PTBA Seeks Location for 2019 Sustainable Trails Conference
Planning for 2019 is underway! Please contact Aaryn (info@trailbuilders.org) with potential conference venues. Details below and RFP attached.
PTBA holds an annual conference that provides cutting edge trail education, professional networking, and hands-on trailbuilding demonstration. Some past locations include Bend, OR, Ashville, NC, Knoxville, TN, Roanoke, WV, Portland, OR, Albuquerque, NM, and Reno, NV. The annual conference brings together our membership (90+) with other trail professionals, land managers, trail advocates, and non-profit organizations.
Conference Format: Sessions will be a combination of keynote speakers, 40+ indoor concurrent sessions (4 per time block), field trips to trails construction workshops, and an outdoor demonstration area (2+ acres) of mechanized trailbuilding equipment. The core conference is 2.5 days long, with 2 days of pre- and post-conference workshops one both sides surrounding the core conference (8-9 days total). The Association also holds its annual member meetings at the beginning of the conference (2 days).
Attendees: 200-300
When we review sites for future conferences, based on past experiences, we are looking at three (3) very key elements, which include:
- 2+ acre outdoor demo site to demonstrate small scale (24-60” wide) construction equipment including excavators, mini-dozers, and other earth moving equipment. This space must be dirt/natural surface that the equipment may dig and move dirt around to a depth of 2-3 feet. All surfaces will be returned to their original condition after the conference. This location must be within easy walking distance from the conference rooms (absolutely no shuttles).
- Within 30 minutes (ideally) and 60 minutes (maximum) of a major airport.
- Diverse trail opportunities within 30 minutes of conference facilities. Short shuttles to the trails are possible, but walking distance is preferred.