The Forum Planning team is excited to welcome some of you to the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) this week! The 2022 Watershed Forum will begin on Friday, November 4 at 10:30 AM. More than 400 environmental enthusiasts will congregate, and we hope everyone attending feels inspired and empowered to take action toward clean water. To help you have the most impactful Forum experience, we rounded up 5 tips for you below.

View the Forum Schedule

 

1. Set Up Your Whova Account

Sign up for sessions ✔️
Organize your Forum schedule ✔️
Network with fellow Forum attendees ✔️

If you haven’t set up your account, it’s easy: just visit our Whova event page and sign up today. Already have a Whova account? You can log in with the same email and password and see all of your events in your Event List on the dashboard.

Get familiar with the Whova Platform. Check out this six-minute video or for more detail, read through the Whova Attendee Guide.

You can also find easy access to the Forum program and schedule on Whova.

 

2. Dress appropriately. 

Dress at the Forum is casual attire. We recommend you dress in layers and be prepared for winter-y weather. The classrooms can be chilly, the poster session can be toasty, and we find it wise to expect rain, no matter what the forecast says.

NCTC is also a walking campus 🥾 Be prepared to get your daily steps in as you hoof it from your lodge to the Commons for meals, and to the instructional halls for sessions. It is especially important to bring a pair of hiking boots if you are participating in any field excursions. Good shoes are crucial to enjoying your time at the Forum!

(Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)


3. Check Out the Special Events

From a movie night to the poster session, field trips, and exploring the campus – there is so much to do during your Forum stay! And don’t forget about interacting with a Chesapeake Collective activity. Chesapeake Collectiveis a creative platform for diverse voices to express their vision for a healthy bay watershed. While it does not include all of the diverse voices that make our watershed whole, it provides a platform and an open invitation for contribution by the people whose voices the dominant narrative often overpowers or leaves out entirely.

Find a buddy 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 and check out what is available on our Whova page!

View the Forum Program

4. Meet someone new!

Talk to a stranger next weekend. The real magic of the Forum is in the relationships nurtured in one of the most picturesque places in the watershed!

Here are some tips for you to make that new connection:

  • Sit with someone new at each meal 🥗
  • Take advantage of scheduled social activities – join movie night, attend the poster session, or engage in a Chesapeake Collective activity!
  • Find someone on Whova! Connect with someone in a group chat and meet them on campus.
  • Bring your business cards and look forward to connecting with your buddy again after the Forum.

 

5. Come prepared to share, engage, and listen. 

There is so much to see, do, and learn at this year’s Forum – and we are beyond thrilled to be back in person. We strive to improve the learning experience by making the Forum a safe and inclusive space. As such, the Alliance holds ourselves accountable to our Forum DEI Commitments and encourages all Forum attendees to do the same.

 

*COVID-19 Reminder

If you did not sign up with Inspire at the time of registration to order a COVID test, all hope is not lost. Please arrange with your PCM, local clinic, or local pharmacy to have a professional administer a COVID test. Whether you receive a hard copy or email of your test results, please know you will need to show the results to us at the registration desk at NCTC. Please note that at home tests will not be accepted.

 

Start the Fun and Set Up Your Whova Account Now!