2007 Watchable Wildlife Conference

WELCOME TO THE 2007 WATCHABLE WILDLIFE CONFERENCE
AT CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN RESORT AT MOUNT RAINIER.

If your interests include nature, outdoors, personal health and travel, we’ve got you covered!

This year’s conference is an effort to encourage Washingtonians and visitors to enjoy all the recreational resources and outdoor activities Washington has to offer – using Watchable Wildlife and personal health as reasons to get outdoors.

The 5th Annual Watchable Wildlife Conference highlights the connection between the outdoors and why getting outdoors is important. The conference theme, “Pathways to Nature,” will address reconnecting people with the outdoors.

Thursday’s featured speaker for the conference is Martin LeBlanc, Vice-President of the Children and Nature Network.
Leblanc’s keynote address—“Working Together to Leave No Child Inside”— will describe this burgeoning movement and its process for connecting children with nature.

Research shows kids suffer health problems, including obesity, from too much sedentary time indoors with TV and computers. Defined as a nature-deficit disorder by author Richard Louv in his groundbreaking book, Last Child in the Woods, the declining participation in outdoor activities led Louv to create the Children and Nature Network. (http://www.cnaturenet.org/07_leadership.html). This hot-selling book will be included with the registration materials for conference attendees.

Martin lives his sermon as the National Youth Education Director for the Sierra Club, based in Seattle, WA. He was a troubled youth who had his life turned around through an outdoor experience as a teenager. Martin has worked as an outdoor educator in Seattle, and served as outdoor-education advocate for Texas Parks and Wildlife. Martin believes that we "owe the next generation of American children a special place in nature so they can be empowered to solve the environmental challenges of the future."

Also on Thursday, Explore Washington Then And Now Through “Revisiting Washington”— an interactive multimedia experience you do not want to miss! Created by the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, this amazing compilation of history will permit you to zip back to 1939 and compare it to 2007 as you travel old highways, visit old towns and enjoy the unparalleled beauty of rural and wild Washington. Experience Washington then and now through archival and current folktales, songs and photos – everything but the smell of fresh mown hay. Words cannot describe this product. It is much more than a beautiful media presentation. It is a public domain tool with hundreds of resources you can take home and use in your programs. This phenomenal multi-media production will be included with conference registration materials.

Thursday’s sessions include Early-Adopters Capitalize On Marketing The Outdoors. A panel of successful trend leaders will discuss why this works for them to attract families to increase business and tourism.

Rounding out Thursday’s forward-looking presentations will be Discover The Latest Trends That Motivate Travelers. The world has changed; how does that affect the decisions we make in our nature-based adventures?

Take An Early-Morning Field Trip on Thursday and explore the sights and sounds of the alpine meadows and forests of Crystal Mountain, with watchable wildlife biologist Chuck Gibilisco, and several nature photographers.

Chuck will introduce participants to the viewable and/or audible birds and wildlife of the area as well as point out basic birding and wildlife field skills. Clark's nutcrackers and gray jays, blue grouse, Cooper's hawks, ravens and evening grosbeaks are all likely sightings. Rocky Mountain elk may be heard bugling and who knows what else might surprise us?

Noted local professional photographers will be available to reinforce the fine skills of digital photography presented at Wednesday’s optional pre-workshop.

This short easy hike of one hour is just the right way to start the day and prepare for a hearty breakfast and a day of stimulating talks and discussions.

Did we mention a pre-conference Digital Photography Workshop? Has the transition from film to pixels left you in the darkroom? We’ve invited a dozen noted local nature photographers to show you their best stuff, and to share their tips and tricks. The workshop will be led by Pierce County-based photographers, Bob Newton and Jim Nelson. Plan to arrive by 2pm on Wednesday to immerse yourself into a new technology that provides one of the best reasons to re-connect with nature and to get out into our great outdoors.

Enjoy a Late Summer Evening Social In An Alpine Setting on Wednesday. Mingle with peers from other areas of this great state in the lodge’s outdoor lounge, with stunning views afforded by its timberline setting. See the invited noted local nature photographers' best work in the gallery show. Crystal Mountain chefs will prepare some of their best hors d’oeuvres (included with registration) and Washington wines and beer will be available on a cash basis. Bring business cards, a sweater and a digital camera.

We try to maximize the networking opportunities for our participants, and Wednesday is the best opportunity for this. Be sure to arrive early on Wednesday, and stay at one of the lodging options that night (at least!).

For those wanting an additional dining experience, or more networking time, the on-site Snorting Elk Cellar (can something be more appropriately named?) will be open late.

Exhibitors - Share Your Stuff! Our hosts at Crystal Mountain are opening the entire ski lodge for our use, to make this conference one of the best ever. There’s plenty of room for exhibits, so bring yours—and see what ideas you can “steal” from others. This is your opportunity to brag and pilfer, so don’t be shy.

Download an exhibitor registration form here. (.doc format)

Make It An Excursion! With extensive local community bike/walking trails, multiple State Parks, dozens of National Forest trails and campgrounds, and Mount Rainer National Park with its stunning Sunrise Lodge and Visitor Center only minutes away, the opportunities for you to re-connect with nature are limitless. There are many pathways to nature here, so be sure to include time to do just that. It is so cathartic when one practices what one preaches!

DIRECTIONS & GENERAL INFORMATION

All activities and events will take place at Crystal Mountain Resort

Online directions are available from either Google or Microsoft's Local Live mapping services, or you can go to Crystal Mountain's "Driving Directions" page.

Partners involved in the 2007 Conference include: Washington Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development Tourism Office, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, United States Forest Service, Washington State Parks and Recreation, Washington State Department of Transportation, Audubon Washington, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Visit Rainier, Crystal Mountain Resort and Crystal Mountain Hotels.

This year’s theme ties in to one of Governor Gregoire’s goals in Next Washington, “Be recognized as the healthiest state in the nation by continually reducing smoking, obesity and other health risk factors, while instituting a work and school related fitness program that becomes a national model.”