NERAC question
- Thread starter wrudge
- Start date
Rich and I are bringing our kids, too. They're 5 & soon to be 7. We are members at the aquarium, so admission to the Atlantis is free for the kids that day. Is there a fee for my 7 year old at the conference? What about the dinner? Is that a "family friendly" event? Does anyone know the price for kids for that? My brother and his family are also hoping to attend. My nephew is 10. Actually, I just remembered that I haven't signed up yet. Thanks for the reminder!
Denise
Denise
I believe there is a fee for kids as we have members that were 13-15 years old at the past 2 conferences.
The dinner is more for members interested in reef keeping and allows you to poke and prod other members and our guest speakers for a wealth of information.
The money from the conferences helps pay for the costs associated with the event, the speakers and for the club to sustain itself, a "pay it foward" theme.
I hope that emelton or Joe Y will chime in on the costs.
Here is the link to the aquarium admissions info. I'm hoping to attend some of the workshops and have Rich attend others. That way, the kids can enjoy the aquarium and we can enjoy the conference. I'm sure my nephew (10) will want to hear some of the speakers, so naturally, he'll need to pay for the conference. But I think my girls will be too young to get much out of it. There's so much for them to learn and enjoy at the aquarium itself anyway. We're really looking forward to the weekend!
http://www.atlantismarineworld.com/visitor-aquariumtickets.html
http://www.atlantismarineworld.com/visitor-aquariumtickets.html
Spracklcat
Disaster Expert
For perspective I often have my son with me at fish nerd events because I don't have sitters (and he's three)...
I've brought my son before to this and other conferences. My recommendation is to do like Denise is suggesting and bring the kids and pay for them to enter the aquarium, but not the conference, unless you plan to have them participate in conference events. The lectures are meant to be quiet lectures, like school in a way, and may not be interesting to younger kids. Having brought a 3 year old to lectures and workshops, I can say that unless you child is truly interested in the lecture, you will enjoy it more (and so will your child) if you bring someone else to the aquarium to bring your children around to the exhibits while you attend the lecture.
As for the dinner, I have not seen children at the dinner; it tends to be casual, but not really kid-oriented. If you have to bring your child do so, but again I wouldn't recommend it.
"Kids" that are aquarists in their own right, or learning and would enjoy the talks, are a different case. The club has a long history of supporting and mentoring young aquarists, and those kids I think would have a great time, especially at the workshops.
Christine
I've brought my son before to this and other conferences. My recommendation is to do like Denise is suggesting and bring the kids and pay for them to enter the aquarium, but not the conference, unless you plan to have them participate in conference events. The lectures are meant to be quiet lectures, like school in a way, and may not be interesting to younger kids. Having brought a 3 year old to lectures and workshops, I can say that unless you child is truly interested in the lecture, you will enjoy it more (and so will your child) if you bring someone else to the aquarium to bring your children around to the exhibits while you attend the lecture.
As for the dinner, I have not seen children at the dinner; it tends to be casual, but not really kid-oriented. If you have to bring your child do so, but again I wouldn't recommend it.
"Kids" that are aquarists in their own right, or learning and would enjoy the talks, are a different case. The club has a long history of supporting and mentoring young aquarists, and those kids I think would have a great time, especially at the workshops.
Christine
Justjoe
New member
The dinner is the price/ plate, we can't do anything with regard to the price. Catering has given LIRA a very fair price, so that is why we can keep it to $50, while taking in a few bucks for LIRA. The dinner includes the cocktail hour (cash bar) and great food, etc and is family friendly so the kids are welcome, but most tend to leave the kids home for the dinner so they can enjoy the evening.
The benefit of having the conference at NERAC is the kids can come along, and if they are not attending the conference, they can still see the aquarium but do have to pay the admission fee.
The conference fee "includes" admission for those attending NERAC.
I think that answers these questions, if there are more please feel free to ask.
Thanks for the kind words about AMW.
Joe
The benefit of having the conference at NERAC is the kids can come along, and if they are not attending the conference, they can still see the aquarium but do have to pay the admission fee.
The conference fee "includes" admission for those attending NERAC.
I think that answers these questions, if there are more please feel free to ask.
Thanks for the kind words about AMW.
Joe
Thanks for the info, it's really helpful. I've attended other functions at the aquarium and $50 per person is a great price for a catered function there. The fundraiser for the Riverhead Foundation is much more expensive per plate (great cause and the event is also lots of fun). But it's totally not a function for kids.
I was wondering if it would be possible for us to offer some kids activities at the conference. I would be happy to help with something like that, if there is space available. If we could do some sort of cooperative baby-sitting, parents would have a better opportunity to attend the lectures of their choice.
I was wondering if it would be possible for us to offer some kids activities at the conference. I would be happy to help with something like that, if there is space available. If we could do some sort of cooperative baby-sitting, parents would have a better opportunity to attend the lectures of their choice.
Yes, thank you all for your replies, it has helped with the decision making. I tried to tell the wife, I'll attend the conference and you can walk around the aquarium with the kids and her response was what if I want to see the vendors and speakers, so I guess we'll be taking turns with the kids.
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