The dates for the conference remain the same – September 19-21.  Updated conference information will be available by June 25, 2010.  As always, questions or comments can be directed to Angie Senic Shockely at asenic@eckerd.org or by calling 304-308-1571.

In an effort to relocate the conference, I have spent a good deal of time in Nashville and I have to comment on how impressed I have been with the cooperative efforts of the people and businesses in the Nashville area.  They have worked very closely to help each other recover from the devastating flood, said to be the worst in 100 years.  It only solidified Nashville as a perfect home for the NATWC Conference.  Service to community and caring about our colleagues are at the heart of NATWC, and I don’t know that I’ve seen a better example of these values than Nashville, TN over the past several months.

We are excited for the conference and have several wonderful presentations lined up.  We will once again have international representation at the conference and are excited to be a part of worldwide growth in outdoor and wilderness therapeutic programming.  There will also be ample opportunities for networking and socializing so that the best ideas can be shared!  We look forward to seeing you in Nashville!

Nashville Marriott Vanderbilt

Located on the Vanderbilt University campus, Marriott Nashville is one of the area’s premier hotels. Offering outstanding accommodations on the city’s West End Avenue, guests will enjoy this Nashville luxury hotel’s proximity to Vanderbilt Medical Center Hospital, area universities, downtown Nashville, Centennial Park and the famed Parthenon. In addition, this luxury hotel in Nashville offers a wide array of amenities designed to make the time guests spend with us even better. They include: Wi-Fi connectivity throughout the hotel, 32-inch flat-panel TVs, upgraded bath amenities and sophisticated furnishings. Our Nashville luxury hotel’s two Concierge levels and private lounge provide additional amenities. While at Marriott Nashville, guests can enjoy our indoor pool, savor the tantalizing contemporary American cuisine served in Latitude or host a flawless event at our state-of-the-art conference space. Experience an exceptional luxury hotel in Nashville, TN, and discover all that Music City has to offer.

• The Annual NATWC Challenge is an opportunity for you and your company/program to shine as we compete in running, biking and swimming events.
• The Board of Directors will be hosting a cookout and networking event on Sunday evening.
• Eckerd Division of Private Academies is hosting a Low Country Boil on Tuesday evening – featuring delicious food prepared by “chef in hiding” Tim McMahon.

We will also be honoring one of our founding members on Tuesday afternoon.  Don’t miss this opportunity to thank a legend of outdoor treatment in person!

NATWC Executive Director, Rick McClintock will present historical perspectives of Outdoor Treatment and Education Programming, and project the importance of practitioner credentialing, as illustrated by NATWC’s Wilderness Counselor Certification, as a step toward protecting paradise as a medium for education and therapy.

The conference theme Paradise Lost, Found, and Constructed: Conceptualizing and Transforming Landscapes through History will present a variety of national and international sessions on past, present and future environmental issues. The event is being held in Tallahassee Florida, an apt location for the study of the interplay between nature and cultural fantasies about paradise.