What to expect at ΨMCA at Granlibakken Taho
Schedule. There is one posted online. Briefly, day 1 (Monday) is lecture with all of us meeting in the lecture hall together as a group. Day 2 begins back in the lecture hall, and then we break into workgroups and disperse across the campus. Day 3, is workgroups in the AM and the PM is free time. However, in the morning of Day 3 we meet in the lecture hall after Breakfast to discuss PM activities and arrange transportation. Day 4 begins with workgroups and in the afternoon we return to the lecture hall for workgroup status reports. Day 5 is the travel day.
Most evenings.
Plan to attend informal networking sessions during evenings at Big Pine lodge, following dinner. The Big Pine is a large open meeting room at Granlibakken. Volunteers on the Organizing Committee stock the adjoining kitchen with beverages and light snacks for the week. Contributions to the beverage fund are accepted and will be discussed at the conference. Talk casually, or break out a psychotically complicated SEM diagram and get feedback from a blindfolded Rich Jones. Ask an impossible causal question and dare Maria Glymour to answer it. Bring your computer along if the coding spirit moves you. Nothing is out of place here.
Impromptu information sessions.
Conferees include senior researchers with a lot of solid wisdom, intermixed with trainees and junior investigators. On Monday night, we usually host an informal career session geared towards junior investigators and trainees. We can provide advice on grants, career development, etc.
Karaoke.
On Thursday night, we traditionally sing karaoke at the Big Pine lodge.
Workgroups. The heart of the meeting lies in small workgroups. Everybody is a teacher and everybody is a learner. There’s a first day of didactic lectures on Monday to get everyone on the same page in terms of datasets and methods to be used, but for the remainder of the week we will break into small groups that focus on a research question or cool methods.
Dress code. Casual. Shorts and t-shirt are fine. Slacks and dress shirts are not unusual. Dress comfortably for the weather. Most sleeping and meeting rooms do not have air conditioning. Most sleeping rooms require an outdoor walk to eating and meeting places, so be aware in case it rains.
Weather. Beware that we are at a high elevation (Granlibakken Tahoe’s base elevation is 6,350 feet). That means there may be cold mornings/evenings but warm days. The air is much drier than most other parts of the country in August. Think about wearing layers. Look at the forecast before you leave. Drink plenty of fluids and prepare to be winded if you’re from sea level.
Wednesday afternoon free day. On Wednesday afternoons, we plan for a free afternoon following lunch for extracurricular activities. There are lots of things you could do, preferably in groups. It is required that you step away from your computer, but you are still welcome to talk about science and maybe even draft a manuscript or grant aims while on a hike or kayak.
Be aware:
- Some of these activities cost money; hiking is always free as long as you bring decent footwear
- It is never too early to start making your plans and reservations for the Wednesday afternoon activity.
- If you need a ride to your activity, we will coordinate this as a group Wednesday morning.
Activities
- Hiking. There are many options, depending on length and desired difficulty.
- Hiking around Emerald Bay, could go to Eagle Lake
- Hiking in Bliss State Park
- Local hiking around Granlibakken
- Canoe, kayak, or paddleboarding
- at Emerald Bay
- at Commons Beach. Here, you can row to a bar on the water, grab a drink, and row back.
- Don’t forget your flip flops or water shoes.
- Horseback riding. Not sure anybody’s actually done this.
- Biking through town. There are bike rentals.
- Mountain biking. There are rentals for that. Some mountain biking routes are difficult. Be sure to check in with others who have done this.
- Zipline behind big pine. Pairs well with a hike. Reserve in advance.
- Gondola/airtrain 5 miles away in Paradise City. There is a foosball at the top of the Gondola ride.
- Lazy river rafting. Don’t forget your flip flops or water shoes.
- Boat ride on Lake Tahoe – lots of options for sale – some go to Emerald Bay, some are sunset cruises, some are on a large boat like Tahoe Gal, you can also charter.
Food. The food at Granlibakken has been reviewed well by our past attendees. The staff are responsive to any dietary needs and allergies. You have told us in a survey about your dietary needs, and this information has been transmitted to the Granlibakken staff – albeit in an anonymized fashion. So, if you need something, please ask the staff! From vegetarians to vegans to pescatarians to assorted allergies, they are expecting your questions. Wear your nametag to meals, it’s your meal ticket.
Families are welcome. This year’s conference will include half a dozen families with young children.
Evaluations. We take evaluations seriously. After each speaker during Monday’s lectures, you will be emailed a link to complete a survey. It takes 30 seconds, please do it. Following the conference is a longer post-conference survey in which we ask questions about the venue (food, lodging, facilities, etc.), our program (content, format, presenters, length, leadership in workgroups, etc.), and for your feedback. Please fill this out.
Code of conduct. We have one that everyone should read and take seriously. It is here.
COVID and Respiratory Illness precautions. While we have all made a choice to attend this meeting for our education and professional benefit, COVID remains a concern particularly for those who live with immunocompromised people and those with infants. Different people have differing risk preferences. While risk of infection at the conference cannot be eliminated, we have attempted to identify common sense measures for 2025 that reduce risk and promote a safe and healthy environment for attendees, facility staff, and people we come in contact with after the conference. The COVID policy for 2025 is below and is posted online: COVID Respiratory Illness Policy 2025
COVID testing.
Testing prior to travel is encouraged; do not travel if you test positive before departure. For onsite testing, rapid antigen tests are available for purchase from Granlibakken. While we do not recommend a particular schedule for testing, if you feeling symptomatic please test. Report positive results to the meeting organizer.
Masking and Social Distancing.
If you are coughing or sneezing, please consider wearing a mask. Masks are recommended for all indoors activities including lectures, workgroup meetings, and indoor social activities. You can remove your mask during indoor meals and can unmask while eating or drinking during social activities. We encourage outdoor activities as feasible. Please bring your own mask, preferably N95s or KN95s but minimally medical grade surgical masks. Please provide appropriate masks for your children guests.
Travel to and from the conference.
This is a potential source of infection for you, other conference participants, facility staff, and family and close contacts when you return home. We recommend that you protect yourself and others by wearing a high-quality mask throughout travel and social distancing as much as possible.