In-Person Meeting
2026 Fall Meeting
General Information
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
Registration opens soon. Lock in early bird pricing on or before July 19, 2026.
| Registration Type | Early BirdDeadline 7/19 | RegularDeadline 8/24 | LateDeadline 9/15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member Rate | $390 | $475 | $525 |
| Government Rate | $390 | $475 | $525 |
| Non-Member Rate | $550 | $600 | $650 |
Not yet a member? Members save up to $160 on 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 on July 19.)
Travel
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
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 |
| Trailhead Main | $169 / night | Call (970) 586-4471 Website Link Group code: 2609ROCKYM |
July 21 |
| Trailhead Outpost | $149 / night | Call (970) 586-4471 Website Link Group code: RMCONS |
July 21 |
| Expedition Lodge | $159 / night | Call (970) 586-5363 Website Link 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
All field trips take place on Tuesday, September 22. All field trips are $75 and include lunch. Click here for detailed descriptions of all field trips →
Full Day
Into the Alpine: A Rocky Mountain Learning Tour
Join Rocky Mountain Conservancy and National Park Service staff for a guided motor coach tour along the iconic Trail Ridge Road, traveling through Rocky’s signature landscape, the alpine tundra. This immersive experience will take participants from Estes Park into Rocky’s alpine tundra ecosystem, with much of the tour occurring above the treeline.
Price: $75
Half Day – Morning
Stewardship In Action: Conservation Corps Experience
Join Rocky Mountain Conservancy’s Conservation Corps staff and National Park Service partners for a hands-on stewardship experience in the park. This half-day volunteer opportunity invites attendees to actively contribute to resource stewardship in Rocky, while also connecting with the landscape.
Price: $75
Half Day – Morning
Opening the Outdoors: Partnerships for Accessible Outdoor Recreation
Explore how Rocky Mountain Conservancy and its community partners are working
alongside the National Park Service to make Rocky more accessible for visitors of all
abilities. This half-day experience will highlight collaborative efforts, innovative
accessibility initiatives, and the partnerships helping expand access to outdoor
recreation and public lands.
Price: $75
Half Day – Afternoon
Donor Engagement in Action: Connecting Donors to Rocky
Explore how Rocky Mountain Conservancy uses park experiences as a powerful tool for donor cultivation. This behind-the-scenes tour will showcase several of the Conservancy’s signature donor engagement experiences and highlight how these programs strengthen relationships between supporters, the Conservancy, and NationalPark Service staff.
Price: $75
Half Day – Afternoon
Discover Rocky: Meet the Conservancy’s Field Institute
Go behind the scenes of the Field Institute, Rocky Mountain Conservancy’s education department, and experience a mini–Field Institute course firsthand! This interactive session will introduce attendees to one of the longest-running field institutes in the National Park System and explore how the Conservancy partners with National Park Service staff to create educational experiences that deepen visitor engagement.
Price: $75
Get Details and Full Descriptions of Each Field Trip
Details for each field trip are listed in the PDF field trip guide.
General Meeting Agenda
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.
Optional Add On: Monday, May 21 All-Day Field Trip
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.
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.
Interested in sponsoring the 2026 Fall Meeting? Get in touch →