October 20 - 22, 2026
Cragun’s Conference Center
Brainerd
BWSR Academy is a training event for conservation-based local government staff.
Registration opens at 10 a.m. on September 1, 2026. There is a daily capacity limit of 420 attendees. Registration will close at 4:30 p.m. on September 21, or when the daily capacity limit is reached, whichever happens first.
Cost to attend: The BWSR Academy registration fee for 2026 is $95 per day. This fee covers attendance at BWSR Academy sessions, lunch, breaks, and session materials for each day you register.
Link to register: Registration is now closed.
Lodging: Registration for the BWSR Academy does NOT include lodging. Individuals are responsible for making (or cancelling, if necessary) their own lodging reservations directly with Cragun’s Conference Center. Preferred lodging is being held until October 6.
2026 Academy Session Tracks and Definitions
Fiscal Management: This track focuses on new skills needed to obtain, track, and manage funds.
Organizational Capacity: This track focuses on building internal LGU capacity. Participants will enhance their skills in managing/working within their organization and partnering with other LGUs.
Outreach: This track focuses on skills for communicating, educating, and engaging with the public.
Programs: This track focuses on non-technical, programmatic and administrative requirements of BWSR programs.
Technical: This track provides training on technical knowledge and skills necessary to assess and address conservation priorities in Minnesota (unless Wetlands and Soils focus).
Wetlands & Soils: This track focuses on enhancing knowledge and building skills related to wetlands and/or soils.
Academy Schedule
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
| Time | Fiscal Management Track | Organizational Capacity Track | Outreach Track | Programs Track | Technical Track | Wetland & Soils Track | Workshops | Office Hours |
| 10:30-12:00 | SWCD Flat-Rate Payment Policies Room: Pine 2 | Crash Course in Cultural Resource Management and Archaeology Room: Cedar 1 | Utilizing Local Networks for Improved Conservation Outcomes Room: Pine 3 | Keep Calm and Buffer On Room: Cedar 2 | Biodiverse Community and Residential Projects for Long-term Success Room: Pine 4 | Got Calc?! Room: Cedar 3 | Governing Galaxies Room: Pine 1 | N/A |
| 1:30-3:00 | eLINK 404: Diving into Linking, Activity Details, and More! Room: Cedar 3 | Practical AI Tools for Conservation Professionals Room: Pine 2 | Graphic Design Basics for Effective Communication Room: Pine 1 | Competitive Grant Writing Room: Pine 4 | Drainage and Conservation Room: Cedar 2 | Understanding Farmers to Improve your Soil Health Outreach Room: Pine 3 | Prepping for 40 More Years of RIM! - Part 1 Room: Cedar 1 | PTMApp and Other Tools Used for Reporting Outcomes Room: Cedar 4 |
| 3:30-5:00 | Why and How to Manage and Fund Forestry Room: Cedar 3 | Project Management Strategies from Concept to Completion Room: Pine 2 | Selling Conservation: Getting Buy-In Room: Pine 3 | Focusing on the Future - 1W1P Room: Pine 4 | The Very Basics of Nutrient Management Room: Pine 1 | Soil Health Basics Room: Cedar 2 | Prepping for 40 More Years of RIM! - Part 2 Room: Cedar 1 | Grant, RFP and Programs Room: Cedar 4 |
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
| Time | Fiscal Management Track | Organizational Capacity Track | Outreach Track | Programs Track | Technical Track | Wetland & Soils Track | Workshops | Office Hours |
| 8:30-10:00 | General Accounting and Audit Updates Room: Pine 4 | Increasing Impacts: Local Government DEIA from Operations to Partnerships Room: Cedar 1 | Photo and Video: Crash Course in Visual Storytelling Room: Pine 3 | I Track, You Track, We All Keep the CWMP on Track! Room: Pine 2 | Forestry Estimator and Runoff and Nutrients (FERN) Calculator Basics Room: Cedar 3 | Wetland Banking for LGUs and SWCDs Room: Pine 2 | Rooted in Results: Functional Plants for Shorelands - Part 1 Room: Cedar 2 | Open Door with an ARC: Your Project Questions Answered Room: Cedar 4 |
| 10:30-12:00 | Accounting with QuickBooks Room: Pine 4 | Planning, Zoning, and Influence Room: Cedar 3 | Civic In-Reach: Let the Community Lead Room: Pine 1 | Everything Grants Room: Pine 3 | Using TMDLs in Local Watershed Management Room: Cedar 1 | Mastering Soil Health Equipment Room: Pine 2 | Rooted in Results: Functional Plants for Shorelands - Part 2 Room: Cedar 2 | Unlock the BWSR Toolbox: Discover Grants, Training and Tools to Help Propel Your Work Forward Room: Cedar 4 |
| 1:15-2:45 | NRBG Fiscal Tracking Room: Cedar 3 | Assembly Required: Building a Positive Workplace Culture Room: Cedar 2 | Mapping Your Education Ecosystem Room: Pine 2 | What’s Up with Soil Health Programming Room: Pine 3 | Watershed Hydrology for Planning and Implementation Room: Pine 4 | WCA 101 Room: Pine 1 | BWSR Grants: Cradle to Grave - Part 1 Room: Cedar 1 | BWSR Easements Room: Cedar 4 |
| 3:00-4:30 | Collaborative Watershed Progress Tracking Using GIS Room: Cedar 2 | Short-Term Staff, Long-Term Success Room: Cedar 3 | Using Social Media to Tell Your Story Room: Pine 4 | From Idea to Funding Room: Pine 3 | Tackling Chloride Pollution Room: Pine 1 | Wetlands on the Minnesota Landscape: Classification and Function Room: Pine 2 | BWSR Grants: Cradle to Grave - Part 2 Room: Cedar 1 | Open Door with an ARC: Your Project Questions Answered Room: Cedar 4 |
Thursday, October 22, 2026
| Time | Fiscal Management Track | Organizational Capacity Track | Outreach Track | Programs Track | Technical Track | Wetland & Soils Track | Workshops |
| 8:30-10:00 | Get Ready to Reconcile! Room: Cedar 1 | Bringing Your Board to the Next Level Room: Pine 2 | The Human Side of Conservation: Motivating Landowner Action Room: Pine 1 | Supporting Pollinators through Resilient Landscape Programs Room: Cedar 2 | Private Wells and Performing a Well Inventory Room: Pine 4 | Setting Up Successful Field Days and Field Trials Room: Pine 3 | Managing Neonics to Support Productive Crops and Pollinator Habitat Room: Cedar 3 |
| 10:30-12:00 | Fiscal Management Room: Pine 2 | HR Compliance: What You Need Room: Cedar 1 | Planning and Facilitating Effective Meetings Room: Pine 4 | Funding Conservation, One Agreement at a Time Room: Pine 3 | Making the Most of Each Acre: Crops + Livestock Room: Cedar 2 | WCA Enforcement Room: Pine 1 | N/A |
Session details can be found on the daily pages below.
