We’re excited to announce that this year’s annual Surfrider Cascadia Chapter Conference will be held in Newport, OR, a spectacular and special place to gather and share some Surfrider stoke! The 2016 conference, held August 26-28th, will offer a wide range of presentations and break-out sessions led by chapters and Surfrider staff on current campaigns, programs, important issues, and organizational best practices. (Scroll down for a full draft conference program + Field Trip details) Our goal is that attending activists will bring back new skills & fresh ideas to their chapters! There will be plenty of time for the enjoyment aspect of our mission too!
Attendees: Click Here for Visitors Guide
The Cascadia Conference features chapter members from British Columbia, Washington and Oregon as well as staff from Surfrider headquarters in San Clemente, CA.
Cascadia Conference Registration is up and running - Deadline for registration is August 1st, but we encourage you to register as soon as possible if you plan to attend!
Date
The 2016 Cascadia Chapter Conference is set for August 26th-28th !
REGISTER NOW
Location
Lodging and conference will take place at OMSI's Coastal Discovery Center in Newport, OR. There’s lots of fun to be had on the beach, in the ocean, or in town. There's various surf spots in a 10-15 min radius, two marine reserves to explore ~30 min north and south of town, and plenty of options for hiking, beachgoing, frisbee golf, and joints for grabbing a frosty brew (all within walking distance).
Cost
Surfrider Foundation will cover the cost of room/board for Friday night, Saturday and Sunday breakfasts and Saturday’s lunch! Accommodations are communal campy bunk style (separated by gender of course), so pack your sheets, pillows, blanket, and best ghost or make-out stories. For questions regarding rooming, contact rcruse@surfrider.org
Register
The deadline for registering is August 1st. REGISTER NOW
Agenda / Topics / Speakers
Click here for a full draft agenda
Field Trip
We are planning a field trip + BBQ on the Friday evening of the Cascadia Conference, August 26th from 6-9pm. We'll be paddling on the beautiful Salmon River, adjacent to the Cascade Head Marine Reserve. Come learn about what makes this area a special place and have some fun on the water!
Please RSVP if you'd like to attend and let us know if you'll be bringing your own floating vessel (SUP, kayak, canoe, etc.) which is encouraged or if you'd need us to procure a boat for ya. There may be an option for a tour via pontoon boat as well.
RSVP for the Boat, Float n' BBQ
Field Trip Details
Time: 5pm > 8:30ish
Schedule
- 6pm - Intro's + brief informal talk on the Cascade Head Marine Reserve
- 6:15 - Hit the water!
- 7:15-8:30ish - BBQ
What to Bring:
- Your water-going vessel and PFD if ya got one. For those without boats, we've got some extras and a "party barge" type boat complete with local tour guide.
- A reusable plate, utensils, drinking receptacle!
- Stoke
Address + Directions: Knight County Park - Otis, OR 97368
Heading North from Newport: Newport > Knight County Park
Heading South from Portland and points north: Portland > Knight County Park
* For those heading from BC / WA: Portland Friday traffic can be a real bear after about 1pm so you might consider an alternate route through Longview > east side of the coast range - Scenic route *
About/Who Should Attend
Chapter Conferences are annual gatherings of Surfrider volunteer and staff, held to offer networking, training, sharing, learning, and merry-making opportunities. Invitations are extended from HQ to Chapter leaders each year, and chapter members coordinate through their Executive Committee’s which volunteers should attend. Many chapters will actually be presenting at the conference, sharing their ideas and organizational best practices.
If you haven’t been to a conference before or you would like a look back at last years, see this story from the 2015 gathering. It was an incredible weekend of networking, information sharing, learning, and fun in Long Beach, WA.