The 2027 Chesapeake Gateways Annual Partner Meeting is scheduled to take place in Harrisburg, PA on February 3-4 at The Central Hotel.
The annual partner meeting is the keystone technical assistance opportunity for in-person assistance to Chesapeake Gateways Network members. This technical assistance opportunity is for network members and is expected to include 175 public and private sector participants.
The theme for the 2027 Chesapeake Gateways Annual Partner Meeting is “Investing in Place: Recreation, Heritage, Opportunity.” The agenda will feature 18 sessions scheduled within four tracks, two non-track sessions, and two keynote speakers. In addition to the keynote speakers, participants will be able to attend four sessions for each track as well as two non-track sessions during the two-day meeting:
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Return on Partnership - Chesapeake Gateways Member Models Worth Replicating: Explore proven partnership approaches, programs, and projects that demonstrate measurable community, conservation, or visitor benefits and offer lessons learned that can be adapted across the Chesapeake Gateways Network.
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Outdoor Recreation as Chesapeake’s Economic Engine: Discover how outdoor recreation investments can drive economic growth, attract visitors, support local businesses, and enhance quality of life throughout the Chesapeake region.
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Resilient Organizations, Resilient Chesapeake Places: Learn strategies for building strong, adaptable organizations and partnerships that can sustain recreation, tourism, and community priorities while navigating challenges and opportunities.
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Chesapeake Tourism - Economic Impact by Design: Explore how intentional tourism planning, place-based storytelling, and strategic partnerships can increase visitation, strengthen local economies, and create lasting benefits for Chesapeake communities.
2027 Chesapeaek Gateways Annual Partner Meeting Preliminary Agenda
Dates, times, and topics for sessions are subject to change; the agenda will be finalized in early November.
Tuesday, February 2
1:00 pm – 4:30pm Registration
5:30 pm–6:30 pm Meet & Greet with Superintendent Wendy O’Sullivan and the NPS Chesapeake Gateways Team
Wednesday, February 3
9:00 am–10:15 am Welcome and Keynote
10:15 am–10:45am Break
10:45 am–12:00pm Sessions
- Itinerary Building: Visitor Itinerary Design for Impact
- Underground Railroad and the Susquehanna
- Using Social Science to Strengthen Public Engagement and Place-Based Tourism
12:00pm-1:30pm Lunch (provided)
1:30pm-2:45pm Sessions
- Attracting Heritage Visitors: You Have What Travelers Are Looking For
- Expanding Access in Pennsylvania
- NPS Chesapeake Gateways: Recent Highlights & Future Opportunities
2:45pm-3:15pm Break
3:15pm- 4:30pm Sessions
- Engaging Learners of All Ages: Innovative Programming for Schools and Multigenerational Audiences
- Strategies for Fishing and Boating Access
- Conservation Efforts for Community Resilience
6:00pm-7:30pm Welcome to Harrisburg! Evening Experience (shuttles from hotel provided)
Thursday, February 4
9:00 am–10:15 am Sessions
- Developing Outdoor Recreation: Designing High-Impact Visitor Experiences
- Cultivating Vibrant Public Landscapes: Strategies for Community Spaces
- NPS Chesapeake Gateways: Recent Highlights & Future Opportunities
10:15 am–10:45am Break
10:45 am–12:00pm Sessions
- From Concept to Community: Building and Expanding Thematic Tours
- Strengthening Community Resilience Through Effective Branding
- Innovating Interpretation: State Park Educators Share Strategies & Successes
12:00pm-1:30pm Lunch (provided)
1:30pm-2:45pm Sessions
- Innovative Ways to Promote Conservation
- Connecting Communities through Water Trails
- On the Move: Chesapeake Gateways Roving Rangers—2026 Recap & 2027 Opportunities
2:45pm-3:15pm Break
3:15pm- 4:30pm Closing Keynote
Friday, February 5
10:00am-12:00pm National Civil War Museum Behind-the-Scenes Experience (Limited to 50 participants)
Registration
Click here to register to attend. We recommend you register as soon as possible, as space is limited. There is no fee to register.
Hotel
The 2027 Chesapeake Gateways Annual Partner Meeting will be taking place at The Central Hotel at 800 E Park Dr, Harrisburg, PA 17111. A member of our team will send a link to the room block with your registration confirmation.
Extra Opportunities to Network, Learn, and Celebrate Local Success
We’re excited to offer a variety of enriching experiences beyond the standard 9:00am–4:30pm sessions schedule on Wednesday and Thursday. These activities are designed to foster networking, collaboration, and showcase local initiatives in conversation, preservation, interpretation, outdoor recreation, and more.
There is no registration fee for these activities. To assist us with planning, please indicate your interest in participating in any of these experiences on the Annual Partner Meeting registration form.
Tuesday, February 2
5:30 – 6:30 pm Meet & Greet
Join Superintendent Wendy O’Sullivcan and the NPS Chesapeake Gateways Team for a lively meet-and-greet! We’re excited to celebrate the variety of all the communities in the watershed and invite attendees to bring a favorite local treat—whether it’s a box of Berger cookies, a bag of UTZ potato chips, a can of Virginia peanuts, or a special beverage from your home state—to share with fellow participants. We call it BYOG2S: Bring Your Own Goodies to Share! Come connect, enjoy regional flavors, and help us honor the unique communities that make up our watershed.
Wednesday, February 3
6:00-7:30pm Welcome to Harrisburg! Evening Experience
Come along for an evening gathering at a Harrisburg, PA location to enjoy good food, connect with fellow attendees, and hear about local community support and revitalization efforts. A shuttle will take participants from the hotel to downtown. Food and beverage will be available for purchase and remarks will be provided by NPS Chesapeake Gateways and local Harrisburg and Dauphin County representatives.
Friday, February 5
10:00am-12:00pm National Civil War Museum Behind-the-Scenes Experience
Enjoy an exclusive, staff-guided tour of the National Civil War Museum, where you’ll discover remarkable collections not on display to the general public and learn how this national institution achieves extraordinary impact with a dedicated small team. After the tour, participants are invited to explore the museum at their own pace, taking in the exhibits and stories that bring history to life.
Tickets will be provided, advance purchase not necessary. Sign up is required in advance of this site visit, as we have a limited number of spaces available. Please indicate your interest on the Annual Partner Meeting registration form.
Last updated: September 28, 2026