The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is bringing its annual convention, affectionately called “Elk Camp,” back to the Reno-Sparks Convention Center March 3-6, 2011.

This year marks the 27^th annual RMEF Elk Camp & Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Expo, an event held 12 times in Reno, with the remainder scattered among 7 different cities.

“We count on our annual convention to rally and energize our members and supporters, and to charge our cumulative battery for another year of wildlife habitat conservation projects across elk country,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO.

In 2010, RMEF reached the 5.9 million acre mark for habitat conserved and enhanced nationwide, and helped launched elk restoration initiatives in Missouri and Virginia.
As always, Elk Camp 2011 will feature the RMEF/Leupold World Elk Calling Championships. Preliminary rounds begin March 4 at 9:00 a.m. Championship rounds begin March 5 at 9:00 a.m.

Elk Camp also includes Cabela’s-sponsored seminars led by authorities on bowhunting and other hunting skills, horse packing, marksmanship, wild game cooking, game calling strategies and more. Also included are displays of record elk, attractions and activities for the whole family, plus a 400-booth expo hall filled with outfitted hunting and fishing opportunities, art, gear, firearms and everything elk. For agendas and details, visit www.rmef.org.

Daily admission is $12 per person or $25 per family, and free for kids 5 and under. Show hours: Thurs., March 3, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Fri., March 4, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Sat., March 5, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; and Sun., March 6, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Registered attendees can also enjoy banquets, auctions, entertainment, awards and more.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation: Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.8 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

- Steve Wagner

The Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA) is pleased to welcome the 2010 Wild Sheep Foundation’s Annual Sheep Show to Reno Tahoe USA.

“The Wild Sheep Foundation has strong roots in our destination and we are thrilled to officially open this year’s exhibition and show,” said RSCVA President and CEO Ellen Oppenheim. “We look forward to kicking off this long-term partnership and fulfilling it to mutual benefit for many years to come.”

The Wild Sheep Foundation recently signed an agreement to bring its convention and international sporting expo, “Sheep Show,” to Reno for six years: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

“We are looking forward to a great week in Reno Tahoe,” said Gray N. Thornton, Wild Sheep Foundation president and CEO. “This year we are expecting increased attendance from last year. We welcome Reno, Sparks and Lake Tahoe enthusiasts to visit this years show. The event is open to the public and the cost to attend is $15.”

The Wild Sheep Foundation estimates its event will generate 5,000 hotel room nights annually. The organization also estimates that more than 5,000 participants will attend the show. The hotel partners for the January 30 – February 8, 2010 convention are the Silver Legacy Resort Casino and the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa. The 2010 event marks the 15th time the group has visited Reno. It is the first time the group will utilize the Reno-Sparks Convention Center because the group has grown in size.

“We selected Reno Tahoe because the destination is focused on hospitality and understands the conservation market,” said Thornton. “The combined support of the RSCVA and the many fine hotel properties makes Reno the ideal place for the Wild Sheep Foundation Convention and International Sporting Expo. We are very pleased to come home to Reno.”

Hours of the show are:
Thurs. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Fri. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sat. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

The Show is open to the public. Membership in the Wild Sheep Foundation is not required.
Day Pass $15 per person
Membership special is $45

The 38th annual Safari Club International Hunters’ Convention (SCI) has arrived at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center (RSCC). This is the eighth consecutive year SCI has held its annual convention in Reno Tahoe and the 19th year overall. Additionally, SCI recently announced that they have selected Reno Tahoe to host the 2013 and 2015 shows, extending SCI’s presence in the destination for an additional two years. SCI was previously committed to bring the 2011 Annual Convention to Reno Tahoe.

SCI estimates the 2010 event will generate 21,000 room nights and drawing 23,000 people to Reno Tahoe, up from 20,500 in 2009. More than 50 different countries are represented. The RSCVA estimates the 2010 convention to have a local economic impact of $20 million.

The show features more than 2,000 booths with 1,100 vendors. Additionally, the convention features exhibits, seminars and auctions spread throughout 560,000 square feet of convention space.

SCI first held its convention in Reno at what was then known as Bally’s hotel in 1989 with 2,500 attendees. In 1999, the convention moved to the Reno-Sparks Convention Center and attendance increased to 15,500.

According to TradeShow Week Magazine, in 2008 SCI was the 101st largest show in the United States by net square feet.

Reno-Tahoe announced this week it will bring a unique event to Reno in 2011 when the American International Choral Festival comes to the Sierra. In conjunction with the event, a partnership has been created with a regional arts festival. The Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority is also providing marketing support (including the press event pictured here) to help make the festival a success.

More information:

This event is part of a worldwide series of choral events produced by INTERKULTUR and marks the second time the event will take place in the United States.
Based on participation at other events, INTERKULTUR anticipates the event will draw approximately 3,000 singers to the destination with half of the choirs competing representing Asia, Europe and other regions of the world.

The RSCVA estimates the festival will generate approximately 6,000 room nights.

“We are extremely pleased to have been selected as the host city for the American International Choral Festival – Reno Tahoe 2011,” said RSCVA President and CEO Ellen Oppenheim. “The event will provide Reno exposure in international markets while giving local residents another great cultural event.”

In addition to choral competitions, the event is designed to expose international visitors to the destination and its world-class amenities.  Competitions will take place at the University of Nevada, Reno campus while public concerts for local residents and visitors will take place in the downtown corridor.

The RSCVA is collaborating with Artown to host the Festival due to the rich arts and culture nature of the event. Artown’s mission is to strengthen Reno’s arts industry, foster its civic identity and enhance its national image, thereby creating a climate for the cultural and economic rebirth of the region.