An official website of
Confluence 2026 is a national gathering for collaborative conservation practitioners, researchers, students, and emerging leaders who are working across differences to address complex social and environmental challenges.
Held May 19–21, 2026, at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO, this unique event brings people together to learn, share, and build relationships that strengthen the future of collaboration. While Confluence is rooted in the Western United States, it welcomes participants and perspectives from across the country.
The theme of 2026:
At a time of increasing complexity, polarization, and uncertainty, Confluence 2026 explores how collaborative approaches can bridge divides, build trust, and create durable solutions.
"Confluence is no ordinary conference. Loved the quick infusion of context through short presentations and offers of thought-provoking ideas and then turning to focus most of the time on smaller groups breaking out for deeper discussion and sharing of thoughts and ideas on those compelling question topics. Great work and kudos to the organizers!"
Confluence is not a traditional conference. The Western Collaborative Conservation Network intentionally designs this gathering to prioritize connection, dialogue, and shared learning. While Confluence is rooted in the landscapes, communities, and collaborative challenges of the Western United States, it brings together participants from across regions to learn from one another and share transferable approaches.
Participants engage in small-group discussions, interactive sessions, and place-based experiences that surface real-world challenges and insights from across the collaborative conservation field.
At Confluence, you can expect:
Confluence is expressly focused on creating a space for participants to connect with one another and learn about best-practices, processes, and outcomes of collaborative conservation.
We do this by:
Confluence 2026 is designed for individuals engaged in collaborative conservation across the Western United States and beyond, including:
Registration includes access to all conference sessions, community activities, and networking opportunities throughout the three-day gathering.
Important Dates
If you identify as Indigenous and are interested in attending Confluence 2026, we are partnering with Trees, Water & People to offer a reduced Indigenous registration rate of $250. In addition, a dedicated fund is available to help support travel for Indigenous participants. To learn more about these options or to explore support that may be available, please contact James Calabaza at james@treeswaterpeople.org.
We offer several options for registration, including Early Bird and Full prices for all options.
| Registration Type | Early Bird Price | Regular Full Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Registration | $420 | $520 | — |
| Half Table | $510 | $610 | Includes one registration |
| Full Table | $560 | $660 | Includes one registration |
| Discounted Registration | $245 | $345 | Application required; closes April 30, 2026 |
Discounted Registration
We aim to make Confluence accessible to participants across career stages and organizational contexts. Discounted registrations are available for early-career professionals, individuals representing themselves, small or under-resourced organizations, and others with demonstrated need.
To request discounted prices, please complete a short application. We will notify you if your request has been approved typically within 7 business days.
Session Proposals (Now Closed)
Session proposals for Confluence 2026 closed on February 1. Thank you to everyone who submitted ideas and shared their work. The full conference program will be announced soon. Register to join the conversation and learn from practitioners across the Western U.S.
Confluence 2026 will be hosted at Colorado State University’s Lory Student Center in Fort Collins, CO.
Fort Collins is approximately an hour north of Denver by car or shuttle. Colorado State University (CSU) sits in the middle of town, making it a central location for our gathering. CSU is also the home of WCCN’s host organization, the Center for Collaborative Conservation.
Lory Student Center Address
1101 Center Ave Mall, Fort Collins, CO 80521
Getting to Fort Collins
If traveling from out of state, we suggest flying into Denver International Airport (DEN/DIA). From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle to Fort Collins. There are several shuttle services, but two of the commonly used options are Landline and Groome.
Hotel Options
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hilton Fort Collins for CSU Confluence 2026. The room block has an arrival date of Monday, May 18, 2026. You will be able to book in the block at the group rate of $126.00 per room, per night, Single/Double occupancy, for a standard room with one King bed or two Double beds. Parking is complimentary – please use code: HFCGP. The room rate, room block, and parking will be available until Friday, May 22, 2026, or until it is sold out, whichever happens first.
To reserve online: CSU CONFLUENCE 2026
To Reserve by phone: Please call (800) 768-0605 and ask for CSU Confluence 2026 room block.
Parking on Campus
The closest visitor parking to the Lory Student Center is Lot 310, located just north of Lory. Parking here is $2 per hour from 7:30am – 4:00pm. Payment can be made with the ParkMobile app or with your license plate at meters.
It is important to make sure you are parked in the right area of the lot, marked for hourly parking. Lot 310 also includes permit only parking, but there are signs that will indicate the right parking spot. You can also purchase parking passes for the event when you register.
If you are interested in sponsoring Confluence 2026, please email WCCN Director, Aireona Bonnie Raschke at araschke@colostate.edu.
We are deeply grateful to the organizations contributing time, resources, and support to make Confluence 2026 possible. For general questions, please email WCCN Director, Aireona Bonnie Raschke at araschke@colostate.edu.
Benefactor
$10,000
Leaders
$5,000 – $9,999
Guarantors
$2,500 – $4,999
Champions
$1,000-$2,499
Guardian
Up to $999
