The 2006 CSVHFS Family Program committee has been working hard to create an exciting, value-added experience for both you and for your family. We kick the conference off on Thursday evening with a river cruise and buffet dinner event that allows the entire conference, attendees and family members, the opportunity to socialize and relax. On Friday and Saturday, while the conference members attend the technical sessions, we will offer four different and unique Family Program events. We will also offer the traditional Pizza Party for kids on Saturday evening in parallel with the conference Social Hour and Banquet. Your Family Program hosts are Barb Platt, Bettie Fox, Shirley Hermanek, Karlene Mohrlant and others. We hope that you find the 2006 Family Program activities as exciting and unique as we do!

Early arrivals:
If you arrive in town early, see our tourism page for many more ideas for things to do in the Twin Cities and surrounding area.

Thursday Evening: Paddleford Boat Dinner Cruise
Bring your entire family and enjoy a relaxing evening with friends and family aboard the historic Jonathan Padelford riverboat. We have chartered two buses that will leave our conference hotel at 5:45 PM for a short ride to St. Paul’s historic Harriet Island, home of the Padelford Packet Boat Company. There we will board the Jonathan Padelford with a 6:30 PM departure time. The three hour boat ride features commentary on historic Minneapolis and St. Paul, a cash bar, as well as a buffet dinner provided by one of our local favorite caterers: D’Amico & Sons. Our three hour cruise will provide you and your family an opportunity to relax, visit with old friends, meet new friends, and to get ready for the conference ahead. The boat returns to Harriet Island at 9:30 PM where we will bus back to the conference hotel arriving there around 10:00 PM. Upon your return, don’t forget to check out the conference Hospitality Suites. Price, which includes buffet dinner, is $42.00 for adults and $22.00 for children under the age of 16.
Paddleford Packet Boat, Inc.

Friday Daytime: Mall of America
Meet Hosts Barb Platt, Betty Fox, and Shirley Hermanek in the hotel lobby at 9:00 AM. After a quick group picture (see Friday evening event, below), the group will board the hotel’s shuttle bus for a very short ride to the Mall of America. The Mall of America has revolutionized the shopping experience and it is one of the top tourist destinations in the entire country. With 4.2 million square feet of space, the Mall of America is home to over 520 world-class shops and attractions such as The Park at MOA (the nation’s largest indoor family amusement park), Underwater Adventures Aquarium, and a 14-screen movie theater. Upon arriving at the Mall of America, our group will be met by a Mall of America Representative who will provide us with a warm welcome and a brief introduction to the Mall. You will be provided with a Mall of America souvenir shopping bag, a Mall of America Super Savings Coupon Book, and a MOA Map & Directory. Following this, the group will have open time to shop and to explore. At 12:00 Noon, we will regroup at the Mall of America Food Court, Level Three, north side, for lunch. The Food Court provides a wide range of eating experiences. Following lunch, the group is again free to continue exploring. Make sure to check out Archivers as a prelude to the evening’s scrap booking activity. To return to the hotel, the hotel shuttle bus stops at the MOA North Entrance at 2:30, 3:00, 3:30, and 4:00. Price, Adults $6.00 (for items mentioned above), Children free.

Friday Evening: Scrapbooking Workshop
Scrap booking is America’s fastest growing hobby. At 7:30 PM, come to the hotel’s Iroquois Room where Host Barb Platt will lead the group in a scrap booking activity. Those who participate will be provided with their own 8” by 8” complete scrapbook kit & glue stick. This class is for novices to experts! Make sure to bring any pictures that you may want to include in your own custom scrapbook. Participants will be provided with a copy of the morning’s group picture as well. Price $10.00.

Saturday Morning: Trolley Tour of St. Paul
Our group will depart from the hotel lobby at 9:00 AM for a two-hour tour of historic St. Paul aboard a trolley provided by Capital City Trolleys. The 30-passenger trolley is glass enclosed and climate controlled for your traveling comfort. The tour will depart the hotel and drive to the State Capital, the St. Paul Cathedral, and travel down historic Summit Ave past the James J. Hill house and the Governors mansion. The tour then travels alongside the Mississippi River before finishing on Grand Avenue and returning to the hotel by 11:00 AM for lunch on your own time. Capital City Trolleys’ knowledgeable tour guide will bring a part of St. Paul’s history to life. Price $25.00.

Saturday Afternoon: Historic Fort Snelling
Our group will depart from the hotel lobby at 1:15 PM for a short ride to Historic Fort Snelling. The story of Fort Snelling is the story of the development of the U.S. Northwest. Today, freeways and a large urban pop-ulation surround this historic fort. However, it was once a lonely symbol of America’s ambition to colonize the wilderness. The fort is found at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers and is staffed with living-history interpreters who conduct tours, demonstrate crafts, present historical skits, and practice military drills. Our bus will return us to our hotel by 4:00 PM. Price (payable at the park entrance) is $8.00 for adults, $6.00 for seniors and college students, $4 for children ages 6-17, free for children under the age of 5.

Saturday Evening: Banquet and Youth Pizza Party
All are invited to the Banquet. Menu has your choice of Almond Chicken or Roast Prime Rib of Beef. Guest speaker, to be determined. Enjoy the Family Prize table! Please bring something for the table and enjoy picking something interesting to take home with you.

While young family members are welcome at the banquet, we will have babysitting and a youth pizza party as an alternative.

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Evening: Hospitality Suites
Our Hospitality Suites will open Thursday at 7pm, Friday at 7pm, and Saturday at 10pm. Enjoying the Hospitality Suites has become an increasingly popular activity at recent conferences. Snacks and beverages supplement volumes of good conversation.