At their best, research and education networks can offer pathways into science for those who have historically been excluded from the field. They can make the customs and culture of a field visible and navigable for newcomers. They support large-scale networking and have the critical mass needed to make substantial changes to practice. But the same qualities that make them effective can present obstacles to developing a sense of belonging. Inertia develops around established practices. What feels like a close community to insiders, can look like an impassable obstacle to the uninitiated.  Bring your success stories and your cautionary tales. What has worked and what lessons have you learned around the role of networks in building belonging in ecology?