Register before February 29, 2012 for the early-bird rate and save $100 on your registration.
Download Tenative Schedule
Award Proposal Submission Information
The 2012 NACDEP Conference will be held in Park City, Utah, May 20-23, 2012, at the Park City Marriott. Nestled in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains, Park City is 32 miles from downtown Salt Lake City and a short 35 minute drive from Salt Lake International Airport (http://www.slcairport.com/), Delta Airlines’ Western Hub, and also served by American, Continental, Frontier, Jet Blue, Southwest, United, and US Airways.
Park City was founded as a silver-mining town in 1869, and by 1900, it was a booming mining town with 10,000 residents and 100 saloons. Summit County was one of the fastest growing counties in the U.S. during the 1990s, attractive to many by the scenic amenities offered in the area. In 2002, Park City was the Alpine Heart of the Winter Olympics. Lying in the heart of the Wasatch Mountains, the elevation of Park City’s Main Street is about 7,000 feet above sea level, and the summits of the surrounding snow-capped mountains are around 10,000 feet.
With its unique historic downtown and three world class summer/winter resorts, Park City was listed by Forbes Traveler Magazine as one of the 20 “prettiest towns” in America in 2008. The city has many upscale luxury retailers, art galleries, and bars and restaurants. Park City is also a mecca for outdoor recreation activities for any season, with nearby parklands and forests with hiking and biking trails, waterways for boating and fishing, and a host of other activities. Visit www.parkcityinfo.com for more information.
For business travelers and pleasure-seeking vacationers alike, the Park City Marriott is the landmark choice of Park City hotels, offering majestic views of the surrounding mountains and world-class comfort. Visit www.parkcitymarriott.com/ for more information.
Link to Pre-Conference Meetings Agenda
2012 NACDEP Conference Field Trips
Tuesday, May 22nd (scheduled for 12:30-6:00 p.m. with box lunches to go for all)
All 2012 NACDEP Conference Field Trips are included in your conference registration. Besides being new, interesting, and fun experiences in Utah, each field trip will have an educational community development component, hopefully a “take home” message of value to you, of why the particular venue is valued for its contribution to local and regional community and economic development.
It is also possible to include your spouse or partner on a field trip for an additional charge, as indicated below. Once you are registered for a particular field trip, we hope you will be committed to attending and participating, as space is limited on some, and if you are a “no show” this may mean another conference attendee is unable to participate. Your cooperation in this is greatly appreciated, and we know everyone will enjoy their field trip experiences!
The Park City Museum and Walking Tour of the Historic Downtown
Visit the Park City Museum to learn about the city’s rich mining and skiing heritage (http://www.casttv.com/video/80c0sk/park-city-museum-video), and take a docent-guided tour of the historic downtown (http://www.parkcityhistory.org/visit).
The Mountain Trails Foundation and Mountain Bike Ride on Park City’s Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail
Visit with the Mountain Trails Foundation (http://mountaintrails.org), a non-profit organization that is Park City’s trails advocate, dedicated to promoting and maintaining local trails for non-motorized, recreational use. Get fitted with mountain bikes and helmets, and take off for the rest of the afternoon to bike either on the Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail or another trail of your choice.
The Utah Olympic Park Tour and Bobsled Ride
The mission of the Utah Olympic Park is to provide a year-round, world-class facility to develop athletes in winter sports through competition, training, and recreational programs. During the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, the venue welcomed more than 300,000 visitors during 16 days of competition, and was the site of 14 Olympic events. Tour the facility and take an optional Bobsled Ride for an additional cost of $60, an experience of a lifetime (http://www.olyparks.com/uop/index.asp). Learn about the importance of sports tourism to Utah.
This Is The Place Heritage Park
The West…just as it was! Step back in time with a visit to This Is The Place Heritage Park. Managed by a non-profit foundation, this is Utah’s premier living history attraction, a historic 450-acre Utah State Park, preserving and promoting the heritage and history of Utah. You’ll find it alive in storied accounts of the settlement of the West, told by knowledgeable interpreters in a setting of original and replica historic homes (http://www.thisistheplace.org).
Antelope Island State Park
Visit Antelope Island State Park, the largest island in the Great Salt Lake, and home to a roaming herd of 500 bison. Pronghorn, bighorn sheep, mule deer, and birds also share the rangelands that overlook the desert lake. Opportunities to view wildlife are available on the park’s roads and backcountry trails, which are open to horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking. A visitor center offers information on the island's unique biology, geology, and history (http://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/antelope-island). Learn about the importance of this state park gem to Utah’s Wasatch Front communities.
Click here to view complete event list including events for Wednesday, May 23rd.
