When?

Every October.

This year, Catalyst will take place from October 9-13, 2026 at the Caldera Arts Center in breathtaking Sisters, Oregon.

 Why?

To equip independent schools with the tools to accelerate their efforts to move experiential education from the periphery to the core, by advancing and deepening experiential learning through five critical threads that structure the Institute.

 Who?

Schools that are ready to transform their institutions will ideally send a team of 2-3 leaders, including Heads of School, Academic Deans and Directors, DEI Directors, Division or Assistant Heads, and Experiential Education Directors.

How?

Faculty Activation: Activating faculty training, professional growth models, coaching and supporting the people who are teaching our students.

Academic Content + Experiential Education: Deepening connection to content and building the “durable skills” that students need for a democratic society and a skilled workforce

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB): Deepening the integration of diversity, equity, and inclusion using Ex Ed as a tool to build cultural competency, student leadership, student agency, and belonging.

Community / World as Classroom: Expanding community partnerships, global competencies, real-world learning, place-based learning, project-based learning, community engagement, service-learning, sustainability, environmental justice, and climate change.

Ex Ed Assessment: Measuring learning and impact, grading, mastery, and college readiness.