Young RV travelers can experience their own taste of the Wild West during FMCA’s “Wanted In Wyoming” convention.
By David & Loretta Marlowe, F267754
FMCA Youth Program Committee Chairpersons
June 2018
Do you travel with young children or grandchildren? If so, you’ll want to know about the great Youth Program package for FMCA’s convention in Gillette, Wyoming, July 18 through 21. We have scheduled four off-site day trips for children ages 6 to 16, plus an afternoon of surprise entertainment at Cam-Plex Multi-Event Facilities, the event venue.
We have made two major changes from past conventions. First, we have shortened the outings so the children do not have to catch the bus as early and will be back in time for some afternoon events. Second, we will open the outings to parents and legal guardians who would like to see the sites the children are visiting.
Each child who is registered for the Gillette Youth Program will receive a colorful T-shirt, which will make them feel part of the group and help leaders keep track of them at the off-site venues.
Parents will have the option of letting their children return to the RV on their own once the bus is back at the fairgrounds, or having the children wait with a chaperone until they can be picked up.
Rockpile Museum, Wyoming
Our first outing, on Wednesday, July 18, will be to Durham Ranch. More than 3,000 bison roam this 55,000-acre ranch, one of the oldest and largest of its type in the world. The trip also includes a stop at Wright Centennial Museum, where the collections feature stories of
cowboys and other colorful characters.
On Thursday, July 19, the youth will visit the Rockpile Museum. Displays depict energy, railroading, and other important developments in Wyoming’s history. The tour includes a scavenger hunt presented by museum staff.
On Friday, July 20, the youth will travel east of Gillette, where their first stop will be Devils Tower National Monument. Many may recognize this 1,200-foot-high natural wonder as the landing place for aliens in the famous movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind. After the monument tour, the group will move on to Vore Buffalo Jump, an important archaeological site where the Plains Indians lived for many centuries.
Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming
The Gillette Youth Program wraps up on Saturday, July 21, with a trip to Eagle Coal Mine, one of the largest open-pit mines in the world. This tour is rated number 2 out of 13 “must do” adventures in the area.
To preregister and pay for your child or children, call (800) 543-3622 and ask for the Events Department, or complete the form on the opposite page and mail to the address listed. In addition, to help us plan and estimate the number of participants for these tours, please email the following information about your children/grandchildren to us at youthcommittee@fmca.com:
1) the number of children you will be registering in Gillette;
2) the age of each child;
3) a T-shirt size for each child;
4) which outings each child would like to take (see the list above).
Once you arrive at CAM-PLEX Multi-Event Facilities in Gillette, please check your children in at the Youth Program Registration desk in the Information Center as soon as possible. Registration will be open Tuesday, July 18, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Wednesday, July 19, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. If you have not preregistered and paid for the tours through FMCA, payment is due when registering children for the Youth Program and for specific outings (cash or check; no credit cards).
Families with children who are not preregistered (either through FMCA or via email) for the outings are also encouraged to visit the Youth Program Registration desk upon their arrival. However, because trips have a limited number of spaces, we cannot guarantee that children will be able to participate unless they are registered in advance.
Parents, grandparents, and guardians who would like to go on one or more trips as chaperones are asked to contact us at dmarlowe@outlook.com for details about volunteering.
Additional information will be available in the Gillette convention program, on the convention app, and at FMCA.com.
We’re eager to provide a fun and rewarding time for all, and we look forward to seeing you! Whether or not you can come to Gillette, please make your wishes for future Youth Program activities known to us at youthcommittee@fmca.com.
Youth Outings
Wednesday, July 18, 8:00 a.m. to noon*
Durham Ranch + Wright Centennial Museum
Price: Youth – $53; Adults – $60
www.wrightcentennialmuseum.org
Thursday, July 19, 9:00 a.m. to noon*
Rockpile Museum and Scavenger Hunt
Price: Youth – $15; Adults – $18
https://www.ccgov.net/317/Rockpile-Museum
Friday, July 20, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.*
Devils Tower + Vore Buffalo Jump
Price: Youth – $53; Adults – $60
https://www.vorebuffalojump.org
Eagle Coal Mine, Wyoming
Saturday, July 21 , 9:00 a.m. to noon*
Eagle Butte Coal Mine
Price: Youth – $15; Adults – $18
https://www.visitgillettewright.com/coal-mine-tour/
* Return times are approximate. You will be notified if there is any significant change in the children’s return time to the fairgrounds.