AeroConf 2012 - Networking and Social Program

Networking and Social Program

All lodging listed in the Call for Papers is close to the slopes. Many accommodations have spectacular views, a swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, fitness room, and ski-in ski-out facilities. There are hotel-type accommodations as well as deluxe 2, 3, and 4 bedroom condos with complete kitchens, balconies, fireplaces, washers, and dryers. Free shuttles run within the village. The Slopeside Huntley Lodge and the Shoshone Hotel are the most conveniently located, as they are in the same building as the conference center. The Huntley’s price includes a gigantic breakfast buffet 6:30–10:30 AM.

Recreational activities in Big Sky include downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and dog-sledding. Horseback riding and winter fly-fishing are available at nearby Gallatin Canyon, and snowmobiling in Yellowstone National Park is just an hour away. See the last two pages for details and phone numbers.

The Networking Committee is arranging a Saturday evening icebreaker with wine, cheese & appetizers, 4:00 PM Java Jams prior to the start of each 4:30 session, catered full dinners during breaks in four of the evening sessions, an après session coffee, hot chocolate, ice cream cheer & chat wind-down event at the conclusion of all evening sessions, a dinner party Friday night, hosted receptions prior to all of the dinners, and a Tuesday catered lunch.

Children are welcome guests at these networking and dining events and are encouraged to participate in the Junior engineering & science Conference on Tuesday.

Networking Package — Meals, Receptions & Parties

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ALL COSTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE REGISTRATION AND GUEST FEES

Registrants Receive With Their Registration Fee:

Admission to all sessions
Networking package: five dinners/dinner parties, four hosted receptions, one luncheon, four Java Jams, four Après Sessions Fireside Cheer & Chats
CD-ROM Proceedings. Last year’s volume contained over 4,600 pages
A detailed schedule of talks and activities and a digest containing the abstracts of all talks
Reduced rate Recreation Package for skiers

Guests of Registrants Receive With Their Guest Fee:

Admission to a few sessions of their choice
The same Networking Package as registrants
Reduced rate Recreation Package for skiers

Recreation Package for Skiers:

Ski lift ticket prices: $55 per day with voucher included in registration packet, $60 when purchased at the conference. Lift ticket prices at the window at Big Sky will be $83. Up to 2 kids under 10 ski free with each paying adult.
Tubing is also available for the whole family 4:00 PM–8:00 PM every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! $14 per person.
Zipline is now open daily, at 1 PM, 3.30 PM, and 6:30 PM. Lasting about 2.5 hours, it flys you over three lines 350–500 ft in length — see Big Sky in a whole new way! Price is $69 per person. Call 406-995-5743 for more details or go to www.bigskyresort.com Twin Zip – Now zip with a friend! Twin zip flies across the base area - grab your best buddy and head to Basecamp to get geared up for your next flight! Price is $25 per person - children 10 and under fly free with paying adult Thursday - Sunday 3:00, 4:00, 5:00 & 6:00 p.m. Packages available!

Unlimited Bungee Trampoline/Climbing Wall/Tube Park (when open) $25*

Unlimited Bungee Trampoline/Climbing Wall/Tube Park (when open)/Twin Zip $59

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Pre/Post-Technical Session Activities

These activities are not part of the networking package.

Please note: Prices are current as of April 2011 and are subject to change. In addition, space is limited, so reserve early and make your reservations directly with the companies listed below.

Mention our group (the IEEE Aerospace Conference) when you make your reservation. If your reservation is for a "Group Day" listed below, you'll get to meet some IEEE colleagues!

Remember to bring warm clothes for all outdoor activities: hat, gloves, thermals, and warm boots! Any questions? Tenna@aeroconf.org or call Tenna, 310-418-7705.

Yellowstone Snowshoe Safari. 866-586-1155, www.yellowstonesafari.com

The wildlife guru, Ken Sinay and company, will guide you on snowshoes in one of the greatest wildlife areas of the world to observe moose, elk, and "sign". Ken’s graduate studies focused on wildlife biology and natural resource management. He shares his knowledge and enthusiasm so well he’s called the “perfect Yellowstone guide”. Our past participants call this trip a most rewarding experience!

Group day: Tuesday 3/6 (limited to 14 people)

The price is $119 per person and includes transportation and refreshments. Safari van will pick you up at the Huntley Lodge at 1:00 PM and return you at 5:00 PM. Wear warm snow boots and ski pants if you have them! If there are fewer than 3 people in a van, add $20 per person.

Snowcoach Tours in Yellowstone National Park. 888-493-2260, www.yellowstonetourguides.com

Tour Yellowstone Park with warmth and comfort. There are many different things you can do on a snowcoach — learning interesting facts from a very knowledgeable guide is just one —you can also snowshoe, cross-country ski, and get up close and personal with the animals (but not too close!). These tours are great for all ages!

Snowmobiling in or near Yellowstone, Two Top. 800-522-7802, www.twotopsnowmobile.com

Take a ride into Yellowstone, to Old Faithful, or ride over the Continental divide, to Two Top Mountain, into Idaho, and enjoy beautiful solitude and scenery in two different states! $119–$179 per snowmobile outside of Yellowstone (single or double riders OK), $189 (double) or $179 (single) for Yellowstone (includes guide fee). Warm clothing rental is $15. Reserve transportation to Two Top (West Yellowstone) via Karst Stage at 800-517-8243. $30 per person round trip with a 7:00 AM pickup. Full day excursion.

Gallatin Canyon, Snowmobiling in the Immediate Big Sky Area. 800-520-7533, www.snowmobilemontana.com

Enjoy the beauty of Big Sky traveling by snowmobile in the Gallatin National Forest. Canyon Adventures. canyonadv@montana.com

Group Days: Sunday 3/4

$140–$150 half day; $185–$205 full day. Clothing rental is $15 (helmet is included in snowmobile rental).

