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SPRING, RENEWAL, AND EMBRACING THE BUSY SEASON
As we step into spring, it’s hard to ignore the incredible energy that seems to blossom all around us. Spring is a time of renewal, growth, and new beginnings. For many of us, though, spring isn’t just a time for renewal—it’s also the season where everything seems to happen all at once! From morel mushroom hunting to crappie spawns, bird migrations to strutting turkeys, the outdoor activities are in full force. Some days, it seems like we’re running from one adventure to the next, trying to take it all in before summer sets in. And just like the plants and flowers pushing through the earth, we too are capable of blooming with new ideas, fresh perspectives, and renewed energy as outdoor communicators.
ACI is excited to embrace this season of growth. Our new website is in the works, and we can’t wait to share it with you all-it’s going to make staying connected easier than ever. The ACI Awards Contest is open and taking submissions until April 3. By the time you read this you will have just a few days to submit your best work, so don’t wait until the last minute of of the last hour of the last day (you know who you are). We are also looking for judges, so please consider volunteering your time to review and score the best work from your peers from around the country. And of course, now is the time to start making plans for our upcoming annual ACI Conference July 21-24, 2025 in Atlantic City, NJ! Registration is now open and the agenda has been posted.
Thank you for all the work you do within our community. Together, we continue to grow, and together, we will make this a season of positive change and meaningful impact. Finally, once you get done submitting your awards entries and signing up for the conference, remember to make the time to enjoy all the spring activities and I encourage you to invite someone new this year.
Here’s to a season of growth, renewal, and new adventures!
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Blake Podhajsky
ACI President,
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
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2025 ACI Conference
“The Power of Partnerships”
REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
The 2025 Association for Conservation Information Conference registration is now open! To register, book your hotel, and view the conference agenda, please visit the conference page HERE.
New Jersey DEP Fish and Wildlife is hosting this year’s conference at the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The conference runs from Monday July 21 – Thursday July 24, 2025, with check out Friday, July 25, 2025. The early bird registration fee of $430 ends May 15, 2025. After May 15, the registration will be $475 and the registration deadline is June 30, 2025.
We look forward to seeing you in Atlantic City!
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ACI Conference Scholarships Available
Once again, ACI is offering 10 travel scholarships for our annual conference! To apply, please fill out the application: www.surveymonkey.com/r/X9G8DJK
There are up to 10 travel scholarships available for the 2025 conference at the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel, New Jersey, Monday July 21 – Thursday, July 24.
The scholarship covers the registration fee and four nights lodging. Scholarships are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to first-time ACI attendees.
For more information and to apply, CLICK HERE!
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ACI Awards Contest
Entry Deadline & Call for Judges
The ACI Awards Contest is currently open and the deadline to submit entries is April 3, 2025. Depending on when you read this, you’ve either submitted your entries, or are scrambling like mad to meet the deadline. To submit entries and learn more about our awards contest, click here.
Regardless, the next phase of the contest is the objective evaluation of entries by qualified judges. Judging of entries will start April 16, 2025 and we are seeking judges in 35 different categories.
Please consider being a judge in one of the contest categories, or recruiting qualified judges from your professional peers outside your agency.
If you’re willing to be a judge, or know of a potential judge, or want to learn more, please contact Awards Co-Chairs Beth Quillian or Chris Martin.
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Improv-ing work culture: What conservation communicators can learn from improv
What do conservation and improv have in common? Communication. At the core of both practices is the goal of connecting with wider audiences. James Wasilewski, founder of HaHa to Aha, a traveling improv organization for professional development, brought his workshop to the 2024 ACI conference to teach conservation communicators about improving their work with the help of an improv mindset... [READ MORE].
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Article by Samantha Fain
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
ACI Scholarship Recipient
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ACI's Official Podcast
Episode Nine: Invasive Species with Hawaii’s Dan Dennison
Invasive species are an increasing concern everywhere and a challenge for conservation communicators. The Hawaiian islands are next level when it comes to the challenges of dealing with invasive species and communicating to the local audience as well as the millions of tourists who visit the popular islands every year. Hawaii DNLR's Senior Communication Manager, Dan Dennison, spent some time talking with Tim Akimoff about communicating around invasive species at last year's ACI Conference in Virginia.
You can find this episode on Apple, Spotify or wherever you enjoy listening to podcasts. You can also find this and all episodes when you visit the podcast page on our website.
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Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Toolkit Available
The National Deer Association has a new CWD Toolkit that is made for any state or NGO to be able to use/share however they like.
Chronic Wasting Disease is not the easiest of subjects to talk to the public about. To assist agencies and NGOs in communications efforts around CWD, the National Deer Association has released a toolkit with social media imagery, video ads, and other tools. These assets are ready for you to insert your logo and use however you like.
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REGISTER NOW! 2025 ACI Conference
Host: New Jersey DEP Fish and Wildlife
Where: Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Hotel , Atlantic City, New Jersey
When: Monday July 21 - Thursday July 24, 2025. Check out Friday, July 25, 2025
Registration Fee: $430
Late Registration fee: $475 (late registration after May 15.)
Hotel Rate: $107/night. To book your hotel at the group rate CLICK HERE! The last day to book a hotel room is June 25, 2025.
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Check out ACI's Flickr Account
ACI now has a Flickr account! Now we can more easily share photos and videos, and better connect with our outdoor communicator community-- YOU!
[CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR FLICKR ACCOUNT]
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Our Mailing Address
Association for Conservation Information
1801 N. Lincoln Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73015
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