The New York Geographic Alliance would like to welcome all educators, museum docents, geographers, and canal enthusiasts to the first Erie Canal Geographic Conference, which will be held at the Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum right on the Old Erie Canal on Friday April 27, 2012.

The purpose of this conference is to bring people together who are interested in teaching about the Erie Canal and other related topics, whether in a public school classroom, or for a school group at a museum. We also welcome those businesses (tour boats, government officials, education book stores, etc.) that promote our canal to this conference. During these tough economic times, we need to support each. Since the geography of New York is so central to understanding the importance of the Erie Canal, the NYGA is sponsoring this event.

The details of this conference are still being worked out. The Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum will be hosting us for the day, and NYGA will pay the admission costs of all participants. Of course, there will be a tour of the museum complex. If you have never been here, you are in for a treat! All we ask of the participants is that you bring a lesson or some other educational activity along with you to share. It will be included in a new educational packet, which will consist of a booklet of articles about the Erie Canal, a CD of maps, GIS files, and photographs, and lessons.

You can register for this event online by clicking the link on the right side of this page. If you have any questions, please email Tim McDonnell or call him at the New York Geographic Alliance office (Rochester) at (585)-292-2398. We look forward to seeing you this spring!