2015 CT Land Conservation Conference

31st Annual Connecticut Land Conservation Conference

Saturday, March 21, 2015
Wesleyan University
Usdan University Center
45 Wyllys Avenue
Middletown, CT
8:30am – 4:45pm (followed by reception)

Building a Community that Cares about Land Conservation over Generations
featuring Juan Martinez, Keynote Speaker

Click HERE for our 2015 Post-Conference Wrap-Up

Thank you to our 2015 Conference Sponsors!
Your commitment is so great appreciated and critical to the success of this important annual event!

UPDATED 3/19/15: Registration is now closed!

Due to the overwhelming response to this year's opportunity to pre-register for the conference, we are at capacity. Registration is now closed. Thank-you so much for your interest and enthusiasm for this exciting annual event.

If you have a question about your registration or would like to be added to our walk-in waiting list,
please contact CLCC Executive Director Amy B. Paterson at abpaterson@ctconservation.org

Please join the Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC) for a full day of educational workshops and peer-to-peer networking for those involved in land conservation, followed by an informal reception with friends and colleagues from across the state. The Connecticut Land Conservation Conference is the state’s largest annual full-day land conservation gathering, and CLCC's premier event. Now in its 31st year, the annual Conference provides an opportunity for affordable and dynamic training for members of the state's conservation community, including board members, staff and volunteers from Connecticut’s 137+ land trusts, land use professionals and volunteers, municipal land use commission members, advocates, environmental educators, students and others interested in land conservation.

2015 Conference Information
Learning, sharing and growing skills & knowledge

Call to Action
See the attached Call to Action file available below to see how you can impact land conservation during this critical time. More details are available HERE.

REMINDERS: Building Locations, Parking and Directions

Registration starts at 8:30am at Usdan University Center, 45 Wyllys Ave.
Plenary Session starts at 9:00am at Fayerweather, Beckham Hall
Classes will take place in Usdan University Center, Fayerweather and 41 Wyllys Avenue locations.
See info below on parking, campus map and building maps showing the classroom locations for workshops and seminars.
Car pooling is encouraged.

Faculty Bios and Workshop & Seminar Room Assignments Available to Download
Read all about our esteemed workshop and seminar presenters! Find the Faculty Bios and Workshop & Seminar Room Assignments available for download below.

Wesleyan Internet Access
Using Wesleyan’s computers (for faculty only):
To use a Wesleyan computer in the classroom:
Guest username: ctlcc-1
Guest password: BNGM5gC7cG

Wesleyan Wifi:

For personal devices (smartphones, laptops, tablets etc.) wifi access is through a self-serve registration portal. Connect to the “wes-guest” wireless network; you will then be prompted to fill out a registration form and then wifi access will be granted.

Building Maps are Now Available
We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the maps of three buildings that comprise the Conference venue. A limited number of paper copies will be available at Registration. Although there will be plenty of people around to help you find your classrooms, we encourage you to download and print copies of the maps to bring with you to the Conference.

Attention Certified Foresters - CEU credit available for attending the 2015 Conference
Certified Forest Pra CEU’s have been assigned to the 2015 CLCC Conference. Bring a certificate of attendance (attached below) to the Conference and CLCC Executive Director Amy B. Paterson will certify your participation at the end of the day. Please make sure to sign the Certified Forest Practitioner's registration form at the Registration table when you check into the conference in the morning. Any questions, please contact Amy at abpaterson@ctconservation.org.

Parking and Shuttle Information & Campus Map
Carpooling is encouraged! The Wesleyan campus map available for HERE. Usdan is identified as #3, Fayerweather, Beckham Hall as #2 and 41 Wyllys Avenue as #4

Parking for Attendees: Vine Street Parking Lot (Lot V) next to tennis courts and Lot A on College Street. Shuttle service from Lot V to the Usdan Center will be available from 8am - 10am. Return service will be available at the conclusion of the Annual Conference.

Parking for Presenters and Sponsors: Wylyss Avenue E Lots. If you need special parking accommodations, please contact Amy Paterson at abpaterson@ctconservation.org.

Workshop & Seminar Descriptions are Now Available - Attached Below!
See the attached file below to download descriptions of all workshops and seminars. We have also provided the conference brochure where you can find information on the workshop schedule and our keynote speaker.

