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CONNECT Conference

An annual training developed by and for Oregon conservation districts, land trusts and watershed councils.

Held in the spring since 2009, and administered by OCEAN since 2012, CONNECT
provides training focused on both the technical and administrative aspects of conservation implementation. Classes are developed for rural and urban conservation implementation, managerial and administrative function, policy, and for education and outreach activities, delivering content that is specific and relevant to current conservation issues.

CONNECT 2024

April 8-10, 2025 CONNECT

Florence Event Center

Two days of training that covers current and specific conservation issues including rural and urban conservation implementation, managerial and administrative function, policy, and education and outreach activities.

Learn more about CONNECT 2025.

Explore Past Connect Materials:

CONNECT 2024

Sunriver Resort
April 16-18, 2024

The CONNECT 2024 Conference took place April 16-18 in Sunriver, OR. Participants received two days of training that covered current and specific conservation issues including rural and urban conservation implementation, managerial and administrative function, policy, and education and outreach activities.

CONNECT 2023

Delayed until Spring 2024

CONNECT 2023 was delayed until spring 2024 to realign the conference with it's traditional spring schedule.

CONNECT 2022

Seaside Convention Center
September 6-8, 2022

The CONNECT 2022 Hybrid Conference took place September 6-8. Participants received two days of training that covered current and specific conservation issues including rural and urban conservation implementation, managerial and administrative function, policy, and education and outreach activities

CONNECT 2022 Program - Download PDF

CONNECT 2019 Agenda - Download PDF


2022 OCEAN CONNECT Program Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

University of Oregon

Assured Partners

American Farmland Trust

Idaho Power

River Design Group

Tillamook Estuaries Partnership

Spark Northwest

CONNECT 2021

VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
May 11-13, 2021

Oregon Conservation Education & Assistance Network's (OCEAN) 2021 Virtual Conference was held on May 11-13. This three-day, multi-disciplinary conference brought together local, state, and federal decision-makers, support organizations, professionals from Watershed Councils, Conservation Districts, Land Trusts, and others who are committed to conserving our natural resources.

CONNECT 2021 Program - Download PDF

CONNECT 2021 comprehensive conference provided training focused on both the technical and administrative aspects of conservation implementation.
Presentations were developed for:

  • Rural and urban conservation implementation
  • Managerial and administrative function
  • Policy
  • Education and Outreach activities
CONNECT 2020

Cancelled due to COVID-19.

CONNECT 2019

Sunriver Resort Sunriver, Oregon
April 9 - 11, 2019

These three days with Oregon's top conservation professionals addressed today's natural resource challenges and looked ahead to future issues. Participants went home with new strategies and techniques to implement conservation, increase public education, lead staff, and build partnerships.

CONNECT 2019 Program - Download PDF

CONNECT 2019 Agenda - Download PDF


2019 OCEAN CONNECT Program Sponsors

Ambassador Sponsors - $10,000 or greater

  • Oregon Natural Resources Conservation Service
  • Oregon Conservation Partnership

Wetland Sponsors - $1,500

  • Anderson Perry & Associates, Inc.
  • Aspect Consulting, LLC

Tributary Sponsors - $1,000

  • Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
  • Lower Columbia Engineering

Scholarship Sponsors - $1,000

  • Special Districts Insurance Services (SDIS)
  • Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District

Snack Sponsors - $750

  • Sitka Technology Group

Scholarship Sponsors - $500

  • Idaho Power
  • Wolf Water Resources

Session Sponsors

  • Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District
  • Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District
CONNECT 2018

Seaside Convention Center Seaside,Oregon
April 17 - 19, 2018

Our CONNECT 2018 offerings at the Oregon Coast were well received and showed how great a conservation community we have in Oregon. Building upon last year's open registration format, we once again had a large and broadly representative audience with over 300 attendees from across the state. We offered over 60 sessions ranging from field technical and conservation topics to leadership, policy, and administrative topics.

CONNECT 2018 Program - Download PDF

CONNECT 2018 Agenda - Download PDF


2018 OCEAN CONNECT Program Sponsors:

Ambassador Sponsors - $10,000 or greater

  • Oregon Natural Resources Conservation Service
  • Oregon Conservation Partnership

 

Lunch Sponsor - $2,000

  • Greenwood Resources/Lewis and Clark Timberlands

 

Wetland Sponsors - $1,500

  • Sitka Technology Group
  • Lower Columbia Engineering

Tributary Sponsors - $1,000

  • Biohabitats
  • Craft3
  • Northwest Watershed Restoration, LLC
  • WSC Insurance
  • Special Districts Insurance Services
  • Earth Design Consultants

 

Friend of OCEAN

  • Idaho Power

Scholarship Sponsor

  • Confluence Consulting
CONNECT 2017

Pendleton Convention Center Pendleton, Oregon
May 2 - 4, 2017

Being the first year with open registration, attendance was greater than ever and the conversations and topics were much broader. By all accounts it was a great transition to the open format.

CONNECT 2017 Program - Download PDF


2017 OCEAN CONNECT Program Sponsors

Ambassador Sponsor - $10,000 or greater

  • Oregon Natural Resources Conservation Service

River Sponsors - $5,000

  • Oregon Association of Conservation Districts
  • Network of Oregon Watershed Councils

Wetland Sponsor - $1,500

  • Anderson Perry & Associates, Inc.

