Explorers and leaders will enjoy visiting sites such as:

• The Capitol
• The White House
• Arlington Cemetary
• The Washington Monument
• The Lincoln Memorial
• The Vietnam Memorial
• The Supreme Court Building
• The Smithsonian Museum

Other Activities include:

• Shows
• Dances
• Entertainment
• Seminars
• Games

Explorers will also have the opportunity to experience the political side of our Nation's Capitol as they participate in a political convention that will result in the election of their National Explorer President and cabinet.

Competitions will agin be an important aspect of the conference experience as Explorers compete in team events from categories:

• Aviation
• Fire & Rescue
• Health Careers
• Engineering
• Sports
• Outdoor
• National Mock Trial

Explorers will also be able to compete in an individual category and win trophies and cash prizes totaling $20,000.00.

The Conference fee of $325.00 includes double occupancy housing in dorms at the University of Maryland, Meals, Insurance & Program. Individual Explorer Posts may attend or if enough individual Explorers are interested, a Simon Kenton Council contingent may be formed.

More information and registration materials will be available soon, and will be announced in subsequent articles.

If you have any additianl questions, please contact the Explroing Division at 436-7200.

DATES: The 1998 National Explorer Leadership Conference (NELC) will be held Tuesday, July 14, through Saturday, July 18, 1998. Posts and council contingents will register on Tuesday with dinner that evening being the first meal.

LOCATION: The NELC will return to its birthplace, Washington, DC The National capital setting will offer many leadership development opportunites as well as terrific sightseeing and educaitonal opportunites. The headquarters for the NELC will be the beautiful historic campus of the University of Maryland. This colonial looking campus is conveniently located in Colleage Park, Maryland, just a fiew miles from the capitol district. It is also conveniently located in close proximity to three major airports, Amtrak, and interstate highways. The University of Maryland offers excellent, wellplaced facilites for housing, meals, competitions, and recreation.

FEE: The fee is $325.00 per participant, pluss transperation. The fee includes four nights and five days double occupancy in dorm rooms, great all-you-can-eat meals, dances, shows insurance, entertainment, awards, and Metro Tickets. Every minute will be filled with opportunites for great fun, exploring our nation's headquarters, and meeting new friens.

Staff Opportunites: More than 150 adult and Explorer staff will be needed to support the conference. Staff will arrive at least one day earlier than participants. Staff fee is $275.00, plus tranpertation. Staff applicatons are available trhough local councils.

COMOETITIONS: There is a wide variety of team competitions so that all Posts, regarless of speciality may compete in any event with confidnece of winning. The average team size is two to three Explorers. Cash awards and trophies will be given for each event. In addition to team competitions, there will be several individual competitions. Explorers may compete in both team and individual events. Detailed competitive event informaiton is available from councils.

SCHEDULE: The conference opens Tuesday with registration, opening day activities and great exhibits followed that evening by an opening show and dance. Wednesday we will all head to the Capitol and Mall Area for National Exploring Leadership Day. Thursday will have competitions during the day, our ever-popular Wacky Olympics after dinner, and an evening extravaganza climaz. This will include many on-campus activities such as rapelling and Discover Scuba and tours to government and histroical areas. Friday night is the grand finale with the awards ceremoney followed by a farewell dance. AND this is only a smapling of the activites to be offered.