Logistics and Transportation

The workshop will begin at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 10th with a reception and welcoming remarks. Please make your plans so that you will be able to attend this opening session. We will conclude after dinner on Saturday, May 12th. It is essential that you attend the full workshop program.

Invited participants will be asked to complete an online registration form. The form will be available on this site in the near future. The registration deadline is April 11, 2007. Participants should make travel plans before completing the registration form.

Funding for participants' travel, room, board, and workshop materials is covered by a grant from the NSF Division of Earth Sciences (EAR-0304762).

Travel by Air

Air travelers should fly into the Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) airport. We recommend arriving at MSP no later than 3:30 PM on Thursday, May 10th, and departing from MSP sometime after 9:00 PM on Saturday, May 12th or on Sunday, May 13th.

Ground transportation between MSP airport and Northfield takes approximately 45 minutes. Ground transportation will be arranged for you based on the flight information that you submit to us via the registration form (registration deadline is April 11, 2007).

SERC will pay for your tickets provided you book a competitively priced economy class airfare. Participants have two payment options when purchasing tickets. The first option is to prepay and seek reimbursement from SERC (see below for reimbursement instructions). The second option is to book tickets through our travel agency, Northfield VIP Travel, 1-800-657-4888. If you purchase your ticket through our agent the purchase will be billed directly to SERC.

Travel by Car

If you are driving we recommend doing a Google driving direction search on Country Inn located at: 300 SOUTH HIGHWAY 3, NORTHFIELD MN 55057.

SERC will reimburse you for the round trip mileage between your home and Northfield. You will be reimbursed at the rate of 44.5 cents per mile (see below for reimbursement instructions).

Lodging

Room reservations have been made for everyone attending the workshop at the Northfield Country Inn. Each participant will have a private room with a phone and FREE WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS. Lodging costs will be paid by SERC.

The airport shuttle drivers will deliver you to the Country Inn. Directions to the meeting room will be available at the hotel desk.

Communications

All participants will be added to a workshop participant email list. The email list will be used by the conveners and support staff to send out additional information about the workshop program and logistics.

You will have a telephone in your room at the Country Inn and messages can be left at the hotel desk - 507.645.2286. Internet access will be available in the workshop meeting rooms as well as Country Inn.

Each participant will need a laptop computer during the workshop. Please let us know when you register if you are unable to bring your own laptop. Internet access will be available in the workshop meeting rooms on campus and at the Country Inn.

Participant Submission of Course Materials

Please use our on-line submission forms to submit your course materials and syllabus. Use Teacher Preparation Course Submission Form to submit your syllabus and Submit a Teacher Preparation Activity to submit your activity or lesson. The deadline for submitting these materials is April 11, 2007.

Meals

A COMPLIMENTARY continental breakfast will be served each day at the Country Inn. Other meals will be served on campus or in local restaurants. All meals will include vegetarian offerings. Please provide information on the registration form if you require special meals. The price of all meals and gratuities during the workshop is covered. However, the NSF grant does not cover alcoholic beverages. Alcoholic drinks will be available for purchase during some meal-times.

Expense Reimbursement

SERC will reimburse participants for their airfare or mileage to the meeting. You should book a competitively priced economy class airfare if you will be flying. This will assure that your travel expenses conform to federal regulations. If you are driving you will be reimbursed at the rate of 44.5 cents per mile. Participants should bring documents to support their travel reimbursement requests to the workshop. We will need the following documents:

  • an original receipt or invoice for the airfare for those that will be flying,
  • evidence of mileage, such as a printout of driving directions, between your home and Northfield for those that are driving,
  • and a completed W-9 form.

Reimbursement checks will be issued between 2 to 4 weeks after the meeting concludes.

Lodging, local ground transportation, and meal costs during the meeting will be paid directly by SERC. Participants are responsible for any expenses and reservations associated with early arrivals or extend stays.

What to Expect

Northfield is a small town about 35 miles south of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. May is cool here with temperatures ranging between +46 and +69 degrees. It's about a five-block walk to the meeting space from the hotel. Downtown Northfield is about 2-3 blocks from the hotel. We encourage participants to walk, but we will offer a shuttle service at the start and end of the day for those that prefer not to walk. Please let us know if you have any concerns about accommodations or mobility when you register.

The Country Inn will serve a COMPLIMENTARY continental breakfast each morning. There is a heated indoor pool at the Country Inn.