PLA 2026 Convention and Trade Show

February 22-26, 2026

Daytona Beach, FL

Request for Session Proposals

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR PROPOSAL FORM.

The Public Lands Alliance (PLA) invites dynamic, thought-provoking, and forward-looking session proposals for PLA 2026 — our annual convention and trade show taking place in Daytona Beach, Florida, from February 22–26, 2026. We are seeking engaging speakers and facilitators who can inspire, inform, and empower attendees with innovative strategies, actionable skills, and collaborative approaches.

Help our community spark new ideas, share proven practices, and build lasting partnerships that will strengthen our collective mission to protect, enhance, and celebrate public lands — now and for the next 250 years.

Submissions should fall under the umbrella of our 2026 theme, covering topics relevant to public lands nonprofits and their agency partners:

PLA 2026 Theme: Power of Place — People, Purpose, and the Next 250 Years

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, we gather in a place where layers of history, innovation, and natural beauty converge—Daytona Beach, Florida. From the enduring stone walls of Castillo de San Marcos, to the boundless skies of Cape Canaveral, to the vibrant ecosystems of Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, this location reminds us that place matters. 

This year’s theme invites us to reflect on how place shapes identity and action—and how, together, we can chart a bold, inclusive, and resilient path forward for the stewardship of public lands.  

The value of public lands lies in their power to inspire, connect, and sustain communities—across generations and geographies.
 

Submissions should directly or tangentially address the above theme. In addition, submissions should address one of the five learning tracks we are addressing for 2026.
 

1. Foundations for the Future
 For leaders focused on strategy, governance, funding, and partnerships.
Audience: Boards, Executives, CFOs, Agencies

2. Rooted in Connection
 Centering community, relevance, and inclusive storytelling.
Audience: Communications, Marketing, Engagement

3. Everyday Impact
 Highlighting frontline innovation and day-to-day mission delivery.
Audience: Program, Visitor Services, Education Staff

4. Navigating the Currents
 Responding to change with leadership, adaptability, and care.
Audience: Executives, Boards, Cross-Functional Teams

5. Mission & Marketplace
 Aligning purpose and revenue for long-term impact.
Audience: Development, Retail, Partnerships
 

PLEASE NOTE: PLA seeks a diversity of perspectives in the selection of proposals and values the expertise and contribution of presenters. Due to the large number of accepted proposals, we do not typically cover expenses or offer honoraria to concurrent session presenters. Accepted presenters will be expected to pay the published convention registration fees if they wish to participate in the convention beyond their presentation(s). PLA will consider partial assistance for expenses on a case-by-case basis for accepted presenters not from PLA member organizations or government agencies. Presenters affiliated with PLA nonprofit member organizations who require assistance should apply for a convention scholarship.

 

IMPORTANT DATES 

• August 4, 2025 — Proposal submission deadline (incomplete forms will not be considered) 
• Week of September 15, 2025 — Proposal status notification (i.e., whether a proposal is: 1) accepted, or 2) still under consideration) 
• Week of February 16, 2026 – Presentation materials and session handouts due to PLA Education and Training Manager  

CONTENT AND PRESENTATION REQUIREMENTS 

Session proposals should: 

• Include Diverse Perspectives: If appropriate, incorporate presenters who can directly share varied partnership perspectives on the topic. Proposals featuring a collaboration of presenters from nonprofits, agencies, and other relevant partner groups will receive stronger consideration.
• Promote Interactive Learning: Encourage energetic, interactive learning and clearly define learner outcomes or takeaways—ways for participants to effect change in their roles as public lands partners.
• Focus on Professional Development: Be designed to develop professional knowledge, skills, and understanding. Proposals perceived as sales pitches or commercially oriented will not be considered.
• Consider Practical Requirements: Be practical regarding audiovisual and technical needs. While PLA will do its best to meet these requests, it cannot guarantee that all audiovisual and technical requirements, particularly Internet, will be met. (Specific AV or technical requirements will be requested upon acceptance.)
• List All Presenters: Fully list all presenters or the presenting team. Proposals with “Presenters TBD” or “Presenters will be listed upon acceptance” will not be considered until the slate of presenters is complete. Should the proposal be accepted, repeated changes in the presenting team may nullify the acceptance.

