In-Person Meeting
2026 Fall Meeting
General Information
Three days in the Rockies, built for partners.
The National Park Friends Alliance and our host, Rocky Mountain Conservancy, have curated a variety of professional sessions, networking opportunities, field trips, and social events for participants.
The meeting will begin with optional field trips on Tuesday, September 22. The business meeting will take place Wednesday, September 23 and Thursday, September 24.
Sessions will cover topics related to fundraising, organizational growth, change management, community partnerships, marketing and communications, and other trending topics — with final details to come.
Registration
Pricing & deadlines
Registration opens soon. Lock in early bird pricing on or before July 17, 2026.
| Registration Type | Early BirdDeadline 7/17 | RegularDeadline 8/24 | LateDeadline 9/15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member Rate | $390 | $475 | $525 |
| Government Rate | $390 | $475 | — |
| Non-Member Rate | $550 | $600 | $650 |
Not yet a member? Members save up to $160 on registration.
Scholarships
Airfare vouchers & registration scholarships
Thanks to our 2026 Fall Meeting sponsors, the Friends Alliance is offering a limited number of airfare vouchers and registration scholarships for Fall Meeting attendees.
Preference will be shown to Friends Alliance member organizations and to staff at organizations with smaller budgets and staffs.
Applications due: June 19, 2026
Awards announced: by July 10, 2026 (in advance of early bird deadline)
Travel
Getting to Estes Park
Estes Park is approximately 75 miles from Denver International Airport (DEN).
Our event app, Whova, offers a ride-sharing feature accessible after you register. The Estes Park Shuttle also runs an airport shuttle regularly between DEN and Estes Park.
- → Drive: ~1 hr 45 min from DEN
- → Estes Park Shuttle (reservation required)
- → Whova rideshare (post-registration)
Hotel Room Blocks
Where to stay
Room blocks are available at the following hotels. Please book early — many hotels will sell out before the deadline.
| Hotel | Rate | How to Reserve | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holiday Inn Estes Park Host Hotel | $229 / night | Reservation Link | August 22 |
| Trailborn Main | $169 / night | Call (970) 586-4471 Group code: 2609ROCKYM |
July 21 |
| Trailborn Outpost | $149 / night | Call (970) 586-4471 Group code: RMCONS |
July 21 |
| Expedition Lodge | $159 / night | Call (970) 586-5363 Mention Rocky Mountain Conservancy |
August 20 |
| Best Western Silver Saddle Inn | $225 / night | Reservation Link | August 22 |
*Please indicate to the hotel if you need an accessible room.
Field Trips · Tuesday, September 22
Five ways to experience the park
All field trips take place on Tuesday, September 22. Click here for detailed descriptions of all field trips →
Full Day
Alpine Tundra Tour
Ascend above tree line for sweeping views of one of the country’s most fragile alpine ecosystems.
Moderate
Half Day
Field Institute Experience
An interpretive program led by Conservancy educators — get a behind-the-scenes look at place-based learning in action.
Easy
Half Day
Accessibility & Community Partnerships Showcase
Visit sites where the park and community partners are expanding access and welcoming new audiences.
Easy
Half Day · AM
Donor Engagement in Action: Tour of Tours
Sit in on the donor experiences our host has refined over the years — and bring takeaways home to your own program.
Easy
Half Day · AM
Conservation Corps Experience
Get hands-on with a Conservation Corps crew. Strenuous activity in the field.
Strenuous
Want details?
Full descriptions, mileage, and what to bring
Pricing and activity levels for each field trip are listed in the full guide.
General Meeting Agenda
Three days, at a glance
Day 1 · Tuesday
September 22
All Day
Optional Field Trips
5:30 – 7:30 PM
Registration Opens
Evening
Opening Reception at the Fall River Visitor Center
Day 2 · Wednesday
September 23
7:30 – 9:00 AM
Registration Open
8:00 – 9:00 AM
Welcome Breakfast
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Plenary & Breakout Sessions
Lunch & snacks provided
Evening
Evening Activities
Day 3 · Thursday
September 24
8:00 – 9:00 AM
Breakfast
9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Plenary & Breakout Sessions
Lunch & snacks provided
3:30 – 4:00 PM
Closing
Detailed session schedule with speakers and breakout topics will be shared closer to the meeting.
Monday, September 21 · Day-long
We are potentially planning a day-long field trip to Amache National Historic Site before the Friends Alliance Fall Meeting and are gathering interest from those who may want to attend.
We would depart early Monday morning from Denver (approximately a 4-hour drive each way). At the site, we will tour the historic grounds and museum. After the tour, we will have lunch together before returning to Denver later that afternoon/evening.
Your interest helps us plan transportation and logistics — there’s no commitment yet.
With Gratitude
2026 Fall Meeting Sponsors
This meeting is made possible by the generous support of organizations who share our commitment to America’s national parks.
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Interested in sponsoring the 2026 Fall Meeting? Get in touch →
Save the dates
September 22 – 24, 2026 · Estes Park, CO
We can’t wait to gather in the Rockies. Sign up for updates and we’ll let you know the moment registration opens.