Grand Gathering
Grand Gathering is an amazing opportunity to connect with fellow Grand Canyon Conservancy Members and see first-hand how your support helps keep the canyon GRAND.
- May 15–17, 2026
Daily
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South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park
- Register
Grand Canyon Conservancy donors who give more than $35 annually are invited to Grand Canyon for a weekend of learning about priority park projects. This event is an opportunity to strengthen your connections with the canyon, National Park enthusiasts, and the people who work hard to keep the canyon grand.
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Learn more about this annual event.
Itinerary
Friday, May 15
- 12:00 - 3:00 pm: Early Check-in, Grand Canyon Visitor Center Plaza
- 1:00 - 3:00 pm: Optional Activities, various locations
- 4:00 – 6:00 pm: Welcome Reception, Grand Canyon Visitor Center
- 6:15 - 8:15 pm: Private screening of Out There, a documentary offering a deeply human portrait of America's national parks, followed by a Q&A with the producer Brendan Hall, Grand Canyon Visitor Center Amphitheater
- 8:30 - 10:30 pm: Dark Sky Programming with NPS Ranger Rader Lane, Grand Canyon Visitor Center
Saturday, May 16
- 7:30 – 8:15 am: Breakfast & Coffee, Shrine of the Ages
- 8:15am - 12:00 pm: Program, keynote, and speaker sessions, Shrine of the Ages
- 12:00 – 1:30 pm: Picnic lunch, Shrine of the Ages
- 2:00 – 5:00 pm: Optional Activities, various locations
Sunday, May 17
- 7:30 – 8:15 am: Breakfast & Coffee, Park Headquarters
- 8:15 - 10:00 am: Q&A with Grand Canyon Conservancy CEO and Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent, Park Headquarters
2026 Keynote Speaker
As a part of the Grand Gathering Program, GCC will host a special screening of the Out There on May 15, followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker, Brendan Hall. Brendan will deliver a keynote on May 16, sharing insights from his work and his unique perspective on storytelling, landscape, and belonging. The film uncovers a deeply human portrait of the parks - revealing them as places of reflection, resilience, and connection across generations and cultures.
Out There: A National Parks Story
In the centennial year of the U.S. National Park Service, a young filmmaker and his childhood friend set off on a 10,000-mile journey through America’s national parks, leaving home with little more than a camera and a desire to understand what connects people to these wild places. What begins as a summer road trip becomes a seven-year odyssey, capturing untold stories of those who protect, visit, and find healing in the parks.
Brendan Hall
Brendan Hall is a documentary filmmaker telling stories in the natural world and beyond. His projects have brought viewers on adventures that explore the frontiers of our human spirit. In his work, Brendan is committed to sharing awe and empathy on our planet in hopes that we may be inspired to preserve it for future generations. While Brendan is a director, cinematographer and editor. He is also a night sky photographer, scuba diver and amateur juggler.