Take your EAL programming to new heights at the
2026 EAL Summit™
LEARN SHARE LEAD
Building Next-Generation EAS & EAL Leaders
November 5-7, 2026
Join us to start the climb or advance your EAL journey at the 2026 EAL Summit™!
Leadership Adventures is thrilled to announce the 2nd biennial Equine-Assisted Learning Summit™ (EAL Summit™), held at Storm Harbor Equestrian Center November 5-7, 2026!
Join us to collaborate, learn, share, innovate and grow with colleagues and friends, and since we're a PATH Intl. Education Partner, earn CEUs by attending.
Real people. Real climbs. Real evidence. Real experiences. Real stories. Real authenticity. Learn from experienced educators, centers, researchers, and practitioners on how to begin or advance EAL & EAS at your Center to broaden or enhance your Center’s mission and services, increase corporate exposure, and add programming and revenue streams to support your Center’s mission and sustainability.
With more than 40 activities over 2.5 days and options to pick from 32 sessions across three tracks, featured speakers, qualified vendors and pre-conference certifications, you’ll walk away with new ideas, resources, tools, colleagues, and friends!
Purchase Your Ticket Today and Save!
Purchase sooner and save! As the event date nears, tickets will gradually increase in price. If you'd like to purchase tickets or see our pricing structure, see our options below.
Community of Practice™ Members receive an even larger discount, become a Member today to enjoy many great benefits!
*Early-Bird pricing structure, price will incrementally increase as the event date nears. See product listing for further pricing details. Per-person discount applied for group registrations. Price displayed is lowest possible price per person. Registration includes Welcome Reception, 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner + entertainment.
Why a Summit™
instead of a Conference?
- At the EAL Summit™, we are building the next generation of leaders in our profession.
- Real people. Real Climbs. Real evidence. Real experiences. Real stories. Real authenticity.
- We are a forward-thinking gathering where heart meets science.
- We honor EAL & EAS research and traditions while helping the next generation of EAL & EAS leaders navigate today and tomorrow.
- We are not just hosting sessions, we are cultivating belonging.
- Differing viewpoints are valued and respected; egos are left at the door.
- We are bringing everyone along on the climb, because there is no "one magic pill" to reach the Summit™.
And that is why we gather at the biennial Summit™.
What's different at this Summit?
- Competitors sit side-by-side and become collaborators.
- Practitioners feel validated in the complexity of their work.
- New professionals find confidence to contribute.
- Seasoned leaders rediscover purpose and connection.
- Scientists share with and grow their understanding from practice.
- Voices from across disciplines come together to shape what’s next.
- All attendees gain tools to build a thriving career.
FEATURED SPEAKERS:
Track Definitions
Attendees are welcome to mix and match sessions across tracks — there's no need to commit to a single track!
TRACK 1:
Equine-Centered
The focus is on supporting the equine partner serving in the practice of EAL, including care, enrichment, training, welfare, wellbeing, longevity and other related topics. Sessions in this Track are held in the arena and involve a live horse.
TRACK 2(A&B):
EAL Services & Innovations
The focus is on sharing EAL approaches, strategies and models that serve educational, organizational and personal development needs including businesses & organizations (for-profit/corporate, nonprofit, ministry & faith-based), youth and youth-at-risk, substance use support, military & veterans, and other populations who can benefit from EAL services.
TRACK 3:
EAL Career Growth
The focus is on starting, developing, expanding, growing, and sunsetting an EAL career for staff, volunteers, leadership & management, including attraction & recruitment, developing & credentialing, strategic planning & execution, succession planning, and other related topics for inspiring the next generation of EAL leaders.
Full Schedule
(Download session details
here!)
Attendees are welcome to mix and match sessions across tracks — there's no need to commit to a single track!
