The Chesapeake Watershed Forum is where the most innovative ideas for clean water take root. We are officially seeking speakers for our 21st annual event! Do you have research, a tool, or a success story that could empower your peers? We are looking for sessions that explore “Practical Solutions for People and Planet.”

On November 13-15, 2026, the 21st Annual Chesapeake Watershed Forum will be held at the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) in Shepherdstown, WV. The Forum is a watershed-wide event reaching over 400 restoration and protection practitioners to inspire and empower local action towards clean water. We share successful tools and techniques, offer lessons and learnings from on-the-ground work, build capacities of local organizations, foster partnerships, educate on new initiatives and emerging practices, network with others, and celebrate our successes.

Join us for a look at past sessions, workshops, activities, and other Forum fun below.

a water color kit and painting sitting on a log

Participants of Cultivating Nature Connection, Mindfulness and Well-being enjoyed a relaxed, interactive, outdoors session focused on developing a deeper sense of connection to nature.

a person raises their arm whole speaking to people

Presenter Joy Jackson shares tips for Strategic Questions and Collaborative Discussions with Forum attendees.

are you present?

As part of the Chesapeake Collective, various inspirational signs were placed throughout campus, reminding us why we were all there. Chesapeake Collective is an intention, a space, and a creative platform for diverse voices to express their vision for a healthy Bay watershed.

a person gives the peace sign while presenting

Speaker, Dr. Wansoo Im gives a presentation on EJScreen, an environmental justice mapping tool.

a person holds a phone facing the night sky

Attendees search the night sky for signs of the Orionid meteor shower at the 2024 Forum.

a person present to a large circle of people

Presenter Alex Fries leads an exercise in effective science communication for Forum attendees.

people hold up green leaves

Forum attendees and Alliance team members show off the leaves they were able to identify during the Techniques in Tree Identification workshop led by the Alliance’s Forest Team.

two people present to a room

Dr. Mamie Parker and Rachel Gilde speak on the ongoing internship program at Masonville Cove.

red and orange leaves on trees

The fall foliage is always in full effect at the Forum.

a person watches as people use computers

Kaylyn Gootman walks attendees through usage of existing web-based tools available through the Chesapeake Bay Program.

a circle of people pass a beach ball

Our “forum buddies” activity kicking off with an energetic icebreaker!

a person presents to people while they raise their hands

Joe Toolan, Manager of Chesapeake Bay Programs at the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, presents on Diverse and Equitable Community Engagement.

a person sticks a boot shape sticker to a bulletin board

One of the Forum’s many interactive displays. This activity, called Leave Only Footprints, allowed attendees to share their favorite places in the watershed with other Forum participants. This display was also part of the Chesapeake Collective.

small groups of people have discussions

Speaker Pri Ekanayake leads attendees in utilizing tools for collaborative decision making.

If you’d like to share your expertise with hundreds of like-minded conservationists, consider joining the Forum as a speaker. Our planning team is offering office hours to provide feedback on your session concept before you hit submit. The deadline for session proposal submissions is Friday, May 29.

Not planning to present this year? We still want you in the room! Mark your calendars for November 13-15, 2026, at the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC). Registration information is coming soon.

See the full RFP

Learn more about the Forum