AUDIENCE 

Convention participants include: 

Public Lands Nonprofit Organizations / Partners:  

• Executive leadership 
• Board members
• Program staff 
•  Operations staff

Land Management Agency Leadership and Staff: 

• Bureau of Land Management 
• National Park Service 
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
• U.S. Forest Service 
• Other federal, state, and local land management agencies
   

PRESENTATION FORMATS 

Experienced public lands professionals and relevant consultants are encouraged to submit proposals. We are seeking 60-minute concurrent sessions that engage participants and allow time for questions. All sessions should include at least 10 minutes for Q&A.

If your topic requires more time, you may propose a two-part session (e.g., “Part 1” and “Part 2”). A limited number of these extended formats will be accepted.

Submitters are encouraged to incorporate audience engagement or interactivity into their proposals. While the traditional “listen and learn” presentation method (i.e., solely PowerPoint) is familiar to many, we seek varied adult-learning formats that might include but are not limited to:

• Workshops: Hands-on activities that enable participants to grasp relevant knowledge that can be utilized following the convention.
• Educational Games: Game-based learning that facilitates the transfer and retention of relevant knowledge by embedding fun, interactive games into the session.
• Case Studies/Peer Learning: Examples of actual organizational programs, experiences, processes, partnerships, etc., discussed as illustrations of the session topic.
• Panel Discussions: Expert panels engage in a facilitated discussion, addressing predetermined questions and topics as well as questions submitted by participants.

Be creative! Be inventive! We're here for it!

Please be as specific as possible concerning your content and presentation format. To discuss a potential idea for a special format before submitting, please contact Public Lands Alliance Education Program Manager Emily Tanner at emily@publiclandsalliance.org.

SELECTION PROCESS 

Due to the large number of proposals received and the limited number of session slots, we will not be able to accept every proposal. 

Submissions will be reviewed by the program committee and the PLA staff for relevance (to theme and track), energy, interactivity, ability to inspire action, and overall quality. Greater preference will also be given to proposals offering perspectives from partners involved in the topic, process, or concept being submitted. Preference will also be given to submissions that show partnership in action - include multiple sides of the partnership when applicable. If accepted, PLA will work with you to finalize the session details for the purpose of convention marketing. 

Note: Proposals will be reviewed as they come in, thus more concerted consideration will be given to those submitted early. We may ask some presenters with similar proposal topics to work together on a new combined session proposal. 

Please direct your questions to PLA Education Manager Emily Tanner at emily@publiclandsalliance.org. 

The Find Your Wild event program provides a platform and system of support and administration for National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) affiliated nonprofit partners to utilize to get people moving in nature, nationally and locally. 

Participating organizations are charged with hosting free events that provide opportunity for participants to visit and get active on the refuge. Those with particiapting friends groups who are eligble for fundrasing will also motivate participants to donate and help support their refuges to generate important funding to support the NWRS and its nonprofit partners through fundraising. Find Your Wild is administered by Public Lands Alliance (PLA), an official 501(c)3 partner of the National Wildlife Refuge System. 

APPLICATION TO PARTICIPATE IN FIND YOUR WILD 

Please review the Rules and Regulations before submitting an application. This application starts with an eligibility form. Once you are determined to be eligible, a full application will become available. The full application must be submitted by August 1st, 2025, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Notification of acceptance will be issued via email.
 

U.S FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE EVENTS

A participating Find Your Wild refuge-run event is organized by a National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) or field station without a nonprofit partner. While these events are not eligible for a donation component, they must still submit an application.
 

NONPROFITS EVENTS

A participating Find Your Wild nonprofit comprises of one nonprofit organization and its affiliated NWRS field station(s). For this application to be complete, each nonprofit must have a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Liaison/Project Leader complete the sign-off/acknowledgment. You can grant direct access to this application for your U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service partner to complete the acknowledgment portion by clicking the "Manage Collaborators" button.

Nonprofit partners must meet the criteria listed in the Rules and Regulations documentation and participate in a mandatory online orientation meeting.

QUESTIONS 

For more information on Find Your Wild and the application, please review the Rules and Regulations: 

For questions, clarifications, or more information, please email info@americaswildliferefuges.org