| Time | Thursday, Nov. 5 | Friday, Nov. 6 | Saturday, Nov. 7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 - 8:30 a.m. | Day 1 Opening Address over Breakfast at SHEC Mainstage Arena: Jeff Arnold & Courtney Gramlich, Executive Director, Storm Harbor Equestrian Center | Day 2 Opening Address over Breakfast at SHEC Mainstage Arena: Karen Riley, Ph.D., President, Slippery Rock University | |
| 8:30 - 9:15 a.m. | Featured Speaker: Jeff Arnold, President, Leadership Adventures, Inc., "Building the Next Generation of EAS & EAL Leaders" (0.75 CE) | Featured Speaker: Kelley Westbrook, Senior Director Talent Development, Leadership & Performance, Hologic, Inc., "The Value of EAL in the Medical Device & Imaging Industry" (0.75 CE) | |
| 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. TRACK 1 | What does control smell like? Redefining Safety as a Two-Species Process, Kimberly I. Tumlin, Founder, More than a Massage Dr, LLC, and Associate Professor, University of Kentucky and Cathrin Wilbanks, Assistant Professor of Psychology and Equine Assisted Services, Asbury University (1 CE) | Beyond Observation: A Practical Ethogram for Tracking Relational Wellbeing in Equine-Assisted Services, Emily Kieson, Executive Director, Equine International, Christine Rudd, Research Director, Equine International, Dr. Helen Sabolek Consiglio, Associate Professor, Regis College (1 CR-All) | |
| 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. TRACK 2A | Why We Couldn’t Study What We Believed In: Replication and Readiness in Equine Assisted Services, Dr. Carlene Taylor, Clinical Assistant Professor & Clinical Director of Clincal Mental Health Counseling, University of North Florida (1 CE) | Healing-Based Horsemanship: Partnering With Horses for Trauma Recovery, Jennifer Shepard, Vice President, Hope Reins (1 CR-ESMHL) | |
| 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. TRACK 2B | The Horse Is the Teacher: A Clinical Lens on Complex Trauma in the Arena, Brittani L. Frade, CMHC, Owner, Golden Horse Counseling (1 CE) | Measuring What Matters: Utilizing Individualized Outcome Strategies in Equine Assisted Learning, Ainsley Dillon, PhD, OTR/L, HPCS, Executive Director, Hilltop Horizons, Inc. and Suzanne Hardman, Program Coordinator, Hilltop Horizons, Inc. (1 CE) | |
| 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. TRACK 3 | MAGNETIC Storytelling - Share Your Vision, Not Facts, Joe Wappelhorst, CEO, SIRE Therapeutic Horsemanship (1 CE) | From Idea to Impact: Creative Strategies for Program Development and Sustainability, Aviva Vincent, PhD, LSW, Assistant Professor, Cleveland State University (1 CE) | |
| 10:50 - 11:50 a.m. TRACK 1 | From Chaos to Clarity: Using the COASTER® Model to Facilitate Scalable, Low-Impact EAL for Groups, Dr. Blair McKissock PhD CTRS, Director of Education and Research, Strides to Success & Indiana University and Debbie Anderson, Executive Director, Strides to Success (1 CE) | Separate Doesn’t Have to Be Scary: The Natural Lifemanship Practice of Detachment, Tim Jobe, Co-Founder, The Natural Lifemanship Institute and Tanner Jobe, Director of Equine Professional Development, The Natural Lifemanship Institute (1 CR-All) | |
| 10:50 - 11:50 a.m. TRACK 2A | Introducing Equine-in-Nature–Assisted Social Work: A Shared Methodology for Practice, Research, and Education, Dr. Dana Spett, MSW, DSW, CTRI, Executive Director, Pony Power Therapies and Bonnie Lavoie, MSW, LSW, CTRI, Research Manager, Pony Power Therapies (1 CE) | Small Horses, Big Impact: ADAPT’s Equine-Assisted Learning Program Transforming Pediatric Healthcare Experiences, Jennifer Pfieffer, ADAPT Director/Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist/ESMHL/APRN, Nemours Children's Health and Christie Evans, Program Director of ADAPT Volunteer Services/Manager of Patient and Family Centered-Care, Nemours Children's Health (1 CR-ESMHL) | |
| 10:50 - 11:50 a.m. TRACK 2B | The Power of Hope and Activation: The Connected Horse Program, Nancy Schier Anzelmo Co-Founder and Educational Director, Connected Horse and Melissa Herbert, Connected Horse Facilitator, Horses with Hearts (0.5 CE & 0.5 DE) | Partnering with Horses for Coregulation, Abigail Vargus, Co-Founder, Acorns to Oaks Horsemanship Center (1 CR-All) | |
| 10:50 - 11:50 a.m. TRACK 3 | Expanding Your EAL Career Opportunities through EAL for Corporate Groups, Jeff Arnold, President, Leadership Adventures (1 CE) | Engaging Your Staff & Volunteers, Paula J. Del Giudice, Executive Director, Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center (1 CE) | |
