NAGT-SW Field Conference

Dear colleagues,

Please join us for the NAGT-Southwest 2012 Field Conference, June 8-11, in New Mexico. We'll be visiting some spectacular spots in a special two-part, four-day trip in the Land of Enchantment; the northwestern portion of the state will be the focus of Part #1, and the southeastern portion of the state will be the focus of Part #2.

To REGISTER, please email us at: daniel.stephen@uvu.edu

During the field conference, Bonnie Dodgewill officially receive the NAGT-SW 2011 Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award (OESTA). In the spirit of celebrating Bonnie's excellence, we ask that you please nominate your favorite earth science teacher for the NAGT-SW 2012 OESTA. Nomination deadline is May 15, 2012.

For information on making an OESTA NOMINATION see the NAGT website (https://web.archive.org/web/20161227233906/http://nagt.org/nagt/awards/oest.html) or email Kaatje Kraft (vanderhoeven@mesacc.edu).

Here's the itinerary for our NAGT-SW 2012 Field Conference in New Mexico:

Part #1:
June 8, Friday -- educational hike around the world-famous volcanics of the El Malpais National Monument & Conservation Area, led by Paul Yoder, Park Ranger & Interpreter-Educator; sack lunch provided; evening educational and social event at the mining museum in Grants; light dinner provided; stay overnight in Grants area.

June 9, Saturday -- uranium mine tour in Grants in the morning; light lunch provided; early afternoon stop at the mineral museum at NMTU in Socorro; stay overnight in Socorro or Carlsbad (or somewhere in between).

Part #2:
June 10, Sunday -- reconvene for light lunch (provided); afternoon tour of the world-famous caverns at Carlsbad; evening educational and social event with the bats; light dinner provided; stay overnight in Carlsbad area.

June 11, Monday -- morning tour of the world-famous caverns at Carlsbad; sack lunch provided; afternoon educational wrap-up session and awards ceremony.

for MORE INFO about the trip, please contact us at: daniel.stephen@uvu.edu

Registration fees are an incredibly low $15! (or $10 if you only attend one part).
No payment necessary until time of the trip!

Registration includes: park entrance fees, evening social events and light dinners on June 8 and June 10, as well as light lunches on all four days -- plus, the joy of geologizing with Merry and the Mancos Mafia at no extra charge!
Please note: registration DOES NOT include accommodations.

Participants must make their own arrangements for accommodations. There are many reasonable hotels in the Grants area as well as Carlsbad (plus some camping options for any geologists in our group).

for INFO about ACCOMMODATIONS in the Carlsbad area:
https://web.archive.org/web/20090129173350/http://www.developcarlsbad.org/index.aspx?NID=280

Past NAGT-SW field trips have been tremendously successful, and we want more of our members to experience the joy of geologizing with Merry and Mancos Mafia. We'd especially like to see more of our K-12 teachers participate. In fact, we feel so strongly about it that we're offering free geology postcards (while supplies last) and a limited number of free teaching resource materials to the first ten K-12 teachers to sign up for the field conference. Upon request, a "certificate of completion" can be provided for K-12 teachers who wish to earn professional development hours.

This year, we've decided to offer an additional incentive: thanks in part to a generous donation by the Homestead Mining Company, we have a limited number of $100 stipends available to help offset the cost of travel and accommodations. (Sorry, but stipends are for NAGT-SW members only.)

To APPLY for a STIPEND, simply send a well-written, one-paragraph justification (250 words or less, please) to: daniel.stephen@uvu.edu

Registration will be open until the end of May, but to help us with planning we'd appreciate it if participants would register as soon as possible. Payment may be by cash or check (payable to "NAGT-Southwest"), and will be cheerfully and gratefully collected at the beginning of the field conference.

Of course, we always welcome NAGT members of other sections to join us as well.

to REGISTER, please email us at: daniel.stephen@uvu.edu

Dan Stephen, NAGT-Southwest President