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Monday, November 24, 2025

Training Opportunities: Week of November 28




Resources: 


government auction for equipment- https://www.gsaauctions.gov/auctions/home

MPS Training Opportunities: 



  1. Non-MPS Training Opportunitines: 


Register now at https://matlearning.org/.


Conservation Leaders Confluence



MAT's newest program is designed specifically for conservation professionals new to their leadership role (0-3 years) or for those who want to hold a leadership role in the future. This virtual program brings together emerging leaders to learn, connect, and grow.


Join us for six 1-hour sessions where you'll build essential leadership skills while connecting with a national network of peers facing similar challenges. Starting January 15th, each week we’ll dive into the unique leadership challenges of fish and wildlife agencies. Sessions feature interactive elements, including breakout discussions, giving you the chance to collaborate and learn directly from other conservation professionals.



The Doer-to-Leader Transition

Jan. 15, 2026, from 2-3pm Eastern time

Navigating the psychological shift from being valued for technical excellence to leading others. We'll discuss letting go of being "the expert," finding confidence in your new role, and redefining success through team accomplishments rather than personal productivity.



Difficult Conversations & Feedback That Works

Jan. 22, 2026, from 2-3pm Eastern time

Practical approaches to addressing performance issues, resolving team conflicts, and delivering feedback that drives improvement. We'll explore conversation frameworks specifically tailored to conservation contexts and common leadership challenges in wildlife agencies.



Leading Field-Dispersed Teams: Managing Staff You Rarely See

Jan. 29, 2026, from 2-3pm Eastern time

Effective strategies for supervising staff who primarily work in the field with limited connectivity. We'll address building trust from a distance, creating accountability without micromanaging, and maintaining team cohesion despite geographic separation.



Leadership Within the North American Model of Wildlife Management

Feb. 5, 2026, from 2-3pm Eastern time

Understanding how this unique conservation framework shapes your authority, responsibilities, and constraints as a leader. We'll explore balancing scientific management with public trust responsibilities in the context of state wildlife agencies.



Navigating Agency Funding Models

Feb. 12, 2026, from 2-3pm Eastern time

Make sense of the complex funding mechanisms that drive conservation work and communicate these realities to your team. We'll discuss strategies for resource allocation, managing expectations, and pursuing alternative funding sources.



Building & Leading Effective Teams in Conservation Agencies

Feb. 19, 2026, from 2-3pm Eastern time

Creating high-performing teams within the unique culture of conservation organizations. We'll cover establishing team norms, leveraging diverse strengths, and fostering the camaraderie essential for conservation work.



All sessions led by MAT National Faculty member, Tabbi Kinion!



Registration covers all six sessions; individual session enrollment is not available at this time. The cost is $190. Please note that we are unable to offer refunds for missed sessions. The drop deadline is 48 hours prior to the first webinar.


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Register Now

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Grow Your Career—Explore What’s New in Professional Development



NAI launches new “Interpretive Planning” course
The newest professional development opportunity from NAI offers a fresh perspective on the interpretive planning process. “Interpretive Planning: A Visitor Experience Approach” is an in-depth, 40-hour course that provides participants the tools they need to develop a comprehensive interpretive plan. Participants will explore how to create visitor-centered experiences by identifying key audiences, developing theme structures, selecting appropriate media, and applying tools like logic models and evaluation strategies.

Upcoming Professional Development

Online Courses:

Essentials for Effective Training
This course offers practical tools and strategies to help you design and deliver effective, accessible training—whether in person or online—while gaining hands-on experience with current technologies and evaluation methods.

Join us online | December 8-17, 2025


Registration closes November 24

In-person Courses:

CIG Train-the-Trainer Course
In this five-day CIG Train-the-Trainer™ course, you’ll learn to teach the CIG curriculum and NAI’s policies and procedures, as well as earn NAI CIG Instructor status.

Continuing Education

Self-Paced Learning
Want to build your interpretation skills when it works for you? Check out our self-paced training modules through the Interpreters Learning Center (ILC) — and kick things off with Interpreting Stories of Harm and Resistance, which is free to access. All courses offer continuing education hours upon completion. For details, check out the Self-Paced Learning webpage found on the Continuing Education section of the website.

Webinars are now FREE for Professional Members!
Did you know? NAI Professional level members can register for webinars free of charge. If you’re logged in to your NAI account, simply click the register button and you’ll see that zero dollar price!


Behavior Change & Interpretation: A Community Approach


Thursday, December 18, 2025
10:00 am Pacific/1:00 pm Eastern



In this session, we will introduce participants to the community-based social marketing framework, learn how it’s being implemented in the conservation world, and discuss how we might infuse these principles (or this process) into our interpretive program experiences and/or social media campaigns.

Upcoming CIG/CIH Courses*

Here is a highlight of next month's upcoming courses. Visit the NAI professional development and education calendar for full details on the courses listed below and others scheduled later in the year. 


*courses shared below are those listed as of November 18, 2025, and are subject to change.

In-Person Certificate of Interpretive Guiding (CIG) Courses



W.W. Knight Nature Preserve, Perrysburg, OH

December 2–5, 2025

Instructor: William Hoefflin


Dodge Nature Center Farm Entrance, West St. Paul, MN

Instructor: Jeff Boland

December 15–22


Rock Ledge Ranch, Colorado Springs, CO

Instructor: Wesley Hermann

December 15–18, 2025

Online Certificate of Interpretive Guiding (CIG) Courses


Interpreters Need Your Support More Than Ever


You can make more of an impact now than ever. Your donation ensures that, even in difficult times, interpreters have the resources, training, and support they need to inspire millions of people each year.

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