| 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. | Lunch + Featured Speaker: Kansas Carradine, Founder, Circus Cowgirl: "Bridging Entertainment, Adventure, Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being through Equine Connection" (1 CE) | Lunch + Awards + Featured Speaker: Dan Gillen, Retired Fortune 100 Senior Executive & Happy Hooves Board Member, "How McDonald's Prepared Me to Develop Thriving EAL Programs" | |
| 1:15 - 2:15 p.m. TRACK 1 | Hooves & Harmony: Using Music and Horse Movement in Equine-Assisted Learning Sessions, Dr. Carol Petitto, Executive Director, On Eagles' Wings Therapeutic Horsemanship and Stephanie VanGilder, Program Director, On Eagles' Wings Therapeutic Horsemanship (0.5 CE & 0.5 DE) | Step Into Their (Horse)Shoes: Reimagining the Equine-Human Partnership, Cathrin Wilbanks, Assistant Professor of Equine Studies and Psychology, Asbury University (1 CR-All) | |
| 1:15 - 2:15 p.m. TRACK 2A | Brain Science is for Everyone: An Introduction to Interpersonal Neurobiology for Personal and Professional Development, Bettina Shultz-Jobe, Co-Founder and CEO, The Natural Lifemanship Institute and Kate Naylor, Director of Trainer Development, The Natural Lifemanship Institute (1 DE) | Adaptive Vaulting as an Equine-Assisted Learning Modality, Lauren Burke, Equine Director, Life Adventure Center (1 CE) | |
| 1:15 - 2:15 p.m. TRACK 2B | Quantifying Horse Magic: Measuring Beyond the Satisfaction Survey, Kerra Mercon, Executive Director, Flying Change Foundation, Inc. and Carla Romano, President, Flying Change Foundation, Inc. (1 CE) | Applying EAL for Co-Parenting through Separation, Divorce, and Beyond. Leadership, Partnership, and Still Connected, Adrienne Freeland, Executive Director and Instructor/Therapist, Holistic Horsemanship Services (1 CE) | |
| 1:15 - 2:15 p.m. TRACK 3 | From Vision to Sustainable Ministry: Building and Leading an Equine Mentorship Program, Jennifer Shepard, Vice President, Hope Reins (1 CE) | Overcoming Adversity, Navigating Vulnerability & Building Personal Brand Identity through Strengths, Kelley Westbrook, Senior Director Talent Development, Leadership & Performance, Hologic, Inc. (1 CE) | |
| 2:35 - 3:35 p.m. TRACK 1 | Horse Sense Means Stable Livin', Johnny Clark, LMSW, Equine Therapist Specialist, Tulsa Boys' Home and The SPUR Model (1 CE) | E.Qi: Integrating Qigong, Horses, and Expressive Arts for Embodied Equine-Assisted Learning, Elizabeth Warson, PhD, ATR-BC, LPC, NCC, EMDR III, EXAT, EAP II, Owner, Healing Pathways LLC (1 CE) | |
| 2:35 - 3:35 p.m. TRACK 2A | The Power of Practice: Balancing Talk and Action in EAL Sessions, Kate Naylor, Director of Trainer Development, The Natural Lifemanship Institute and Bettina Shultz-Jobe, Co-Founder and CEO, The Natural Lifemanship Institute (1 CE) | The Pathway to Resilience: Integrating Faith and Science Through Equine Mentorship, Ashlee Bowker, Director of Programs, Hope Reins (0.5 DE & 0.5 CR-All) | |
| 2:35 - 3:35 p.m. TRACK 2B | Journey with Joy: Equine Assisted Learning for Post Traumatic Growth, Dr. Abigail Wilson, COO, Lone Oak Animal Assisted Therapy and Adjunct Professor, Millersville University of Pennsylvania and Heather Girvin, Executive Director, Lone Oak Animal Assisted Therapy and Associate Professor, Millersville University of Pennsylvania (1 CR-All) | Evidence-Based Research for Best Practices with Equines and Older Adults, Betsy Kemeny, PhD, CTRS, FDRT, Professor and Director of Recreational Therapy, Slippery Rock University (1 CE) | |
| 2:35 - 3:35 p.m. TRACK 3 | Thriving Through Transition: How One Organization Managed Growth and Expansion In a Time of Transition, Twylla Hester EdD, CEO, House of Healing, Inc. (1 CE) | From Chaos to Clarity: Systems That Help Equine-Assisted Programs Save Time and Grow, Tamra Ranard, Executive Director, Crossroads Ranch, Inc. (1 CE) | |
| 3:55 - 4:40 p.m. | North Country Brewery Production Tour | Panel Discussion: Next Generation of EAL & EAS Leaders (nominate a Panelist!) (0.75 CE) | EAL Summit Closing Remarks |
| 4:40 - 5:30 p.m. | Welcome Reception (5-8 p.m. with Food) | CliftonStrengths® Activity (1 CE) | |
| 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. | Welcome Reception (5-8 p.m. with Food) | Dinner, Networking, Roping/Lasso Demo & Micro-Learning Session with a Horse by Kansas Carradine |
Schedule At a Glance
Thurs.
