An official website of
Confluence (n)
“A coming or flowing together, the junction of two rivers, especially rivers of approximately equal width, an act or process of merging, joining, meeting place, gathering, a point of mixing”.
Thank you to all who joined us for Confluence 2022 on September 19-21, in beautiful Paradise Valley, Montana.
We loved gathering in person with you all and re-connecting as a network with members across 11 states. During Confluence 2022, we discussed pressing issues in our collaborative work, catalyzed action, and provided capacity-building opportunities to participants.
Find key takeaways, summaries of the keynote presentations, and speaker reflections and resources from this year’s Confluence in our Confluence 2022 Key Takeaways Report.
We took a deep look at Paradise Valley, Montana and used it as a lens to learn about collaborative conservation throughout the American West.
Confluence is a perfect conference for conservation practitioners, academics, students, and volunteers from across the Western United States who are experienced or interested in collaboration as a key element of their work.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND FUTURE WCCN CONFLUENCES? Confluence is perfect for conservationists, collaborative practitioners, local, state and federal agency members, land owners, academics, students, and community members from across the Western US who are experienced or interested in collaboration as a key element of their work.
BENEFITS TO PARTICIPANTS: Come away equipped with new skills and knowledge in the practice of collaborative conservation by expanding your “collaborative toolbox”, find new inspiration in the sharing of lessons learned and by examining relevant case studies, and deepen your connections to the values, places, and people that make our work so enriching.
MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES: We support emerging leaders through Confluence by connecting people looking for mentors with folks willing to support through mentorship. Read more about the mentorship program here!
PEER-TO-PEER: Confluence 2022 featured six concurrent workshops (aka peer-to-peer sessions) focused on skill-building, and cross-pollination exercises that allowed for enhanced networking among participants and “equipping” opportunities. Topics of the workshops included: (1) measuring collaborative impacts, (2) emerging leadership, (3) storytelling, communications and media, (4) conservation finance, (5) the collaborator’s toolbox, and (6) cross-cultural partnerships.
“ECO-TERRAIN” CASE STUDIES: The “Eco-terrain” case studies were four place-based scenarios in Montana that showcased new (and old) collaborative partnerships among Montana residents, and address various social and environmental challenges. Together, we learned and problem solved through the exploration of these case studies.
SCHOLARSHIPS: Full and partial scholarships, as well as travel stipends, are made available by the WCCN Team each Confluence.
With questions, please contact Aireona Raschke at araschke@colostate.edu.
To stay up-to-date with details about the next WCCN Confluence, subscribe to the WCCN newsletter.
SPONSORSHIPS: Interested in helping sponsor the next WCCN Confluence? Reach out to Aireona Raschke for more information about becoming a sponsor and the benefits you’ll receive
FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to acknowledge and thank the funders and supporters that are making Confluence 2022 possible:
Benefactors: $10,000 and above
Alper Family Foundation
Ed Warner and Jackie Erickson
World Wildlife Fund, Northern Great Plains Program
Leaders: $5,000 – $9,999
Center for Collaborative Conservation
The Kendeda Fund
University of Montana, Center for Natural Resources and Environmental Policy
US FWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife
Guarantors: $2,500 – $4,999
National Parks and Conservation Association
The Nature Conservancy in Montana
Champions: $1,000 – $2,499
Bill and Dana Milton
Heart of the Rockies Initiative
Montana Forest Collaboration Network
Montana Watershed Coordination Council
National Forest Foundation
Salazar Center for North American Conservation
Western Landowners Alliance
Guardians: Up to $999
American Conservation Experience
BioRegions International
Jessica Western
John Sanderson
Kestrel Aerial Services, Chris Boyer
Montana Wilderness Association
Park County Environmental Council
Rox Hicks
Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition
SeaBird Strategies
Slam
South North Nexus
Swan Valley Connections
The Common Ground Project
Wild MT
The WCCN held its inaugural Confluence in March 2020.
Members of collaborative conservation groups and their support organizations gathered from across the West to CONNECT to peers, CONVENE to learn new collaboration skills and practice new tools, and CATALZE action on issues that limit conservation success.
The Confluence program, re-cap video, report, and post-Confluence evaluation can be found here:
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