Registration Modification and Cancellation Policy

If Participant cancels on or before April 21, 2024, participant will receive a refund of the registration fee less a $50.00 processing fee. After April 21, 2024, registrations can be transferred to another person but no refunds will be issued (see substitution policy). Please read the full cancellation and substitution policy. All cancellations or substitutions must be requested in writing via email to info@delaneymeetingevent.com. 

**Cancellation of this agreement does not affect the Participant’s hotel and travel arrangements. Participant is solely responsible for canceling their own hotel and travel reservations. **

Attendance Support

Attendance support applications are now closed.

Transportation, meals, lodging at the event hotel, and registration are all eligible for attendance support reimbursement. Please review the Terms and Conditions below for a full description of eligible items.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer applications are now closed.

Volunteering at the National Adaptation Forum provides a unique opportunity to mingle with leading climate change adaptation practitioners, participate in sessions, and learn about all things climate adaptation-related. Volunteers are instrumental to the success of the Forum.

Timeline

• Volunteer applications will open on Monday, March 4th.
• Volunteer applications must be submitted by the end of the day on March 21, 2024. Please note that this deadline will not be extended.
• Applicants will be notified about the status of their application in early April 2024 prior to the close of early bird registration.

Eligibility

Anyone is welcome to apply; however, when reviewing applications, priority will be given to the following groups:

• Students/fellows
• Early career professionals
• Applicants with proposals accepted into the program
• Individuals who identify with a group explicitly mentioned in the Forum’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging Goals

Volunteer Expectations and Roles

• Volunteers can attend approximately half of the sessions and are asked to dedicate the other half of their time to volunteering in-person from May 14-16, 2024 at the RiverCentre in Saint Paul.
• General responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
  • Supporting session speakers and associated events (e.g., session timing, technology troubleshooting, and/or answering general questions)
  • Distributing and collecting surveys
  • Communicating needs of presenters and participants to the Forum Coordinators
  • Greeting and guiding participants to event and exhibit areas
  • Personning the registration desk (e.g., attendee check-in, overview of Forum activities and where to find relevant information)
  • Tracking session attendance

Benefits of Volunteering

• A free Forum registration 
• Free breakfast, lunch, and snacks
• Networking opportunities galore!
• A resume-worthy experience, supporting the largest climate change adaptation conference in the country

Volunteer Expectations

• Helpful, flexible, courteous, and committed 
• Attend a virtual volunteer training session prior to the National Adaptation Forum
• Check-in 15 minutes prior to your shift at the registration desk
• Check-out after your shift at the registration desk and return all materials 
• Review and sign EcoAdapt’s Volunteer Waiver
• Agree to and abide by the National Adaptation Forum Code of Conduct

Buddy Program

Buddy program sign-ups are are now closed.

As part of the registration process, attendees can choose to enroll in the National Adaptation Forum Buddy Program. The buddy program will connect anyone hoping to form new connections and network within or across disciplines during the conference. 

The aim of the program is to create a welcoming environment that facilitates conversation, relationship-building, and the sharing of expertise, experiences, and guidance amongst peers. A buddy is intended to be a friendly face, someone to discuss sessions with, and help to alleviate the stress that can come from entering a space where you might not know a lot of people.

Buddy program sign-ups will close following the early bird deadline on Monday, April 8th, to give the Forum Team adequate time to make thoughtful buddy matches.

National Adaptation Forum Code of Conduct

The National Adaptation Forum is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and productive experience for everyone, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical or cognitive ability, physical appearance, nationality, or religion. 

All Forum participants – including, but not limited to, attendees, speakers, volunteers, exhibitors, Forum staff, media, and service providers – are expected to comply with this Code of Conduct. The goal of the Forum Code of Conduct is not to create a punitive document, but rather to ensure that all are given the opportunity for learning and exchange about adaptation and our experiences. Thank you for helping to make the Forum an inclusive, safe space for all.

As a Forum participant, I will… 

• Treat all participants with respect and kindness 
• Foster a sense of safety and belonging 
• Check my implicit biases – don’t assume things about people based on how they look or their presumed identity
• Be open to a diversity of views and opinions, including those I may not share 
• Communicate in an open, curious, constructive, and professional manner 
• Critique ideas, not individuals 
• Practice socially locating oneself, especially in group settings. For example, using “I” statements for sharing examples and experiences.  
• Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior and speech, including racist, sexist, and other inappropriate jokes, and comments on others’ bodies/appearance, even if it comes from a complementary intention.
• Respect the rules and policies of the meeting, meeting venue, and associated hotels

Unacceptable Behavior (adapted from the Ecological Society of America)

All Forum participants are expected to refrain from unacceptable behavior. Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to:

• Physical or verbal abuse of any participant or staff member (including venue staff members)
• Unwelcome or offensive verbal comments or exclusionary behavior related to age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical or cognitive ability, physical appearance, nationality, languages spoken, or religion
• Inappropriate physical contact
• Unwanted sexual attention
• Use of sexual or discriminatory images in public spaces or in presentations
• Sustained disruption of talks or other events
• Bullying behavior
• Retaliation for reporting unacceptable behavior