Submission Categories

Proposals / Abstracts can be submitted under the following three submission categories:  

Practice/Policy 

Research 

Workshops 

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Practice/Policy Proposals  

Proposals are encouraged which highlight successful programs, policies, case studies, and/or partnerships from those working in practice. Submissions may describe programs, best practices, interventions, case studies, advocacy efforts, or new resources related to active living, outdoor engagement, nature-based health promotion, environmental health, and/or obesity prevention.  

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Proposals should address the environmental, policy, and systems-level aspects of promoting physical activity, outdoor experiences, and community well-being. This includes how innovative ideas and/or evidence-based research were translated into successful adoption or implementation of practice or policy. Efforts that resulted from multi-sector participation, applied previous research, or included evaluation are particularly encouraged. 

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Practice/policy focused proposals should include the following headings: Background and Purpose, Description, Learning Objectives (2 – 4 suggested), Conclusions and Implications, References (optional), and Support/Funding Source (if applicable).  

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Download the Practice/Policy Proposal Template 

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Research Proposals 

Research Proposals describing statistical results, intervention efficacy and effectiveness, methodological advances, dissemination and implementation research, and other scientific innovations on all topics related to active living, outdoor engagement, nature-based health promotion, and environmental health are welcome.  

Proposals should address the policy, systems, and environmental aspects of promoting physical activity, outdoor experiences, and community health. We encourage submissions on methodological, correlational, intervention, natural experiment, economic, and policy studies, as well as research focused on translating evidence into practice and policy. Innovative conceptual papers and literature reviews are also invited. 

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If your proposal does not include complete results, please indicate your anticipated timeline for finalizing data analysis so reviewers can take this into consideration.  

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Research proposals should include the following headings: Background and Purpose, Learning Objectives (2 – 4 suggested), Methods, Results, Conclusions and Implications, References (optional), and Support/Funding Source (if applicable). 

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Download the Research Proposal Template

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Workshop Proposals  

Workshop proposals can be research and/or practice focused. They proposals should be designed as interactive, skill-building, or solution-focused sessions intended for researchers, practitioners, or cross-sector audiences. Workshops will be scheduled throughout the program and are 1.5 hours in duration. All workshops must include specific learning objectives and active audience engagement.  

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Acceptable formats include, but are not limited to, hands-on demonstrations, facilitated case study discussions, scenario-based exercises, peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, applied tool and framework training, World Café Method, etc. Note that a panel of presenters with a discussion session alone does not meet the criteria for an interactive workshop. 

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One type of optional format that may be used within the Workshop category is a World Café format. A World Café session explores a topic from multiple angles through a series of brief presentations followed by dynamic, small-group discussions to exchange ideas, identify challenges, and generate solutions. 

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Workshop proposals should include the following headings: Workshop Description, Learning Objectives 2 – 4 suggested), Session Outline, Interactive Features, References (optional) and Support/Funding Source (if applicable). 

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Download the Workshop Proposal Template 

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Presentation Types 

Practice/Policy and Research Presentation Types 

Proposals submitted to the Practice/Policy and Research categories will be considered for the following four presentation types:   

1. Oral Presentation – Authors selected for an oral presentation will present during concurrent sessions. There will be up to three concurrent sessions scheduled in separate rooms with a session chair assigned to each room. Session assignments will be made based on topic, and each presenter will have a total of 15 minutes (12 minutes for presentation and 3 minutes for Q&A). There will be time for a group discussion at the conclusion of the session.  

2. Speed Talk – Authors selected for a Speed Talk will deliver a brief presentation during concurrent sessions. There will be up to three concurrent sessions scheduled in separate rooms and a session chair assigned to each room. Session assignments will be made based on the proposal topic and each presenter will have a total of 10 minutes (8 minutes for presentation and 2 minutes for Q&A). There will be time for a group discussion at the conclusion of the session.  

3. Poster - Presenters will display selected posters during a session devoted exclusively to poster viewing with no competing programming. The poster session will provide an effective mechanism for dissemination and networking.  

 

You will be asked to select a preferred presentation type in the online submission system. A selection committee will decide what presentation type each proposal will be invited for based on reviewer scores/recommendations. 

 

Thematic Topics 

As part of the online submission process, you will be asked to identify one primary thematic topic that best aligns with your proposal, as well as any additional topics it may address. These topics help inform the organization of sessions and support cross-cutting dialogue across disciplines and sectors. 

 

Descriptions of the thematic topics are provided below:  

1. Built Environment and Active Living: Infrastructure, design, and land management to support physical activity and nature immersion (e.g., complete streets, trails) 

2. Climate, Planetary Health, and Sustainability: Intersections between active living/outdoor health and environmental sustainability 

3. Cross-Sector Collaboration, Case Studies, and Community Partnerships: Multi-disciplinary or community-driven initiatives  

4. Cultural and Indigenous Perspectives on Health and Nature: Culturally grounded or Indigenous-led efforts promoting health through land or activity   

5. Dissemination and Implementation Science: Translation of research to practice, practice-informing research, scalability, or replication studies   

6. Economic Analysis and Sustainability Models: Cost-effectiveness, funding models, or return on investment 

7. Equity and Access to Physical Activity and Nature: Addressing barriers among underserved or historically marginalized communities   

8. Health Outcomes and Evaluation: Physical, mental, or social health outcomes related to outdoor or active living interventions   

9. Older Adults and Lifespan Approaches: Initiatives or studies focused on aging populations   

10. Parks, Green Space, and Nature-Based Engagement: Access, programming, activity, and health benefits of natural spaces   