Tributary Sponsors - $1,000

  • Special Districts Association of Oregon
  • Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife - Oregon Conservation Strategy
  • Northwest Watershed Restoration, LLC

Friends of OCEAN

  • Oregon Department of Forestry
  • Idaho Power
  • Oregon Soil and Water Conservation Society
CONNECT 2016

Salishan Resort Gleneden Beach, Oregon
April 19 - 21, 2016

CONNECT 2016 was enjoyable and productive with 48 great sessions that covered all aspects of district and council programs.

CONNECT 2016 Program - Download PDF

CONNECT 2016 Schedule - Download PDF


2016 OCEAN CONNECT Program Sponsors:

Ambassador Sponsor - $10,000 or greater

  • USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

 

River Sponsors - $5,000 or greater

  • Oregon Association of Conservation Districts (OACD)
  • Network of Oregon Watershed Councils (Network)

 

Wetland Sponsor - $1,500

  • Anderson Perry & Associates, Inc.

 

Tributary Sponsor - $1,000

  • Special Districts Association of Oregon

 

Friends of OCEAN

  • Oregon Department of Forestry
  • Idaho Power
  • Oregon Soil and Water Conservation Society
CONNECT 2015

CONNECT 2015 was fantastic. Districts and Watershed Councils turned out in record numbers to devour content from four tracks with close to 40 sessions. Many OCEAN partners and sponsors were present to show support and to provide training to attendees. It was a great three days.

CONNECT 2015 Schedule - Download PDF


2015 OCEAN CONNECT Program Sponsors:

Ambassador Sponsor - $10,000 or greater

  • USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

 

River Sponsors - $5,000 or greater

  • Oregon Association of Conservation Districts (OACD) 
  • Network of Oregon Watershed Councils (Network)

 

Wetland Sponsors - $1,500

  • Pacific Bridge & Construction Inc.
  • Special Districts Association of Oregon
  • Lower Columbia Engineering 

 

Reception Sponsor

  • The Freshwater Trust

 

Friends of OCEAN

  • Idaho Power
  • Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF)
  • Oregon Soil and Water Conservation Society
  • Oregon Women for Agriculture
  • Resource Specialists, Inc.
CONNECT 2014

The Resort at the Mountain Welches, Oregon
April 30 - May 2, 2014

By all accounts, CONNECT 2014 was our best event yet. Having Watershed Councils attending added value to the event and made the conversations and content more dynamic. The venue and weather were fantastic, and the camaraderie between Districts, Councils, Presenters, and Sponsors was incredible.

CONNECT 2014 Schedule - Download PDF


2014 OCEAN CONNECT Program Sponsors:

Gold Sponsors -

  • Oregon Association of Conservation Districts (OACD) 
  • Network of Oregon Watershed Councils (Network)
  • Wahoo Films
  • Natural Resources Conservation Service 

Bronze Sponsors

  • Special Districts Association of Oregon
  • Aquatic Contracting (AC)
  • Pacific Bridge & Construction Inc.
  • Lower Columbia Engineering 

Additional Sponsors

  • The Freshwater Trust
  • Oregon Forest Resources Institute
  • Rainmaker Wildlife
  • Idaho Power
CONNECT 2013

Spirit Mountain Casino Grand Ronde, Oregon
April 24-26, 2013

CONNECT 2013 was once again highly attended and highly praised. OCEAN would like to thank all of the Districts and their employees who pitched in to help deliver this year's program. We would also like to thank our sponsors (listed below) for their support. Without them, CONNECT simply wouldn't be possible. As always, OCEAN would like to thank the CONNECT 2013 presenters for delivering the relevant, high quality information that has become a hallmark of the CONNECT sessions.

Connect 2013 Schedule - Download PDF (0.1 MB)


2013 OCEAN CONNECT Program Sponsors:

Event Sponsors - $5,000 or greater

  • Oregon Natural Resources Conservation Service
  • Oregon Association of Conservation Districts
  • Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board

Gold Sponsors - $1,000

  • Energy Trust of Oregon
  • Aquatic Contracting LLC

Silver Sponsors - $500

  • Pacific Bridge & Construction, Inc.
  • Special Districts Association of Oregon
  • Idaho Power
  • Save Water Save Energy Program
  • Herrera Environmental Consultants
  • Oregon Hop Commission
  • Landshaper LLC
  • Farmers Conservation Alliance
  • HD Supply Waterworks
  • Rainmaker Guzzlers
  • MeasureTek

Friends of OCEAN - $250

  • Anderson Perry & Associates, Inc.
  • Oregon Forestry Resource Institute
  • Inter-Fluve, Inc.
CONNECT 2012

Kah-nee-ta High Desert Resort Warm Springs, Oregon
April 25 - 27, 2012

CONNECT 2012 was a great success! OCEAN would like to thank the CONNECT 2012 presenters for delivering the relevant, high-quality information that has become a trademark of the CONNECT sessions, and all of those who help make CONNECT the best training bargain around.

Connect 2012 Schedule - Download PDF (0.1 MB)

Contact

Oregon Conservation Education and Assistance Network

  • 22055 S. Beavercreek Road, Suite 1 Beavercreek, OR 97004
  • info@oceanconnect.org

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