We are thrilled to host our first meeting in Montana amidst the one and only Glacier National Park!

Glacier in Autumn is a wonder to behold.

The Location

Glacier National Park stands out as a gem, even amongst all of our treasured Parks. It is as untamed and rugged as it is gorgeous. The wildlife is abundant, the trees are large, and the water is pristine. This is Big Sky country, and the overhanging firmament is as vast and majestic as the landscape itself. This is heaven for hikers, photographers, paddlers, lovers of beauty, cyclists, dreamers, flyfisherfolk and adventurous veterinarians of all sorts.

Our conference hotel is a gem in its own right. This historic lodge was built by hand in 1939 and has been lovingly restored and designed for lovers of the outdoors. Featured in photos below, the main lodge sits on a Montana-sized parcel of land and is surrounded by woods with over 30 kilometers of hiking trail on the property right out the back door. There is a full restaurant and cafe and speakeasy-like pub on site. Outdoor fire pits and hot tubs help extend your outdoor time into the evening. I am also very happy to report that dogs are allowed at no extra charge, and the trails surrounding the hotel are not in the National Park proper, so they are dog friendly. There are even cabins and renovated caboose cars on the property that have been built out as modern lodging - ideal for families or groups of friends or those of you whose interest is piqued by the thought of having your own caboose in the woods. (see photos). All of this allows for a remote and quiet experience in the small town of Essex, Montana. At the same time, we will be only an equidistant 27 mile drive from each of the 2 major entrances to Glacier National Park, making it a perfect launching point. We will have three hours of education each day to allow you ample time for all sorts of adventure. Our morning lectures on Friday and Sunday will include a hot breakfast catered by the lodge kitchen, so that you can be ready to get out and go in the late morning when we finish. Likewise, our Friday evening lecture will include a catered dinner so that you can enjoy the entirety of your day.

We have reserved a block of discounted rooms in the lodge for our attendees at $179/night - as well as a number of the standalone cabins and cabooses you see pictured below. Following your registration we will share a link for these discounted rooms that includes a detailed description and photos inside each.

Our lodge in Essex, MT is just a 1h drive from Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell, MT. This little airport has direct flights from 17(!) US airports. See photo with map of direct flight cities above. The next closest airport is in Missoula, which is about a three hour drive.

If you are romantics like us, you have always dreamt of taking a beautiful trip by train in a sleeper car. Well, it turns out that tiny little Essex, Montana is a stop on the Amtrak Empire Builder. This famously scenic train travels from Chicago through Minneapolis and then through the American West to Glacier, stopping along the way in Essex - just a five minute walk to our lodge! It travels on to Spokane and Seattle and Portland so it is easily accessible as an overnighter from these cities too.

Your Vacation

Our lecture schedule is designed to give you plenty of time each day to unwind and enjoy your vacation in Glacier and the surrounding area.  We believe that the relaxed mind is a more focused mind, and that the more focused mind is more apt to learn and retain. With this in mind, the conference will begin at 3pm on Thursday September 24th and the final hour of CE will be done by noon on Sunday the 27th. In order to maximize your free time during the meeting, two additional hours of live interactive CE will be given live online prior to the conference. These will be recorded such that if you cannot make the live online CE, you will be able to view a recording and earn CE credit.

Early fall is our favorite time of year here. There are less people in the park, temperatures are generally mild and the fall foliage is bursting with color. There are over 700 miles of trail in Glacier National Park. The miles of trail directly from our lodge make it an especially comfortable location for families, people bringing dogs, and those wanting a day of beauty and adventure on site. You will have time to explore Glacier National Park each day if you like and the lodge location allows for visiting different sections of the park via the two entrance points.

The Education

14 hours of world-class approved CE will be available in Small Animal Dermatology and Dentistry. Our esteemed speakers are Dr. Ashley Bourgeois Diplomate ACVD and Dr. Kevin Stepaniuk Diplomate AVDC, FAVD. They have each spoken at our meetings before and have been among the most requested speakers for us to bring back. Each are not only outstanding teachers, but also active clinicians in practice. They use this experience to deliver practical talks that you can put into use when you return home. You can learn more about our speakers here.

Etc

This is a wonderful place to meet up with a colleague or friend from vet school, bring your family, or just come on your own to get away. Our job is to leave you smarter and more relaxed than we found you. We're pretty good at our job.

Registration includes 14 hours of approved CE, 3 square meals, course notes and the best time you will ever have at work.