2010 National IFYE Conference
Conference Dates:
August 3rd – August 7th, 20102010 National Conference Schedule
Conference Hotel:
Embassy Suites Charleston – Charleston, West Virginia300 Court Street Charleston, WV 25301
Full Conference Registration:
Full conference fee includes five days of conference activities with meals, and IFYE group photography. Tour transportation/lunch is included in basic registration fee.- Postmarked by April 1, 2010 – $320.00
- Postmarked by May 24, 2010 – $355.00
- Postmarked after May 24, 2010 – $375.00
Download IFYE 2010 Registration Form
Register On-Line
Conference Tours:
Regular Conference Full-Day Tours: The conference will offer attendees the change to explore West Virginia through tours that will take place on Thursday, August 5, 2010. The Conference Tour fees are included in the regular conference costs.
Tour A – Along the Ohio River – Travel north to the mid-Ohio Valley region where you will tour the 100 year-old Fenton Art Glass Company. Fenton is the largest manufacturer of handmade colored glass in the United States. The factory guided tour offers an up-close and personal look at the action where skilled glassworkers use the tools and techniques of centuries ago to create beautiful art glass right before your eyes! Pause in the Gift Shop to admire the hundreds of beautiful creations. Then journey on to Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park where the tour will start with a sternwheeler ride on the Ohio River to Blennerhassett Island. While on the island tour the magnificently reconstructed Blennerhassett Mansion, go on a nature walk, and shop at the Friends of Blennerhassett Gift Shop. Lunch is included.
Tour B – Craftsmanship & Coal Tour – Travel south to Beckley to Tamarack, the Best of West Virginia, the showcase and marketplace for our rich cultural heritage of artisan skills and traditions. Browse through the thousands of displays, eat gourmet foods, and take home a hand-crafted WV memento. Then on to the Exhibition Coal Mine tour that takes visitors below ground, under the supervision of an experienced veteran coal miner. Traveling 1500 feet beneath the hillsides of New River Park, visitors are carried along track, riding authentic “man cars” from the mine entrance, to old working areas of the coal mine and back. Stops throughout the tour explore the history of low-seam coal mining from the hand-loading days into the era of modern mechanization. Visitors can explore the historical coal camp situated throughout the grounds, the Coal Company House, Superintendent’s Home, Pemberton Coal Camp Church, and the Helen Coal Camp School. Lunch is included.
Tour C – West Virginia Art & Farm Village Tour – At the Huntington Museum of Art enjoy the beauty of glass, particularly that from the Ohio Valley; the wisdom and whimsy of Appalachian folk art; the functional artistry of American furniture and firearms; the serenity of 19th and 20th century American and European paintings; and the intricacy of Islamic prayer rugs. Then travel to Heritage Farm Museum and Village where stroll through up to 16 different buildings experiencing life as it was “back then” and learning about the major inventions that changed everything to create the quality of life we take for granted today. Lunch is included.
Tour D – Along the Midland Trail – US Route 60 – Travel along U.S. Route 60 to Cabin Creek Quilts, which is still producing—by hand—quilts and patchwork accessories from their homes in a brighter, bolder look. Then comes a short stop at Kanawha Falls. Next is one of West Virginia’s most scenic vistas, Hawks Nest State Park high above the New River. A jetboat conquers the currents up the New River as you see from beneath the world’s second longest single arch steel bridge high on the canyon rim. Then you will travel to view this spectacular New River Gorge Bridge from the Visitor Center overlook. Lunch is included.
Tour E – West Virginia History (Half-Day Tours) – This tour will begin at the splendid West Virginia State Capitol which overlooks the Kanawha River. A guide will tell about this Cass Gilbert designed 1932 limestone and marble Italian Renaissance style building with the blue and gold-leaf gilded dome. If the Governor is receiving, we will tour the brick Georgian Revival Governor’s Mansion on the west side of the Capitol Complex. Then it will be on to the impressive West Virginia State Museum at the West Virginia Cultural Center. There you will trace the development of West Virginia from the prehistoric formation of coal through the early pioneer settlements to the modern industrial state. This is a splendid, newly-renovated interactive tour through time is a must-see for every Charleston visitor.
Tour F – Clay Center(Half-Day Tours) – The new 240,000 square foot Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences houses performing arts, visual arts and the sciences under one roof. Visit two floors of interactive science exhibits and the gaze at the art gallery featuring selections from the Museum’s Permanent Collections and traveling exhibitions. The ElectricSky™ Theater presents planetarium shows and large format films on its giant domed screen – a truly cultural experience right at your door step.
Hotel Rates:
Conference rates are $134.00 single/double, $144.00 triple and $154.00 quad plus taxes. Reservation must be made by July 5, 2010 to guarantee rooms and rates. Included in this rate are made-to-order breakfast, spacious living room, and shuttle to airport. In room hair dryer, coffee maker, private bedroom and indoor pool, exercise facility and 24-hour business center.Individuals must make their own reservation by calling 1-304-347-8700 or online. Use the three letter code IYE to receive the Conference rates.
Post Conference Tours:
Tour 1 – The Past and Present Tour – The Past and Present Tour will leave from the Embassy Suites Hotel by charter bus to visit The Bunker at the world famous Greenbrier Hotel. Construction on this once top-secret hide-away for U. S. government officials began in 1958. The 112,544-square-foot bunker was built 720 feet into the hillside under The Greenbrier’s West Virginia Wing. Once complete in 1961, the facility was maintained in a constant state of readiness by a small group of government employees. While at the Greenbrier, lunch will take place at Tree Top Cafa. After visiting the old bunker then you will visit the New River Gorge National River which is a unit of the United States National Park Service designed to protect and maintain this scenic river in southern West Virginia. Established in 1978, the NPS-protected area stretches for 53 miles (85 km) from just downstream of Hinton to Hawks Nest State Park near Ansted. You will conclude the tour with a stop at Tamarack, West Virginia’s premier artisan shopping experience featuring artists, craftspeople, performers and specialty food producers of West Virginia. The Past and Present Tour will return to the Embassy Suites. Cost $95Tour 2 – The All-Aboard Tour – The All-Aboard Tour will leave from Embassy Suite by charter bus to Cass Scenic Railroad State Park. Nestled in the mountains of West Virginia, Cass Scenic Railroad State Park offers excursions that transport you back in time to relive an era when steam-driven locomotives were an essential part of everyday life. Your ride behind the old Shay engine will be filled with rich history of the past, unparalleled views of a vast wilderness area, and close-up encounters with the sights and sounds of original steam-driven locomotives. The town of Cass remains relatively unchanged. The restored company houses now rent as vacation cottages and add to the charm and atmosphere of the town which includes the company store, museum, and train depot. Lunch will be provided. The return trip to the Embassy Suites will include the WV Scenic Highway. Cost $80
Tour 3 – The Wet and Wild Tour – The Wet and Wild Tour will leave from Embassy Suites by charter bus to the New River Gorge National River. The upper New River white water rafting trip takes you through exceptionally scenic canyons on relatively calm water with a few easy rapids and plenty of places for playing or just hanging out. Lunch will take place between the Upper and Lower Rafting Section. Rafting the Lower Section from Thurmond to Fayette Station in the picturesque New River Gorge, is one of the most popular white water rafting trips in the country. After battling the New River Gorge, the charter bus will take you back to the Embassy Suites. Cost $140
