Fun

Fun, Fun, FUN!

This conference is intended to stand apart for two reasons:

1) bringing together practitioners and scientists for lively interaction and sharing of ideas, and
2) having fun and sending you home feelin’ good.

We thought about surprising you upon arrival about the “having fun” idea, but decided we wanted to let you know up front that fun…simple as that…is a major component of this conference. The key is You. This conference will achieve something truly unique if everybody is able to relax, have fun, and commit to interaction and participation.

Relationships, relationships, relationships! Disaster recovery is built on enduring relationships that create a network of support. We need this in disaster behavioral health. To that end we are planning things like Breakout Sessions, designed to be participant centered rather than lecture based so that by the first evening you have had the opportunity to significantly connect with enough people that you look forward to attending the fondly anticipated, yet frequently avoided,

Shindig (bash, get-together, networking party) designed to provide a comfortable atmosphere for connecting with co-workers in disaster (introverts and extroverts become “all-in-common-verts”!). Message Boards for hooking up on spontaneous outings or further topical discussions and a Spectacular Venue for a glorious family or individual retreat/vacation.

You

This conference will only climb to the heights we anticipate if everyone comes prepared to enter into the conversation on disaster and trauma. Of course, you are welcome if you need a place to enter and just listen. However, we will achieve optimal value as a whole and as individuals to the degree that we all enter into the process.

Breakout Sessions

The speakers are planning their breakout sessions paying particular interest to interactivity among participants. You may choose to listen or enter into discussions, which promise to be exciting and stimulating.

Shindig

Bash, celebration, festivity, get-together, networking party, gathering…please pick the most personally inviting word and get excited about joining everyone at a gathering on the first night. This is a time with music, cash bar and hors d’oeuvres designed for networking and continuing conversation/discussion begun during the day. Thus, the saying, “Oh, I’d love to carry on this conversation. Let’s meet tonight at the shindig.”

Message Boards

Do you want to hook up for a hike? Mountain Bike Ride? Discussion on PTSD? We will have a board where you can post activities or discussions that you would like to pursue and interested co-attendees can sign on to participate.

Spectacular Venue

Colorado Springs in the summer is one of the most beautiful places to be with a plethora of local attractions and activities which makes this a great place for a family vacation. For those of you traveling without family/significant other(s) we will have message boards posted for informal, spontaneous get-togethers.