We just finished yet another fantastical Cascadia Chapter Leadership Conference! Volunteers across Washington and Oregon gathered for a gorgeous weekend on the Oregon Coast to learn, collaborate, and connect.
The 2026 Cascadia Conference crew posing on a sunny day on the Oregon coast!
This year, our focus was on the power of people to turn community engagement into meaningful action, with interactive workshops exploring ways to organize effective campaigns, cultivate new leaders, and leverage our programs to strengthen our network and move the mission forward.
We kicked off the weekend with a presentation from senior staff on our Coast & Climate Initiative, learning about the coastal resilience work that Surfrider is engaged in both here in the PNW and beyond and getting up close and personal with coastal hazards. We highlighted past coastal victories on local beach access campaigns, as well as ongoing statewide efforts in both Oregon and Washington to protect our Cascadian coasts.
We also dug into one of the biggest challenges facing all volunteer organizations: how to turn occasional attendees into engaged advocates and future chapter leaders. We had a great workshop on how chapters can strategically leverage their programs and events to build capacity without adding to their workload, and a fun role-playing communications session to practice working with the media.
And of course, the extracurricular activities were a highlight! From an incredibly fun ‘dance the coast’ workshop led by one of our volunteers, to an idyllic sunset surf session at Otter Rock, to behind-the-scenes tours of the Oregon Coast Aquarium and Hatfield Marine Science Center, we had plenty of opportunities to build community outside the conference room.
"Dancing the Coast" - Building community and connection through movement
We wrapped up the weekend with statewide campaign breakout sessions, where Washington volunteers focused on our "Keep Westport Wild” campaign, and Oregon chapters discussed their "Oregon Beaches Forever” campaign. It never ceases to amaze me how each chapter brings so many different strengths, experiences, and perspectives to the table, sharing lessons and ideas that lead to a stronger, more connected movement across the Pacific Northwest.
Shout out to the Inn at Otter Crest for hosting us - the rooms were comfy, the views were epic, the food was amazing, and the staff were so delightful! We’re stoked to announce that by the end of the weekend, they registered as our newest Ocean Friendly Restaurant!
Welcome table full of sun swag!
While completing her master's degree in Sustainable Development & Conservation Biology from the University of Maryland, Liz taught sustainability to undergraduate students while also volunteering as a docent at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum’s Ocean Hall. As Washington and Alaska Regional Manager, she supports the organization's six Washington chapters and the Kenai Peninsula Chapter in their amazing work.