Attendee hub
Where wild cat conservation comes together.
Everything you need for arrival, the agenda, the people and our South Florida field trips—all in one place.
Conference 2026Fort Lauderdale
Connecting landscapes,protecting wild cats.
The week at a glance
Proposed Conference Schedule
Tuesday is reserved for our two Everglades tours and beach celebration.
Buy enough on August 6 for dinners through August 9, then restock on August 10.
Covered by the conference
Meals and Sprouts Farmers Market shopping
The conference will pay for transportation to Sprouts Farmers Market, dinner groceries purchased during the scheduled trips, the Friday–Monday lunches, and the beach celebration dinner. Tuesday’s lunch on the road uses your remaining conference-paid groceries. A free breakfast is provided by the hotel from August 7–12.
Thursday · August 6
Arrival dayArrivals & hotel check-in
Airport shuttles arranged where possible; Uber is available as backup.
Conference room welcome
Coffee and tea provided. Snacks are welcome.
Conference-paid Sprouts Farmers Market shopping trip
The conference will provide transportation and pay for groceries. Please buy enough dinner food to keep in your room refrigerator for August 6–9.
Dinner in the meeting room, or in your rooms
Enjoy the evening meals you purchased during Sprouts Farmers Market trips.
Ideas worth carrying forward
Speaker Notes
These notes were recorded using SecondBrain Note and may contain errors, due to poor sound quality at the point of capture, difficulty of translation and names and species being reported phonetically.
For attendees only
Open the presentation notes
Use the shared conference password provided by the organizers.
Arrive with confidence
From runway to hotel
Airport shuttles will be coordinated where possible. Use Uber or Lyft as a backup and always confirm your driver, vehicle and license plate before entering.
Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood
The closest airport
- Collect your bags and go to the lower level (Arrivals).
- Open Uber or Lyft only after you are ready to leave.
- Follow posted Ride Sharing signs: Terminal 1 uses Zone Z beyond the taxi podium; Terminal 2 uses GTA-2; Terminals 3 and 4 use Zones A–D on the first floor of the south Palm Garage.
- Enter 999 W Cypress Creek Rd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 as your destination.
While you wait
- Take a miniature art tour. FLL has more than 60 public artworks, including paintings, photographs, sculptures and colorful terrazzo floors throughout its terminals.
- Sample something local or browse the shops. Each terminal has its own mix of restaurants, coffee stops and stores.
- Recharge and reconnect. Use the airport’s free Wi-Fi and charging stations to check the conference site, message home or catch up on reading.
Miami International
Allow extra travel time
- Collect your bags and remain on Arrivals Level 1.
- Exit baggage claim and look for Taxi & Ride App signs.
- Ride-app pickup is in the middle median outside doors 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 15, 20 and 23.
- Enter 999 W Cypress Creek Rd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 and check the estimated travel time before confirming.
While you wait
- Explore MIA Galleries. Art exhibitions and installations are displayed throughout the airport; the free digital art guide helps you find pieces near your concourse.
- Enjoy a taste of Miami. Look for Cuban coffee, a meal or a little shopping without leaving the terminal.
- Stretch and reset. If you are near Concourse H, MIA’s Yoga Room is on Level 1 near Door 21 and is open daily from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
If you are waiting for a departing flight, stay within your current terminal or concourse unless you have plenty of time to return through security.
Before you fly
Install Uber or Lyft, add a payment method and enable mobile roaming or airport Wi-Fi.
After immigration
International arrivals should collect checked luggage and clear U.S. Customs before requesting a ride.
South Florida in August
Expect heat, high humidity and sudden rain. Bring light clothing, comfortable shoes and a refillable water bottle. The conference will supply rain ponchos, bug spray and sunscreen.
Travel reimbursement reminder
Flight and Transport Receipts
Please email your arrival and departure days, times and airport to Carole. Upload your receipts for air and ground transportation to the Shared Google Drive folder she created on 7/24/26.
Conference home base
La Quinta by Wyndham
Fort Lauderdale – Cypress Creek
999 W Cypress Creek Rd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309In every guest room
- Coffee service
- Small fridge
- Microwave
- Electric kettle
Accommodation has been arranged for invited international participants for the conference period. Check your personal travel confirmation for your exact dates.
Across borders, one purpose
Meet the speakers
Conservationists, researchers and storytellers sharing practical work for wild cats and the landscapes they protect.
Tuesday · August 11
Stalk Florida panthers day
We will leave the hotel promptly at 7:00 AM for our 9:00 AM tram reservation, then experience the elevated boardwalk and a celebration dinner on the beach.
Everglades highlight 01
Leave hotel 7:00 AM · Tram reservation 9:00 AM
Shark Valley Tram Tour
A guided two-hour ride aboard an open-air tram, following a 15-mile loop deep into the “River of Grass.” The route offers wildlife-viewing opportunities and a stop at the Shark Valley observation tower.
- Tram tour: 2 hours
- Bobcat Boardwalk: ½ mile
- Otter Cave Hammock Trail: 1-mile loop
- On site: Gift shop
Time permitting, we can enjoy both short walks while we are at the Tram Tour location.
36000 SW 8th St · Miami, FL 33194Everglades highlight 02
Everglades Elevated Boardwalk
An accessible elevated walkway and observation tower that bring us above the wetlands, with sweeping views, native plantings and educational displays about the Everglades.
35000 Everglades Pkwy · Weston, FL 33327Required for park entry
Bring a form of ID
Before the Tram Tour, we will check in at the Everglades National Park entrance station. Everyone must have ID; without it, you cannot enter.
For both outdoor activities
What to bring
Bring a hat, refillable water bottle, walking shoes and your camera for both field trips. The conference will supply bug spray, sunscreen and rain ponchos for everyone to carry and use.
Expected August conditions
About 77–91°F · 25–33°C
This is a climate-based estimate, not a day-specific forecast. Expect heat and humidity; check the forecast again closer to August 11.
NWS South Florida climate dataTraveling together
We will leave the hotel promptly at 7:00 AM. We are renting an 18-passenger van and will take a few additional cars so everyone has room to be comfortable throughout the day.
Keep this handy
Conference hotel
Contact the hotel directly for questions about the property, directions or your stay.