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Western Region LogoWestern Regional NASA Space Grant Meeting 2008

Hosted by the Wyoming Space Grant Consortium

Dates: September 25-27, 2008

Meeting Agenda (PDF)

Location: Jackson Lake Lodge, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Pre-Meeting Announcements

Meeting Registration Form - Please contact us directly - wsgc(at)uwyo.edu / 307-766-2862 - to make changes in your registration!


Jackson Lake Lodge on Google Maps

Jackson Lake Lodge (operated by the Grand Teton Lodge Company) is situated on a bluff with spectacular views across the water of Jackson Lake to the skyline of the Tetons. There are 348 guest cottage rooms located on either side of the lodge as well as 37 guest rooms in the main lodge building. The upper lobby features 60 foot picture windows framing the Teton Mountain range as well as a collection of Native American artifacts and Western art.
Guest facilities include gift and apparel shops, a large heated outdoor swimming pool, horseback riding, scenic Snake River float trips, lake cruises on Jackson Lake, bus tours of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, lake and river fishing, a service station and a medical clinic. In keeping with the National Park location, rooms do not have televisions or radios, but do have telephones, voicemail and data ports.

The elevation at Jackson Lake is approximately 6500 feet (that's about a quarter of a mile higher than the "mile high city", Denver, CO). At high elevations it is easy to get sunburnt, so bring sunscreen, a hat, or both if you plan to take part in any outdoor activities. It will also be important to drink plenty of water since it is easy to get dehydrated (dehydration can contribute significantly to altitude sickness).
Around the end of September in the Jackson Lake (and Moran, WY) area, the highs are typically in the low-mid 60s F, and the lows can be in the low-30s or upper-20s F - so bring layers.

Pre-Meeting Announcements
  • Dress will be casual to business casual for all meeting functions (you will feel very out-of-place if you dress formally for any of the functions, including the dinners, so save luggage space and leave the formal attire at home).
  • Weather: Highs around Jackson Lake Lodge have been in the low-60s this week, with lows in the mid- to upper-30s - bring warm clothes or several layers! (Also, be sure to double-check the weather forecast before leaving home, the weather in the Tetons can change quickly - look for weather at "Moran, WY", it's closer to Jackson Lake Lodge than "Jackson, WY" - Weather Underground's Moran, WY forecast - there is also a banner at the bottom of this page.)
  • The meeting will be "BYOB" ("Bring Your Own Bag") - we are not giving out conference bags, if you want a bag to use during the meeting, please bring one from home!
  • As a reminder, meals included in the meeting registration are: breakfast Friday and Saturday, lunch Friday and Saturday, dinner Thursday and Friday (additionally anyone paying for the Yellowstone excursion will get breakfast and lunch on Thursday).
  • For the Friday dinner at the Wort Hotel in Jackson, we will be supplying transportation (in the form of busses) from the Lodge to downtown Jackson. There will be two departure times from the Lodge: 3:30pm and 5:30pm. The first will allow about 1.5-2 hours of free time in Jackson before dinner. The second will arrive just in time for dinner and allow 1.5-2 hours of free time at the Lodge after the meeting adjourns. It is up to you which time you leave. Also, there will be a ~1/3 mile walk from where the busses are allowed to drop off passengers in downtown Jackson to the Wort Hotel, let us know if you will have trouble (or be unable to) make this walk so accommodations can be made. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes for walking!
  • While on the topic of walking... Just to make sure everyone is aware, the majority of the rooms at the Jackson Lake Lodge are NOT in the main lodge building (the building where we will have our meetings), they will be in "cabins" in the surrounding property. So, almost certainly, you will have to walk outside from the "cabins" to the main lodge for the meetings. If you will have trouble making this walk, please let the Lodge (or us) know so you can be assigned a "cabin" close to the main lodge. Also, we have been told that the concierge can arrange a golf-cart shuttle for any guests needing assistance traveling between their "cabin" and the main lodge.
  • Meeting agenda is posted.
  • Wyoming Space Grant Staff will be leaving for Jackson early to set-up for the meeting. So, if you have any emergencies regarding the meeting after about noon on September 23rd, no one will be around to answer our office phone, please call our cell phones instead (Kristy Isaak: 307.760.3401, Michele Stark: 307.399.6362). Also, we can't guarantee we'll have time to check e-mail after we leave town (so just call our cell phones if you need to reach us).
  • Presenters: we will have a laptop running Windows XP, with Office 2007, Adobe Reader (version 8), and OpenOffice. Please let us know if there is anything else you will need for your presentations. We have been told the computer will be able to play sound through the sound system.
  • Wireless internet is available throughout the main lodge building.
  • More about the Yellowstone Excursion: wear something comfortable (and multiple layers since the temperature can vary greatly throughout the day), also a comfortable pair of walking shoes. (Yellowstone climate.) There will be a combination of riding on a bus and walking around various areas in Yellowstone (this should be relatively easy walking – boardwalks, paved trails, maybe some easy gravel trails - the only difficult part may be the elevation of ~7,500feet).
  • Credit cards will be accepted as payment for the Teton National Park admission fee.

