WETLAND SCIENCE CONFERENCE
March 7, 8 & 9 2024
Camp Oty'Okwa
24799 Purcell Rd
South Bloomingville, OH 43152
$185 Full Conference 3-Day Registration
$165 Ohio Wetlands Association 3-Day Member Registration
$100 Full-time Student 3-Day Registration
$100 Conference 1-Day Registration
$90 Ohio Wetlands Association 1-Day Member Registration
$55 Full-time Student 1-Day Registration
***1-Day Tickets also included the Saturday Field Trip***
(Select Tickets to Choose)
$165 Ohio Wetlands Association 3-Day Member Registration
$100 Full-time Student 3-Day Registration
$100 Conference 1-Day Registration
$90 Ohio Wetlands Association 1-Day Member Registration
$55 Full-time Student 1-Day Registration
***1-Day Tickets also included the Saturday Field Trip***
(Select Tickets to Choose)
To register using a credit card (Eventbrite):
DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/YEdrrivsm8jNZYez9
https://maps.app.goo.gl/YEdrrivsm8jNZYez9
Featuring breakout sessions, field trips, and keynote presentations from
two of our most engaging vernal pool authorities:
Meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Thursday and Friday and breakfast on Saturday) are included with the registration.
CONFERENCE AGENDA
After many years of providing one-day vernal pool workshops, The Ohio Vernal Pool Network, a team effort of the Ohio Wetlands Association and Midwest Biodiversity Institute, is taking our expertise and experience to the next level. We expanded our format to become a 3-day conference in 2019 at Ashland University, shared a monthly virtual presentation during spring 2021, and are hosting an in-person 3-day conference in 2022 in Cambridge, Ohio. These conferences provide more depth and breadth of vernal pool topics than we can provide in a one-day format and allow for great opportunities for networking and exploring vernal pools around the state. From previous conferences, over 90% of participants responded that they learned something new that they will apply in your work, future decisions, and/or lifestyle.
Feedback from our workshop attendees indicates a need for expanded experiences and offerings on vernal pool subjects. We will also be offering a variety of laboratory and field experiences. Our quest to recruit and train vernal pool monitors will include training on specific monitoring techniques. Our train-the-trainer program which includes workshop and outdoor resources, will be completed and available to enhance the repertoire of environmental educators across the state.
We expanded our format to become a 3-day conference in 2019 at Ashland University, shared a monthly virtual presentation during spring 2021, and resumed an in-person 3-day conference in 2022 at Salt Fork Lodge in Cambridge, Ohio. Now Vernal Poolooza is moving to Camp Oty'Okwa in the Hocking Hills region!
Vernal Poolooza 2024 will be at Camp Oty'Okwa on March 7, 8, and 9. Camp Oty'Okwa has catering and a lodge available, as well as conference rooms for presentations. We have secured Keynote speakers for the two evening sessions. Several nearby locations will provide superior vernal pool experiences and learning opportunities.
We are expecting 200 attendees at this conference. There will be students, volunteer naturalists, park managers, landowners, and environmental educators from around the state. While some attendees will enjoy this event as paid professional development, many will take time off and pay out of pocket for the experience. We need sponsors to help us keep registration costs as low as possible. Your generous support will help defray the cost of food, materials, and logistics. Thousands of hours of volunteer time will also contribute to keeping costs down. Still, there is no substitute for cash donations. Please see chart for more information about sponsorship levels and benefits.
Feedback from our workshop attendees indicates a need for expanded experiences and offerings on vernal pool subjects. We will also be offering a variety of laboratory and field experiences. Our quest to recruit and train vernal pool monitors will include training on specific monitoring techniques. Our train-the-trainer program which includes workshop and outdoor resources, will be completed and available to enhance the repertoire of environmental educators across the state.
We expanded our format to become a 3-day conference in 2019 at Ashland University, shared a monthly virtual presentation during spring 2021, and resumed an in-person 3-day conference in 2022 at Salt Fork Lodge in Cambridge, Ohio. Now Vernal Poolooza is moving to Camp Oty'Okwa in the Hocking Hills region!
Vernal Poolooza 2024 will be at Camp Oty'Okwa on March 7, 8, and 9. Camp Oty'Okwa has catering and a lodge available, as well as conference rooms for presentations. We have secured Keynote speakers for the two evening sessions. Several nearby locations will provide superior vernal pool experiences and learning opportunities.
We are expecting 200 attendees at this conference. There will be students, volunteer naturalists, park managers, landowners, and environmental educators from around the state. While some attendees will enjoy this event as paid professional development, many will take time off and pay out of pocket for the experience. We need sponsors to help us keep registration costs as low as possible. Your generous support will help defray the cost of food, materials, and logistics. Thousands of hours of volunteer time will also contribute to keeping costs down. Still, there is no substitute for cash donations. Please see chart for more information about sponsorship levels and benefits.
Additional Info on traveling to Camp.
ODOT has closed State Route 56 between South Bloomingville and Ash Cave from 7:30 am – 3:30 pm on weekdays. State Route 56 is open in the evening and on weekends.
If you are traveling to Camp Oty’Okwa on westbound SR 56 from the Vinton County/Athens County area
ODOT has closed State Route 56 between South Bloomingville and Ash Cave from 7:30 am – 3:30 pm on weekdays. State Route 56 is open in the evening and on weekends.
If you are traveling to Camp Oty’Okwa on westbound SR 56 from the Vinton County/Athens County area
- Turn left onto State Route 374, take SR 374 past Cedar Falls to State Route 664, Turn left on SR 664 for 2.3 miles
- Turn Right onto 374, drive 50 yards and take an immediate left onto Purcell Road (first left)
- Camp Oty’Okwa is a half mile down Purcell Road
