National Association of Conservation Districts

National Association of Conservation Districts

NACD's mission is to serve conservation districts by providing national leadership and a unified voice for natural resource conservation.

Tours and Special Events

NACD 2012 Annual Meeting • January 29 - February 1, 2012 • Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas isn't just a city for gambling! From conference events and volunteering opportunities to local events and activities, you are sure to get the true Vegas experience at NACD's 2012 Annual Meeting.


Donny and Marie

Conference Events

Additional NACD Activities

Pack-a-Book Community Outreach Project
NACD is coordinating our fifth “Pack-a-Book” community outreach project to leave a lasting impression in Las Vegas, NV following our 66th Annual Meeting. For a list of books, click here.

NACD Golf Day
Event Host: NACD
Date: Wednesday, February 1, 1:15 p.m. (tee time)
Location: Desert Pines Golf Club, Las Vegas
Cost: $109 (includes cart and range balls)
Registration: Please register directly through the Desert Pines sales manager: Mike Dahlstrom, 702-450-8098.

Golf, network and socialize after the NACD Annual Meeting. For more information, see the flyer.

Local Volunteer Opportunities

World Wetlands Day Volunteer Opportunity
Join the Conservation District of Southern Nevada (CDSN) for an exciting opportunity to get a firsthand look at the Wetlands of Las Vegas! This special volunteer event, in celebration of World Wetlands Day, will take place in Las Vegas, Feb. 2, immediately following the NACD Annual Meeting.

Conference Event Details

Please Note: all prices are per person.


Saturday, January 28

Donny and Marie Osmond Variety Show
Event Host: NACD Auxiliary
Date: Saturday, January 28, 2012, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Cost: $120.00
Registration: See the NACD meeting registration form to register

The 90-minute show extravaganza showcases Donny and Marie's greatest hits in a multimedia spectacle presented on a custom-designed stage with multiple video screens and a sizeable cast of electrifying dancers.

Donny and Marie's timeless hits (some of which topped the charts as duets, while others were performed solo), include "Paper Roses," "Make the World Go Away," "I'm Leaving It (All) Up to You," "Morning Side of the Mountain," "Puppy Love," "Soldier of Love," "Deep Purple" and others.

The "a little bit country, a little bit rock n' roll" duo took the country by storm with the debut of the "Donny & Marie" variety show in 1976, becoming the youngest primetime hosts in television history. This universally popular series solidified their worldwide fan base which still numbers in the millions.

Please join us to start the conference with music and laughter. The show is short walk across the street from the NACD conference hotel. Participants will also receive a special snack to take into the show. A limited number of seats are available. For best seats order early!

Sunday, January 29

Hoover Dam Tour
Event Host: NCDEA
Date: Sunday, January 29, 2012 11:15 am-4:30 pm
Cost: $90 (includes boxed lunch, entry fees, and driver gratuity)
Registration: See the NACD meeting registration form to register

Departing from the Cosmopolitan Hotel, we will take a private chartered luxury coach, with a narration of Las Vegas, Henderson (Green Valley), and Boulder City. There will be photo opportunities of Lake Mead and the Colorado River, 2 hours at Hoover Dam. While at the Dam, there will be access to the Visitor's Center, Photo Exhibit Hall, Museum and Theater featuring the construction of the Hoover Dam, the generator Room, water, and Hoover Dam Booklets. We will stop at the Ethel M Chocolate Factory. Box lunch will be provided, along with water and soda.

Availability is limited! Make your reservations early.

Conservation at the Local Level in Nevada
Event Host: NCDEA
Date: Sunday, January 29, 2012, 11:15 am-4:30 p.m.
Cost: $50 (includes boxed lunch)
Registration: See the NACD meeting registration form to register

The tour will begin with travel to Acacia Park in Henderson. The Acacia Demonstration Gardens was developed in cooperation with the City of Henderson and other community partners and is a great resource and learning center for the aesthetic display of regionally appropriate plants. The Demonstration Gardens show residents how to protect our natural resources and make their yards attractive while saving water in the desert environment.

The tour bus will continue on to the Las Vegas Wash and Wetlands. Hear how the "oasis in the desert" filters the water received from the urban landscape. The conservation district is a member of the LV Wash Coordination Committee that identified the key initial steps to guide the stabilization of the Wash channel and create wetlands. A 6-mile section of the Wash is being transformed into one of the most unique wetlands parks in the country.

Along the way the participants will learn about other projects coordinated by the district and their partners. These projects include Moapa Demonstration Gardens and the straw bale classroom, the successful Christmas Tree Recycling and Mulch project, "Through the Eyes of Children" Calendar project and much more.


Monday, January 30

NACD District Share Fair
The NACD District Share Fair will allow districts to showcase their activities and accomplishments as well as network with other attendees. Examples of topics: District board election ideas, conservation education programs, community involvement with district, new programs developed for urban audiences, successful field days, new ways to bring money into district, grant ideas and success, communication with decision makers and or legislators, website ideas, media outreach, school programs, outdoor classrooms etc.

2012 NACD Live Auction
The tradition of the Live NACD Legislative Auction will be one of the most exciting events at NACD's 2012 Annual Meeting. This year's event begins with a reception at 6:00 pm, followed by the live auction from 7:00-9:00 p.m. You won't want to miss the fun, excitement, atmosphere, and the wide variety of items.


Tuesday, January 31

Valley of Fire State Park Tour and sight-seeing by Lake Mead
Event Host: NACD Auxiliary
Date: Tuesday, January 31, 2012, 11:30am-5:00 p.m.
Cost: $60.00 (lunch included)
Registration: See the NACD meeting registration form to register

The Valley of Fire State Park contains many unique archeological sights that began forming some 150 million years ago. Once an ancient hunting ground to the Anasazi Indians, the Valley of Fire is an unforgettable stop yielding an abundance of well-preserved Indian petroglyphs and incredible display of botanical desert fauna. We will make a stop at the welcome center and have a tasty lunch. Participants can then drive thru the park with our tour guide or you may go exploring for those who want short hikes, photo opportunities or just time to enjoy the beautiful scenery and serine vistas. On the drive back to Las Vegas, we will drive along the shore of Lake Mead and our guide will share the history and interesting facts about the Las Vegas area. Wear appropriate walking shoes and comfortable clothes; you may need a light jacket. Click here for additional information on the park.