What

When
Wednesday, March 2, 2011 and Thursday March 3, 2011 from 9:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. Delete"Friday, March 5, 2010; 9:00 a.m. until approximately 4:00 p.m." (come for an hour or stay for the day)

Where
North Carolina State Fairgrounds, Gov. Kerr Scott Building, 1025 Blue Ridge Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27607

Cost
FREE to attend. Free on-site parking for cars and busses.

Is Advance Registration required?
The Wildlife Conservation through Education Committee is accepting advance reservations and participation will be limited to venue constraints.

Contact Steve Bennett, NC State Envirothon Coordinator at:
bennett3950@att.net or call 919-828-7930 for registration information.

Venue/Security
This event will be conducted almost entirely indoors The Kerr Scott main floor is wheelchair accessible; and this building offers six (6) bathrooms. A guard will be on duty to promote safety and security. Security at this event will follow the same guidelines as expected in public school setting. Operable weapons will not be allowed in the building.

Workshop Schedule
The Kerr Scott welcome desk will open at 8:00am. Workshops will begin at 9:00 a.m., repeating on the hour. Experience suggests that 3 workshops are plenty for students and would allow time for lunch/dinner before returning home or to school; however, the number of workshops you register for is up to you. An 8:15-8:30 arrival time would be preferred for the morning workshops. Kids should probably plan to bring and eat snack before they get started if they are scheduled to arrive later in the day.

General Registration and Class Preferences
At the current time our plan is to offer every workshop listed at this website: www.wildlifeyouthday.org Final selection, count of classes, and timing will depend on popular demand. Which workshops you choose to allow your children to select is up to you; offered in any combination, so that you may select those workshops which meet your SCOS objectives at this event. If there are arrival/departure time restrictions placed on your group, please let us know soon.

Final Registration and Classes Schedule
The classes schedule will be finalized and returned to you by mid-February, 2011. Included will be the logistics details, confirmation of the specific workshops. You may expect to receive a registration package at that time. This package will include logistics details, confirmation of which workshops have assigned to the kids in your group, and release of liability forms, which must be signed by student's guardians and returned in advance of the event. Release of liability forms returned will be secured as confidential, will not be duplicated, and will be used for no other purpose than for this event.

Chaperones
We request that you provide chaperone(s) for your group, which will serve to guide students while onsite from class to class; take responsibility for ensuring that their children conduct themselves in a safe and respectful manner; and otherwise assist instructors if called upon to do so. The North Carolina State Fairgrounds, Wake County Wildlife Club, Wildlife Conservation through Education Committee, participating organizations, their employees, affiliates, and volunteers shall assume no responsibility for the safety or well being of children or adults attending this event. Chaperones should be familiar with the medical needs of students assigned and prepared to take action according to your organization's policies should the need arise.

Because all workshop classrooms will be within one building, allowing kids will go from one venue to another just steps away, 1-2 chaperone per group of kids with the same workshop schedule should be plenty. Each workshop venue will be able to accommodate a maximum of 30 children per group. Parents that tag along are welcome to join us at this academic event as well, but may be asked to assist as needed.

We do not expect to have capacity at the Kerr Scott venue which will entertain younger kids for an extended time. They are invited to participate in the Dixie Deer Classic's Outdoor Lore events that will be offered on the fairgrounds that day. This event is physically separated from the academic events, but is within reasonable walking distance.

Meals
Bagged lunches may be brought in to the Wildlife Conservation through Education Workshops event. Group coolers are suggested. There will be no cooking facilities on site. There are no facilities to seat all kids for lunch, but we offer several suggestions: Kids may either picnic on the fairgrounds at designated areas, or depart for lunch. There are many fine restaurants in the area. A sample can be found on the web at http://www.ncstatefair.org/2009/General/VisitorInfo.htm

Photo Release
We will assume that photo releases are in place for every child attending unless otherwise informed. Please have each student's guardian complete a photo release form according to your organization's policy in advance of this event. If this form is not available to you, an event-specific release will be provided on request. It will be the assigned chaperone's responsibility to segregate those students without a photo release from photo opportunities. Please take this into account when determining workshop placement. That we may all honor their guardian's request, we suggest that students without photo release are all assigned to a single chaperone supporting your group.

31st Annual Dixie Deer Classic (March 4-7, 2011)
Outdoor Lore, Wildlife Scavenger Hunt, and Informational Session on Wildlife and the Farm Bill.
We recognize that some children and their parents may wish to also attend the 31st Annual Dixie Deer Classic which will be opening at the NC State Fairgrounds that Friday, March 4, 2011 (11:00a.m. to 9:00p.m.). They are encouraged to do so.

Those that attend the 31st Annual Dixie Deer Classic are encouraged to participate in the "Dixie Deer Classic's Outdoor Lore" for children and adults of all ages as well as NCSU-Leopold Wildlife Club's Wildlife Scavenger Hunt for pre-and elementary school children, plus many other special events.

Admission to this 3-day Dixie Deer Classic is free for those under 12. Moreover, on Friday, March 4, 2011 kids aged 13 to 18 will admitted for $5 (half-price). The Friday admissions price of $5 also applies to women, members of the military, and seniors, those 65+.

The informational session on Wildlife and the Farm Bill is for adults and capacity limited. It is held before the Dixie Deer Classic opens, from 9:00a.m. to 10:45a.m. on Friday, March 4 at the Jim Graham Building. The contact for that the session is Mark Jones. E-mail: mark.jones@ncwildlife.org

Please help us get the word out to others!
We do our best, but word of mouth is often the most effective way to get the word out about this free academic event. Both group and individual registrations are accepted.

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to e-mail or give us a call.
Registration: Steve Bennett. e-mail: bennett3950@att.net
Programs: Beth Gunn. e-mail: beth.gunn@ncwildlife.org
Publicity: Jim Hudson. e-mail: jimhudson497@gmail.com
Logistics: Ed Richardson. e-mail: erichardson45@nc.rr.com
Other: Allen Basala. e-mail: anj1basala@earthlink.net