NOV 05
AIR TRAVEL
If traveling by air, fly intoPittsburgh International Airport (PIT), located about 45 mins. to 1 hour south of Slippery Rock University. Upon air arrival, it is recommended to
rent a car since Uber/Lyft and Taxis are not available in the Slippery Rock University area. If desired (and if flights to/from your location are available), you can also consider flying into
Cleveland Airport (2-hours drive),
Erie International Airport (1.5-hours drive), or
Palmer Regional Airport (1.5-hours drive).
HOST HOTELS
Plan to arrive in the afternoon on Thursday at one of the Host Hotels (click the links below for pricing and booking at our discounted rates!)
- Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Slippery Rock
Discounted Rate until 10/01/26: $149/night (King) or $169/night (2 Queen Beds), + tax
1000 University Parkway, Slippery Rock, PA 16057
1.5 miles from Storm Harbor Equestrian Center; this is closest branded hotel to Storm Harbor Equestrian Center
Call Direct: (724) 406-0535 or click the Easy Booking Link below.
Easy Booking Link (includes our discount): Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites - Hampton Inn & Suites Grove City or
Holiday Inn Express (next door to each other)
Discounted Rate until 10/01/26: $134/night (2-nights) or $139/night (3-nights) plus tax
4 Holiday Blvd, Mercer, PA 16137
10 miles from Storm Harbor Equestrian Center; Free shuttle services to/from hotel/Storm Harbor provided-must be set up in advance
Call Direct: (724) 748-5514 ask for "2026 EAL Summit Room Block" or
Easy Booking Links (includes our discount): Hampton Inn or Holiday Inn Express - Applebutter Inn
666 Centreville Pike, Slippery Rock, PA 16057
1.9 miles from Storm Harbor Equestrian Center
(724) 794-1844
WELCOME RECEPTION: 5-10 p.m.
Join us for food and beverages at the EAL Summit™ Welcome Reception at the North Country Brewing Company Production Brewery & Taproom! Sliders, pub pretzels, and 1 drink ticket included with Registration. Arrive early and join the optional Brewery Production Tour from 3-5 p.m. (free!).
FriDAY
NOV 06
Programming 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., followed by dinner and entertainment in the Storm Harbor Mainstage Arena. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included with Summit Registration. Full schedule will be available after Abstract window closes and session selections are finalized.
Sat.
NOV 07
Programming 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. when EAL Summit™ concludes. Breakfast and Lunch included with Summit Registration. Full schedule will be available after Abstract window closes and session selections are finalized.
pre-summit certification
nov 02-04
Join us a few days early and earn your
Fundamentals of EAL for Corporate™ Certification (FoEALC)! Learn to design, develop, deliver, and sell EAL for corporate groups to generate additional program revenue and corporate exposure for Center Sustainability. Full details and pre-register
here.
Note that Pre-Summit FoEALC registration fees are in addition to and not included in EAL Summit™ Registration.
BONUS!
Bring the best YOU to your role with your CliftonStrengths® Assessment results!
Whatever your role, take your leadership skills to the next level with your personalized CliftonStrengths® results! Registered Summit Attendees who have not previously completed the CliftonStrengths® Assessment will receive a code to complete the assessment before Sept. 30, 2026. For those who have previously completed the CliftonStrengths® assessment, your previous results will be used. Summit attendees' CliftonStrengths® results will be used for Summit networking activities and during a Summit CliftonStrengths® activity led by Gallup-Certified Coaches designed to help you bring the best YOU to your role by tapping into your Top 5 strengths!
Thank You to Our Sponsors:
If you'd like to become a Sponsor, contact us at info@myleadershipadventures.com for more information.
Sponsor or Exhibit at the EAL Summit?
Gain exposure for your business or offerings to hundreds of Summit/Conference in-person attendees and thousands of
Community of Practice™ website visitors all year long by Sponsoring, Exhibiting, or both!
Click the button below to download the Sponsorship and Exhibitor Prospectus, and contact us to discuss the right solution for your needs!
Looking to Volunteer at the 2026 EAL Summit™?
If you are interested in volunteering at the EAL Summit™ and receiving a free EAL Summit™ T-Shirt, enter your email in this form and we will reach out if we still need volunteers! Please keep in mind that volunteers must still purchase an EAL Summit™ Ticket/Registration. Limited volunteer spots available, so we may not be able to accommodate all who enter an email here.