The Association of Partners for Public Lands’ 2016 Convention and Trade Show begins this weekend.

More than 500 public land professionals, exhibitors, and speakers will come together in Spokane, Washington, in the upcoming days to learn, engage, and connect with one another.

Association:  Association of Partners for Public Lands

Conference:  2016 APPL Convention and Trade Show

Venue: Spokane Convention Center

Location: Spokane, Washington

The 2016 APPL Convention and Trade Show will begin with an opening reception on Sunday evening. Then, on Monday morning, author Terry Tempest Williams will take the stage to discuss her latest work, The Hour of Land, a literary celebration of 12 national parks. Also on the meeting’s landscape:

Take in the surroundings. The meeting gives attendees the chance to get out into nature on two field trips. The first is a 45-minute guided stroll on the Spokane River Centennial Trail. The other is a six-hour trip called “Down by the Riverside … And More,” which will include a hike around Riverside State Park, a venture into Deep Creek Canyon, and a stop at a local brewery.

Best. Session. Ever. Who could resist a session titled “Advanced Cat Herding?” APPL Board Member and NewCity President and Founder David Poteet will show attendees how to use tools and games often used to plan websites as a laboratory for studying the art of facilitation.

A little help from your friends. No person or organization can go it alone, which is why the meeting includes five agency-specific partnership forums. Groups like the National Parks Service, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Land Management will discuss the best ways to partner with them on educational and philanthropic endeavors.

Explore the meeting from afar from the usual social channels: Facebook and Twitter (#APPLCon2016).

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