Dog Sledding, Spirit of the North. 406-995-3424, www.huskypower.com Glide through a winter wonderland of majestic mountains with a team of beautiful huskies pulling you down the trail. The energy and excitement of these amazing animals is a wonder to behold! Great for people of all ages! Now in West Yellowstone!

Group Day: Wednesday 3/7

$125 for adults; $80 children age 7–12; 6 & under free.

Spirit of the North will pick you up at the Huntley Lodge This is a half-day trip.

Winter Fly-Fishing, Gallatin Riverguide. 888-707-1505, www.montanaflyfishing.com

You bet we fish in the winter! Let us introduce you to the quiet sport of fly-fishing. Enjoy the solitude and crystal clear beauty of the mountain streams. Our catch and release outfitting service will provide a unique and informative outdoor experience with an emphasis on sportsmanship and low impact to the environment.

Group Day: Wednesday 3/7

$290 for 3 persons ($96.67 per person) with 1 guide for 4 hours. Fishing equipment (rod, reel, and waders) $40. A two-day fishing license is $25 extra. Call ahead to be in a group.

Jake’s Horses. 800-352-5956, www.jakeshorses.com

Experience the fun of the outdoors on a trail ride! The Gallatin Canyon, approximately 9 miles from Big Sky, is 2,000 feet lower and often has sun shining even when it’s storming at Big Sky. Don’t forget your hat, gloves and warm boots! Wear ski pants if you have them. (Windproof pants that is!).

Group Day: Thursday 3/8

One-hour ride $37, two-hour $57, and three-hour $70 per person. Hay rides $30 per person. See Snow Express bus schedule for transportation (see current bus schedule in conference registration room).

X-Country Skiing or Snowshoeing at Lone Mountain Ranch. 800-514-4644, www.lmranch.com

Several years ago, Snow Country Magazine selected Big Sky as the resort offering the best cross-country skiing in North America! (Our trails!) In other years, they selected Lone Mountain Ranch as the top Nordic ski resort in the West and one of the top ten in the U.S. We are completely dedicated to providing our guests with a quality cross-country skiing vacation experience (guided or unguided). By using state-of-the-art equipment and our skilled grooming staff, we professionally groom a beautiful 100 km trail.

Group Days: Tuesday, 3/6; Wednesday, 3/7; Friday 3/9

$40 full day. Includes equipment and trail pass. Trail pass for kids 12 and under free. Rentals for kids 12 and under $9 Trails open 8:00 AM till sunset. Snow Express (local bus) picks you up is at the Huntley Lodge (see current bus schedule in conference registration room).

Big Sky Sports also rents snowshoes. 406-995-5849. Check out the trail “Moose Tracks”, which starts right at the base of the ski slopes.

Museum of the Rockies (Bozeman). 800-994-DINO, www.museumoftherockies.org

Visit a world-renowned dinosaur collection, check out the planetarium, an extensive history exhibit, and Indian artifacts.

Group day: Thursday 3/8

Pickup at the Huntley Lodge is at 9:00 AM, and departure from the museum is at 1:15 PM. Adults $13, seniors $12, students and children 5–18 $9, kids 4 and under free. Bozeman is approximately 40 miles from Big Sky. Round-trip transportation is $78.25 per person. (If we have 14 people, this price will drop to $78.25 per person, so mention our group when you call to reserve Karst Stage 800-845-2778. fyi: there is no food service at the museum this time of year. we suggest you have breakfast at big sky and Carry a snack into Bozeman; there are several restaurants in Bozeman. Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center (In West Yellowstone). 800-257-2570, www.grizzlydiscoveryctr.com

Up close and personal viewing and learning experience with live grizzly bears and a pack of gray wolves. Interact with naturalists sharing these animals' dramatic rescue stories. IMAX in West Yellowstone (near the Grizzly Discovery Center), 888-854-5862. Six story high screen with over 12,000 watts of surround sound. See grizzlies, geysers and grandeur in “Yellowstone”. Additional IMAX films are also shown. Call for show times.

Group day: Wednesday 3/7 9:00 AM

$10.50 for adults, $9.75 for seniors and $5.50 for kids (over five years old) for Discovery Center. $9.00 for adults and $6.50 for kids for IMAX. Call Karst Stage for transportation 800-845-2778. $30 per person round trip.

Dining Alternatives for Tuesday Evening. These venues fill up quickly, so reserve early! Sleigh Ride Dinners, Lone Mountain Ranch. 800-514-4644, www.lmranch.com Snowcat Back Country Moonlight Dinners, Dinner in a Yurt. 406-995-3880, www.skimba.com Bucks T-4 Lodge, fine dining. 406-995-4111, www.buckst4dining.com Rainbow Ranch, fine dining. 800-937-4132, www.rainbowranchbigsky.com The Cabin, fine dining right in the village. 406-995-4244 The 320 Ranch. 406-995-4283, www.320ranch.com The Peaks, fine dining in the Summit,406-995-8076 The Timbers, fine dining at the Moonlight Lodge. 406-995-7777 For more information and additional dining options, please visit www.bigskyresort/Activities/Dining-Shopping/index.asp. Snow express (local bus) picks you up outside Huntley Lodge (see current bus schedule in conference registration room).

Karst Stage Transportation (14-Person Vans with Drivers). 800-845-2778, www.karststage.com Big Sky to Bozeman is $78.25 per person round trip. Big Sky to Yellowstone is $30 per person round trip. Snow Express (local bus) has pick-ups about every hour, and goes as far as the canyon area (see photo map on previous page).