11. Policy, Advocacy, and Systems Change: Implementation or evaluation of local, regional, or national policies impacting physical activity and/or outdoor engagement   

12. Rural Communities: Advancing Access, Health, and Engagement: Innovations and adaptations for low-density or geographically isolated populations   

13. Technology, Data, and Tools: Use of tech, data visualization, mapping, or monitoring in active/outdoor health contexts   

14. Training, Technical Assistance, and Resources for Capacity Building: Training, technical assistance, or resources for practitioners, researchers, or organizations   

15. Youth Engagement and School-Based Programs: Programs or research targeting children and adolescents 

 

Thematic Panels 

We will consider grouping together presentations that address similar topics in the same session provided all proposals are accepted. If you would like your proposal to be grouped together with another presentation(s), you will be asked to list the title(s), and/or author(s) in the online submission system. We cannot guarantee that all requests will be accommodated. 

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Note: Proposed thematic panels do not need to align with one of the Thematic Topics. You are welcome to propose a grouping based on shared focus, approach, audience, or any other unifying theme. 

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Submission Guidelines

You must submit proposals electronically through the online submission system and are required to adhere to the following guidelines:

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• All applicants will use the same link to access the online submission system and will be prompted to select the appropriate submission category (e.g. Practice/Policy, Research, or Workshop). 

• Download the Word template for your selected submission category, draft your proposal offline, then copy and paste it into the text box in the online submission form. You may also type your proposal directly into that box without using the template. 

• The maximum proposal length is 600 words, including the required section headers.  

• There is no limit on the number of proposals you may submit. 

• At least one author must register for the conference to present an accepted proposal. Expenses associated with the submission, preparation, and presentation of the proposal are the responsibility of the presenters. 

• The proposal deadline is September 8, 2025 at 5:00 pm PT.   

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Attendance and Presentation Policy 

The 2026 Active Living + Outdoor Health (AL+OH) Summit is a fully in-person event. At least one author from each accepted proposal is required to register for and present at the conference in person. 

 

If you are unable to attend in person but wish to share your work, you may submit your proposal and indicate in the submission form that you would like to be considered for a pre-recorded presentation. Please note that live streaming and live remote presentations will not be offered. Pre-recorded presentations will be considered on a limited basis, subject to space and scheduling constraints. If a pre-recorded session is accepted for showing at the event, submitting presenters will be required to pay a $49 technology fee to support conference and organizational costs for that session. This fee includes access to the conference content within the Dryfta AL+OH 2026 Event app, enabling presenter to view the event program and network with other attendees, but will not provide access to additional sessions.  All attendees will view and participate in event sessions in person in real time only to facilitate better discussions and knowledge sharing among attendees.  

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Review Process

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​Proposals will undergo blind review by a panel from diverse disciplines and backgrounds. Selection for presentation is based on the quality of the research or project, clarity of the proposal, relevance to the field of active living, and adherence to the guidelines. The presentation type for Research and Practice/Policy proposals will be determined by review score and reviewer recommendation. Decisions regarding acceptance will be made by the end of October and the submitting author will be notified via email.  

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For revisions or queries regarding proposals already submitted, you may log in and edit your proposal at any time before the submission deadline. If you do not receive an acknowledgment of your submission, or if you have any questions or essential revisions that cannot be made through the online system, please contact the Conference Convening Coordinator at amandaw@activenviro.org. If available, please include your session reference number in your message. 

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Conference Journal Special Issue  

We are pleased to announce the Journal of Healthy Eating and Active Living (JHEAL) as a partner journal again for the 2026 Active Living + Outdoor Health Summit. As part of this collaboration, JHEAL will publish a special issue featuring research, practice, and policy work presented at the Summit. 

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Approximately five of the highest-rated proposals will be invited to submit a full manuscript or brief report (based on topic complexity) for inclusion in the special issue at no cost. An additional 6–9 submissions will be invited to submit papers at a reduced article processing fee. 

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During the submission process, authors will be asked whether they wish to be considered for this opportunity. Both research and practice/policy focused abstracts are eligible. Authors invited to submit a manuscript must commit to submitting their paper no later than May 22, 2026. 

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About the Journal of Healthy Eating and Active Living 

JHEAL is an international, online, open-access, quarterly, peer-reviewed journal focused on publishing high-quality studies in the areas of active living and healthy eating. Of particular interest are studies of the interactional nature between active living and/or healthy eating and the “environment”, broadly defined to include social, cultural, economic, political, natural, virtual and built dimensions. Papers that report on multi-level studies and interventions are also welcome. We publish full length reports, brief communications, meta-analyses, scoping reviews, translational and practice-based research, policy and systems change evaluations, natural experiment studies, case studies, notes from the field, commentaries, and systematic reviews. Quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods of studies are all encouraged. Because we value the application of research, we invite submissions from researchers as well as practice- and policy-oriented submissions from practitioners, policy makers, and advocates. Research and practice/policy papers will have separately labeled sections, and reviewers with appropriate expertise will be selected. We are also open to publishing digital media files including maps, visualizations, and other modern media. All articles will be indexed in both PubMed Central and CINAHL. 

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How to Submit a Proposal

After using the provided templates above to draft your proposal, upload it to Dryfta, our event management application.  

Step 1: Create an account using this link: https://alohsummit2026.dryfta.com/attendees-authors-registration

Step 2: Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your account.

Step 3: Once logged in, navigate to the top right drop down menu under your name, click on “My Submissions.” Click the green “New Submission” button to begin.