Frequently Asked Questions

"Now that I have been nominated and confirmed to attend a Leadership class at NCTC:"

When will I receive lodging information about the class?

Approximately 2 months before the class, you will receive an email from the Leadership Program with logistical information, an agenda, and a participants list. Once you have received the information, please follow the directions for confirming your room or making any necessary changes.

Will I be receiving any materials in the mail before the class begins?

If you are attending the Leadership 101 class, you will be receiving the following information by surface mail:

• Book entitled, "Getting to Yes—Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In" by Roger Fisher and William Ury (will prepare you for the Interest-Based Negotiation workshop).
  
• 2-articles entitled, "Is There an Off Ramp To All This Change?" and "Mastering Change: Why Organizational Change Fails" (will prepare you for the Leadership and Change workshop).
  
• Participants Roster
  
• Map to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife's National Conservation Training Center (NCTC).

What is the lodging and meal cost for NCTC?

To see the current rate for lodging at NCTC, Shepherdstown, WV, please click on the following link:

http://training.fws.gov/meet/reserve.htm

How do I contact NCTC?

The Hotel Reservation Office can be reached at 304-876-7900 (voice); 304-876-7910 (fax); 304-876-7201 (TTY).

How could someone reach me while I am attending the course?

If someone needs to reach you, they can call 304-876-1600. An NCTC employee will answer and either transfer the caller to your room (if you have reservations there) to leave a message on voice mail, or a message can be taken and put on a message board outside your classroom.

Are meals provided at NCTC?

All NCTC course participants who stay onsite must participate in the NCTC meal plan. The meal plan provides full service breakfast, lunch and dinner. The meal plan begins with dinner on the scheduled arrival date and ends with lunch on your scheduled departure date. All guests are expected for dinner on the scheduled night of arrival. Dinner is served from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. except Sundays, when dinner is available until 9:00 p.m. Dinner will be held for all guests arriving on the 7:00 p.m. shuttle and is served in the Commons Lounge.

If you want to receive a box dinner and will be arriving after 9:00 p.m., you must call the Hotel Reservation Office at 304-876-7900. If, after reserving a box dinner, you find you will not need it, you must cancel the order or you will be charged for the meal.

If lodging was obtained offsite from NCTC, you have the option of:

• Purchasing a daily meal ticket at the NCTC gift shop (located on the lower level of the Commons Area) for approximately $36.00 per day which would entitle you to (all you can eat) breakfast, lunch and dinner at NCTC.
  
• Purchase individual (all you can eat) meal tickets daily for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
  
• Pay as you go . . . ala carte breakfast, lunch and dinner at NCTC.

When should I arrive and depart from NCTC if I'm flying?

The course begins promptly at 8:00 a.m. on Monday morning. If flying in, you will probably want to arrive on the Sunday before the class starts.

For departure, please do not arrange for a flight home earlier than 4:30 p.m. on Friday.

When making flight arrangements, please allow a minimum of one hour after and two hours prior to your flight to provide adequate time to check-in/check-out at the airport, handle baggage, etc. Travel time between Dulles Airport and the NCTC is approximately two hours.

How can I get from Dulles airport to NCTC?

Some options are renting a car at the airport, or reserving a place on the NCTC shuttle, or carpooling with other attendees.

How can I use the shuttle from Dulles Airport to NCTC?

You must make a reservation through the NCTC Hotel Reservations Office at 304-876-7900. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The one-time fee of $70.00 is good for one way or round trip service and is payable at the NCTC front desk upon checkout. (More shuttle information, including the schedule, is listed on this website under "Attendee/Student Information - Shuttle From Dulles Airport").

What if I need to cancel my shuttle reservations?

Course participants must cancel their shuttle reservations no later than 48 hours prior to a course. If you decide not to take the shuttle, please call 304-876-7900 to cancel your reservation. If a reservation is not canceled prior to this deadline, the credit card used by the guest to confirm their reservation will be debited for the full amount of the shuttle cost.

How much does the course cost?

There is no tuition or training fee associated with this course. Each participant's cost center will be responsible for covering the full cost of travel and per diem.

Now that I have been nominated and chosen for this class, how do I sign up for it in the Training Management System?

All USGS employees who attend training courses must sign up for them through the DOI Learn to get credit for their attendance. More detailed information and access to DOI Learn can be found on the DOI Learn site: http://training.usgs.gov/doiLearn/index.html.

What is the attire for this course?

General attire for NCTC training courses is casual dress. We ask that you please use good judgment. The NCTC is a walking campus, so sturdy, comfortable shoes are strongly recommended. Bring an umbrella or rain gear for inclement weather.

Are there any recreational activities at NCTC?

There are walking trails and a physical training center on-site. Suitable clothing should be brought if you wish to participate in recreational activities.