Room Reservations

Special room rate: $169/night for a single or a double room (this rate is good Sept. 21-29 - a block of rooms is currently being held the nights of Sept. 24-26, the other nights are based on availability).
Please make all reservations at Jackson Lake Lodge by phone! This is extremely important because the online reservation system does not recognize group blocks and will not show availability within the block; additionally, there is no opportunity to enter a code for the group (so you won't get our group room rate). If you book online you will not have accurate availability and rates, and will not be counted as part of the Space Grant group.
The number you should call is 800-628-9988, and identify that you are with "Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium".
Reservations must be made by August 17, 2008! After the 17th the block of rooms will be released and you will not benefit from our special room rate.

Activities

Meeting Registration Form

Included in Registration

The basic meeting registration will be $360. Due to the remote location of the Lodge, we are including as many meals as possible in the registration fee. In the basic registration fee includes: dinner on Thursday evening; breakfast, lunch and dinner on Friday; breakfast and lunch on Saturday. Additionally, those electing to take the optional Yellowstone tour on Thursday will receive both breakfast and lunch in the cost of the trip. On Friday evening we will have dinner at the Wort Hotel in downtown Jackson - we will provide transportation to Jackson, and there will be additional time scheduled to tour (or shop) downtown Jackson (we plan to arrive early in Jackson to give everyone a chance to tour the town a little before meeting for dinner at the Wort Hotel). Guest registration will be $110 and includes the reception on Thursday night, transportation to and dinner at the Wort Hotel on Friday. The Thursday Yellowstone excursion will be a separate charge of $80 per person which covers breakfast, lunch, transportation, and a tour guide.

Transportation

By Air

Daily air service into the Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) is available on a variety of carriers (American, Delta, Northwest, Skywest, United/United Express, Frontier). Most flights make connections via Salt Lake City (Utah) or Denver (Colorado). The Jackson Hole Airport is located about 28 miles from the Lodge. Other "nearby" airports include: Idaho Falls (approximately 125 miles from the lodge - Google Directions), Salt Lake City (340 miles - Google Directions), and Denver (500 miles - Google Directions). (Area map and other driving directions).
The Grand Teton Lodge Company operates a shuttle service between the Jackson Hole Airport and the Jackson Lake Lodge, please inquire when making room reservations to ensure service is scheduled for your flight time (NOTE: This is the only transportation company permitted to pick-up or drop-off guests within the Grand Teton National Park staying at Jackson Lake Lodge). Round trip from Jackson Hole Airport is $62/person plus tax (2008 rate and includes the $12 National Park entry fee which is valid for seven days for both Grand Teton and Yellowstone Parks). Grand Teton Lodge Company's statement about the airport shuttle: "When making hotel reservations, 800-628-9988, guests can request a shuttle transfer by providing flight number, arrival and departure times. Arrangements must be made at least 24 hours in advance as we do not meet every flight! Prices include the National Park entrance fee of $12 per person, which is valid for travel within Grand Teton & Yellowstone National Parks for seven days." (Round trip $62; Airport to Lodge, one way $42; Lodge to Airport, one way $30.)
Rental cars are available at the Jackson Hole Airport, however you will have to pay the National Park entry fee* ($25 per vehicle in 2008 - current park entry fees) which is good for seven days and valid for entry to both the Grand Teton and Yellowstone Parks.

By Car

There are four major highways serving the Jackson Hole Valley: US Highways 26, 89, 187, or 287 (more driving directions). All vehicles will have to pay the National Park entry fee* ($25 per vehicle in 2008 - check current park entry fees) which is good for seven days and valid for entry to both the Grand Teton and Yellowstone Parks.

*If you have a valid "Interagency Annual Pass" (also called "America The Beautiful - The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass"), "Interagency Senior Pass", or "Interagency Access Pass" then you will not have to pay the entrance fees.

Around the Lodge Properties

Grand Teton Lodge Company provides complimentary guest transportation between all lodging properties, South Jenny Lake and the town of Jackson. This schedule varies seasonally and is posted at the activities desk at Jackson Lake Lodge and the activities booth at Colter Bay Village. This service is provided on a first come first served basis.

Useful Websites

Click for Moran, Wyoming Forecast
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