Registration Information

Attendee registration for the 6th Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Wildlife Viewing and Nature Tourism Academy is OPEN! Sign up early to $ave! We look forward to seeing you February 16-20, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. 
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Register to Attend

Attendee Registration Options	By Nov. 30	Dec. 1 - Jan. 12	Jan. 13 - Feb. 22
Full Registration (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) Includes Urban Nature Adventures Field Experience on Monday (see details), all Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday presentations, breakfasts, lunches, morning/afternoon snacks, and receptions Monday and Thursday.	$650	$700	$750
One Day Registration Includes the offered meals and presentations on the day selected.	$250
Guest Registration Options
Guest Breakfasts (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday)	$75
Guest Lunches (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday)	$150
Guest Monday Reception Ticket	$50
Guest Thursday Reception Ticket	$50
Guest Monday Field Learning Experience	$75
Guest Friday Field Learning Experience	See pricing and options below.
Friday Field Experiences (not included with registration; open to conference registrants and guests)
Woodland Park Zoo (see details) 8:30am - 1:30pm Transportation and entry provided; lunch on your own.	$10
Whale Watching Tour (see details) 9:30am - 4:30pm Transportation provided, trip fees and lunch on your own.	Payments, reservations, and food requests are performed directly through the tour operator.
Additional Optional Event
Wednesday Trivia Night (includes dinner and drinks) Advance RSVP through the registration site is strongly encouraged so that we order enough food!	$25; paid at the door

Register to Attend

Payment Note

​Registrants will have the option to pay by PO, check, or credit card; after January 26, 2026, only credit card payments will be accepted.
If you paid by credit card, your statement will show the charge as Delaney Event Management.
​To pay with a check, please make payable to "America's Wildlife Association for Resource Education" and mail to: America's Wildlife Association for Resource Education, 1100 First St NE, Suite 825, Washington, DC 20002

Cancellation Policy

​If you need to cancel your registration, registration fees are refundable less a $50 administrative fee if cancelled by January 26, 2026. After January 26, no refunds will be issued, but substitutions are allowed. PLEASE NOTE: All registrations are subject to the cancellation fee regardless of the type of payment.  You are advised to make sure you have travel approval before registering for the Academy.  

Questions

If you have any questions about attending, please call the WVNT Academy registration office at (802) 865-5202, or email [email protected].

Field Experiences

The Academy Planning Team is finalizing immersive off-site learning and field training opportunities for the 2026 Academy – invaluable experiences designed to deepen professional expertise and strengthen real-world application. These hands-on sessions provide firsthand exposure to industry challenges, best practices, and innovative techniques that will directly benefit participants' careers.

Monday’s off-site learning and field training, included with full Academy registration, will offer a unique chance to engage in applied learning alongside industry leaders. Friday’s optional add-on sessions (reserved and paid for at the time of registration) will provide additional opportunities for specialized training, allowing participants to tailor their learning to their specific career goals.

Stay tuned for more details on how these experiences will elevate professional development and provide invaluable takeaways for attendees and their organizations.

 

Monday Optional Field Experience (Included With Registration)

Urban Nature Adventures: Advance RSVP through the registration site is required for transportation and lunch planning. 

• ​Time: 7:00am - 5:00pm
• Transportation: Provided
• Food and beverage: Lunches, snacks, and water provided, but bringing anything of your own is welcome
• Price: Included with full conference registration. $75 for guests 

Stops include: 

• Seward Park Audubon: Join us for a dynamic professional field experience at Seward Park Audubon Center. Seward Park is more than just an urban park- it spans 277 acres (including the city's largest stand of old-growth trees) and includes miles of accessible hiking and biking trails, shorelines, beaches, and more.
  The trip includes a guided birding walk, conversations about birdwatching approaches for a range of visitor needs, and an overview of a high school conservation program designed to engage broader urban audiences. This opportunity offers practical tools and strategies to strengthen outdoor education and foster meaningful connections to nature and community while taking place in a unique setting within Seattle’s urban landscape.
• Issaquah Salmon Hatchery: This experience will offer an in-depth look at salmon conservation and education efforts with the Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Participants will attend a guided tour showcasing the hatchery educational programming, along with engaging in a detailed presentation on the live salmon camera program and virtual engagement strategies. The presentation will conclude with an overview of an ongoing economic survey assessing the impact of salmon viewing at the site.
• Environmental Science Center: Come explore the Puget Sound with the Environmental Science Center! To learn more about our connection with marine wildlife, participants will walk the beach, view shorebirds, and partake in hands-on science stations to dissect salmon, view plankton under the microscope, and assess water quality health. This session offers practical and meaningful experiences for participants to gain an understanding of the fascinating and incredible ecological landscape in our region and how to engage audiences of all ages and interests in lifelong stewardship action.

 

​Friday Optional Field Experiences (Additional Fees Apply; Not Included with Registration)

OPTION 1: Woodland Park Zoo:  Join us for a field experience at Woodland Park Zoo that blends learning and exploration, featuring a discussion on empathy-driven conservation education, practical guidance on implementing urban community science and wildlife viewing projects (bats, carnivores, and more), seeing Woodland Park Zoo's conservation education in action during a program, and time to freely experience the zoo’s exhibits.

• Time: 8:30am - 1:30pm 
• Transportation: Provided 
• Food and beverage: Water and snacks provided. Lunch options for purchase are available on-site. 
• Price: $10 per person. Lunch is not included. 
• Capacity: 10 participants minimum, 30 maximum (with exceptions if whale watching trip is cancelled due to weather, in which case attendees would have the option to be switched to the Zoo field experience)

​OPTION 2: Whale Watching Tour: Embark on a boat-based wildlife viewing tour in Washington’s Salish Sea, where participants will have the opportunity to observe gray whales during their annual spring migration up to Alaska. The tour also has the opportunity to see a variety of seabirds and pinnipeds in their natural habitat. This excursion offers a rare seasonal perspective on marine ecosystems and supports professional growth through guided interpretation and observation. The Puget Sound Express is a sponsor of the WVNT Academy and is a member of the Pacific Whale Watch Association. 

• Time: 9:30am - 4:30pm
• Transportation to and from Edmonds (1-hour drive from Cedarbrook Lodge) : Provided
• Tour boat details: Swiftsure
• Food and beverage: When making your reservation, you’ll have the option to pre-order boxed lunches for your tour. These options include ham, turkey or caprese sandwiches. They come with chips and a beverage. If you choose to not purchase a lunch via the tour operator, please bring your own food and non-alcoholic beverage(s). 
• *Discounted price: $78 (does not include taxes, fees, or optional boxed lunches). The first 25 registrants are guaranteed a spot on the trip. Selecting this field experience will lock in your access to the discount code. 
• The Cedarbrook Lodge will be able to hold your luggage if you are checking out of your hotel room this day. ​
• Official registration for the whale watching trip opens with the tour operator in September, so attendees who sign up will receive an email with their discount code by October. Payments, reservations, and food requests are performed directly through the tour operator’s​ registration webpage.  ​