All Sponsors and Workshop Faculty Instructions are Available Below
Instructions for all sponsors and workshop faculty are available to download. You will find relevant information on set-up for exhibit tables and posters, complimentary registration and travel accommodations. Those who are planning to be in our Service Provider Directory will also find further instructions for information submissions.

The Accreditation Commission is Coming to the 2015 Conference!
Have questions about accreditation? Want some 1:1 time with the Accreditation Commission? Here's your chance!
This year, conference attendees will have a unique opportunity to meet with Land Trust Accreditation Commission staff Melissa Kalvestrand in private conversation to learn more about the land trust accreditation program. Melissa will lead a workshop in the morning session of the conference, and will stay on for the remainder of the day to network and meet one-on-one with conference attendees. Whether you are currently within the land trust accreditation process, registered to apply, or seeking more knowledge, arrange your appointment now through Connie Manes, CLCC's Training and Education Committee Chair and Circuit Rider of the Land Trust Alliance. Email Connie at cmanes@lta.org or call 860-792-0040. Bring your documents, policies, and questions for Melissa - she's eager to talk with you on March 21st!

Official Conference Accomodations
CLCC has once again partnered with the Inn at Middletown as the official 2015 Conference hotel! They will offer our attendees with a special conference rate of $175/night. This rate is available only until February 20 so reserve your room today! Available rooms are limited. Click HERE to be directed to the Inn at Middletown's reservations webpage for our exclusive conference rate.

2015 STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS
Thanks to the generous sponsorship support of the Geoffrey C. Hughes Foundation, a limited number of student scholarships are available. Contact abpaterson@ctconservation.org for further information.

Curriculum
The conference curriculum is structured around subject matter tracks, featuring a choice of 30 (90 minute) workshops and 3 half-day afternoon seminars. Our faculty is a mix of state and national consultants, educators and advocates, and your land trust peers! Workshop Sneak Peek is attached below!

Introducing Juan Martinez, 2015 Connecticut Land Conservation Conference Keynote Speaker
Juan Martinez empowers a worldwide youth movement to connect children with nature, attract young leaders to conservation, and help transform lives in disadvantaged communities. Thanks to his High School science teacher, he was dissuaded from joining a gang and joined the school’s Eco Club instead. That sparked his love for nature, and today he spearheads the Natural Leaders Network of the Children and Nature Network. Join us on March 21 to hear Juan deliver the Connecticut Land Conservation keynote, Building a Community that Cares about Land Conservation over Generations; and prepare to be inspired!

Sponsorship Opportunities - NEW Conservation Service Provider category, featuring an opportunity to be listed in the 2015 Service Provider Directory
Sponsorships are critical to our ability of keeping the annual conference both affordable and tenable for land trust volunteers, staff and board members, community members and other conservation partners. Sponsors will receive various benefits and recognition to acknowledge their leadership and support of the conference (please see Sponsor Benefits form attached below). Click HERE for more detailed sponsorship information. To become a sponsor, please review and select from one of the various sponsorship levels in the Sponsor Response Form below.

CLCC Seeking Nominations for Its 2015 Excellence in Conservation Awards
As part of the Conference Plenary Session, CLCC will present its Excellence in Conservation Organization Award and the Katchen Coley Award for Excellence in Land Conversation, recognizing outstanding achievements in land conservation by organizations and individuals, respectively. To submit an award nomination, please review the guidelines posted here. Nominations are due February 9.

Any questions? Please contact CLCC Executive Director Amy B. Paterson at abpaterson@ctconservation.org or 860-685-0785.

Please continue to check this webpage for updates and announcements!

2015 Conference Sponsors

Lead Conference Sponsors

Geoffrey C. Hughes Foundation, Inc. Land Trust Alliance

Conservation Partners

Audubon Connecticut Bafflin Foundation Connecticut Forest & Park Association
EverSource Energy The Nature Conservancy The Trust for Public Land

Aquarion Water Company    Connecticut Farmland Trust
Connecticut River Gateway Commission Deep River Snacks
Housatonic Valley Association/Litchfield Hills Greenprint Collaborative
Rockfall Foundation   Shipman & Goodwin, LLP   Connecticut Council of Trout Unlimited
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Services