Thursday 12 February 2026
Join the Transformative 2026 AEE APAC Regional Conference in Bangkok: A Must-Attend Event for all Practitioners and Enthusiasts of Experiential Education
The 2026 Association of Experiential Education Asia-Pacific Conference (AEE APAC), hosted in Bangkok by the JUMP Foundation, is set to be a pivotal gathering for experiential practitioners, international school leaders and outdoor leaders passionate about refining their individual practice as well as advancing experiential education across the region.
Conference Leadership and Vision
Arindita, Head of Learning & Development at JUMP Foundation and the Conference Director, leads the organization in this landmark event. With a deep passion for children and youth development work, and nearly twenty years in the field of experiential education practice she is deeply involved in crafting a rich, collaborative experience alongside the AEE APAC Council and her dedicated team. She expresses immense gratitude and excitement to work with a passionate community committed to experiential education’s growth.
Why AEE APAC 2026 Is Crucial for the Asia-Pacific Region
The AEE regional conferences have historically been organised in the USA and have been the bedrock of experiential learning and research globally for nearly fifty years. In 2023, the AEE-APAC Council was established to focus specifically on the Asia-Pacific context and widen the discourse of experiential principles and practices in the region. Travelling from Singapore and India to Hong Kong, this conference has entered its fourth year in the region with JUMP! hosting it in Bangkok, Thailand. It offers a unique platform for practitioners and researchers in experiential education to convene, share insights, and learn from one another.
In today’s rapidly evolving world, the conference inquires into vital questions about what education must prioritize – especially for our children and youth. Arindita emphasizes that providing more in-person transformative learning experiences is critical to shaping a hopeful and meaningful future for all children. The conference also is a confluence of practitioners to connect, find alignment and share best practices with one another, not as competitors, but collaborators.
Thematic Focus: Building Bridges, Embracing Resilience
The conference theme emerged from an internal collaborative survey at JUMP Foundation, capturing the collective essence of their engagement with diverse communities including students, schools, parents, and experiential practitioners.
- Building Bridges: Participants will explore how experiential education creates meaningful connections across cultures, disciplines, and contexts.
- Embracing Resilience: Reflecting on the post-COVID landscape, the theme highlights the sector’s resilience -how it has bounced back from challenging times and is evolving toward thriving, flourishing communities and practices. It is also a reminder of in-person human connection and transformative learning experiences that challenge the status quo of thoughts, beliefs and socio-physical explorations.
What Participants Can Expect
- Community and Diversity: Attendees will find connection and a sense of belonging with people they may have never met before as they all collectively experience the vast diversity of experiential practices, ranging from outdoor focused subjects to creative community model exploration, to play, indigenous experiential practices and scientific insights with inclusivity as a cornerstone. JUMP! Foundation’s diverse community of practitioners and volunteers from across the region are waiting enthusiastically to welcome everyone to this vibrant confluence.
- From Design to Practice – Shared Wisdom: Over 40+ workshops led by experts will provide practical tools and principles and allow for peeking into subjects that fall under the gamut of experiential education, encouraging exploration through trial and error without judgment. Participants also get a chance to alter their roles as speakers, listeners and observers as they participate in generative discussions facilitated by master facilitators. The environment is mindfully curated to foster innovation and personal growth.
- Master Classes: Pre-conference master classes led by master facilitators will allow participants to delve deeply into key topics in experiential education.
- Building Bridges, Expand Your Network: The conference offers a rare chance to meet practitioners from diverse experiential education fields such as outdoor education, risk management, theater, art, music, therapy, and school pedagogy with a wide range of years of experience. There is no hierarchy or exclusivity – everyone is here in curiosity, and are experts of their own experience. a
Long-Term Impact and Vision
Arindita envisions the conference as a catalyst for enduring collaboration and a stronger regional network. It aims to:
- Broaden the lens of experiential education beyond traditional outdoor education with facilitation practice as a critical area of inquiry
- Encourage generative discussions where audience voices are equally valued alongside speakers, fostering fluid roles between being speaker, facilitator, listener, and observer
- Foster a growing community of experiential practitioners
- Amplify the impact through practitioners who will take back insights, tools and frameworks to their practice, positively affecting individuals and communities they engage with
Invitation to Participate
Arindita encourages even first-time presenters to submit workshop proposals, emphasizing that the style of engagement, the depth of content and alignment to conference strands determines workshop selection. She invites all participants to come with open minds and hearts, ready to collaborate and contribute. This conference is a community of practice – a vibrant space for finding your sense of belonging, of idea generation, experimenting, playing, conversing, reflecting and forging long-term partnerships.
Additionally, those interested in volunteering are welcome to reach out for opportunities to contribute to the conference design and development process.
The 2026 AEE APAC Conference in Bangkok, hosted by JUMP Foundation is a must-attend event for experiential practitioners, organisations who engage with experiential education and schools and higher education institutions that embrace experiential pedagogy and principles. . It offers a unique platform to build bridges, embrace resilience, and transform educational practices across Asia-Pacific. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a thriving experiential education community shaping the future
Reserve your spot or submit for proposal: aee.jumpfoundation.org
Follow us on AEE APAC Bangkok for more updates: instagram.com/aeeapacbangkok
Inquiries contact: arindita.gogoi@jumpfoundation.org
Interview conducted by Cname Peemadesh Chiupanya with Arindita Gogoi, Head of Learning & Development and AEE-APAC Conference Manager, JUMP Foundation.