
  • Adaptability and Resiliency

10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Networking Panel: Leaders from the Outdoor Industry

12:00-12:45 p.m.: Lunch with leaders

1:00-2:30: Open Space Session 2

2:30-4:00: Open Space Session 3

5:30-7:00: Dinner and networking

7:00-9:00: Open Space Sessions 4 & 5

Thursday, October 13: SHIFT

9-12:00 p.m.: Open Space synthesis and develop shared vision to communicate at SHIFT

12:00 p.m.: Lunch; transfer to SHIFT for facilitation and participation

Friday, October 14: SHIFT

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.: SHIFT Summit

Saturday, October 15: Celebration and Transference

7 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: SHIFT Summit

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Now what? Reflections on SHIFT and how to leverage new networks with ELP and SHIFT relationships to address issues in your community.

5:00 p.m. – 10 p.m.: Join The People’s Banquet, SHIFT’s celebration of the local food system and the 2016 SHIFT Festival’s final event.

 

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