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CAST Guide:

What You Need To Know Before You Set Sail

Click Here for a general CAST Schedule

If you are a CAST First Timer please also check out our general information document here.

Below you will find important details about badge pickup, tote bag pickup, parking, transportation and more. Please read this carefully to be prepared for the best CAST yet!

• If you received your name badge in the mail make sure to bring it with you! Also, bring the letter that came with your name badge to receive your tote bag.


• It will also help if you print and bring your conference agenda. Just go to the CAST registration site, put in your name and e-mail address and then your confirmation number.


• Please make sure you enter the same name and e-mail you used to register. Once you login you will be able to print your agenda. Your agenda will make it faster for you to get into your registered sessions such as short courses, field trips and socials.


• Please pack comfortable clothes including tennis shoes. This conference spans most of Galveston Island so you will want to be prepared to walk. The attire is casual.


• If you are attending field trips please bring an extra set of clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty.


• Also do not forget to pack sweaters or a light jacket. Even if the weather is warm on the coast the meeting rooms have a habit of being chilly.


• Bring notepads and pens. Also, be prepared to take away items from our 370 vendors. You will receive a tote bag, but some teachers might find that they need extra bags for more goodies.


• Snacks. Both the Moody Gardens Convention Center and the Galveston Island Convention Center will have concession stands open and available and outside food is not allowed inside the building. However, you might want to pack a few light snacks in case you get so caught up in going to workshops you forget to eat!

Getting Around Galveston:

• The conference headquarters, including registration, will be at the Moody Gardens Convention Center. Additional sessions will also take place at the San Luis Resort, Galveston Island Convention Center, Hilton Galveston Island Resort and Holiday Inn on the Beach. Please plan your driving directions according to your hotel’s location.


• Transportation is provided between the host hotels and the conference locations. For a full list of pickup places and times, please click here. If your hotel is not on the list of CAST host hotels you will need to plan to drive to Moody Gardens or Galveston Island Convention Center. From these two locations we will have shuttles available to take you between conference centers.


• Parking: FREE parking is available at the Moody Gardens Convention Center, the Galveston Island Convention Center and along the seawall near GICC, San Luis, Hilton and Holiday Inn.

What To Do When You Arrive:

• Pick Up Your Name Badge - If you didn't register before October 5, you will need to pick up your name badge and conference materials. Name badges are available at the Moody Gardens Convention Center in the Floral Hall room. The tables will be set up to the right. The station will be labeled “Pre-Registration Name Badge Pickup” If you registered before October 5 but did not receive your name badge in the mail please go to the Floral Hall to one of the “Badge Printing” stations to have one printed.
  
  Floral Hall is open: Wednesday 4-9pm, Thurs 7am-7pm, Fri 7am-7pm, Saturday 7am-10am
  
  Note: If you lose your name badge, we would be happy to print you a new one at one of our badge printing stations.


• Pick Up Your Tote Bag – If you received your name badge in the mail ALL you need to do is pick up your tote bag onsite. Please bring the letter you received with your name badge to pick up your tote bag. Tote Bag pickup locations will be open from 4-9 pm on Wednesday, 7am-7pm Thursday, 7am-7pm Friday and Saturday 7am-10am at the Moody Garden Convention Center Breezeway (outside, between the convention center parking lot and the exhibit hall).
  
  For guests of the San Luis, Hilton and Holiday Inn, you may pick up your tote bag in the Grand Ballroom Foyer of the San Luis Resort on Wednesday from 4-9pm only. All other days the tote bags must be picked up at Moody Gardens Convention Center.
  
  You must have your name badge and name badge letter to pick up your tote bag.
  
  Tote bags will be handed out in the Moody Gardens Floral Hall to those who are having name badges reprinted or picking up their pre-printed name badge.
  
  Once you have your tote bag and name badge you are free to go to your sessions! We recommend picking up your materials Wednesday evening so you are free to begin attending the workshops of your choice on Thursday morning.


• Attending Workshops - Workshops are free to all attendees. Due to the logistics of offering so many free workshops, we are unable to allow attendees to reserve spaces. Therefore, workshops attendance is on a first come, first served basis. STAT recommends arriving at least 15 minutes before the session starts to ensure a seat. Room capacities are listed on the program under the workshops, so please keep this in mind when planning how early to arrive for a workshop. There are over 400 workshops occurring over course of the conference so use the printed program wisely to help you get from session to session.


• Adding Sessions - You may add additional paid sessions (short courses, luncheons, field trips and socials) during the conference. However, we recommend making these changes on your own online rather than standing in line on-site. You can do this at home before you leave or we will have computers available at the self-registration tables at Moody Gardens Convention Center in the Floral Hall Prefunction area. You may also go to the Cyber Cafe which is located in Moody Gardens Convention Center in room A4. If you would like assistance, you may go to the assisted on-site registration tables in the Floral Hall room at Moody Gardens Convention Center.
  
  All Field Trips and Luncheons will close online the day before they take place. Morning start time short courses will close for registration the day before they occur. Afternoon start time short courses are available until 11 am the day they occur. The Friday evening social events will close for registration 11 AM Friday morning.


• Field Trip and Social Pick-Up - Transportation for Field Trips and Social events is provided. Buses pick up at the Moody Gardens Convention Center Breezeway (between the convention center parking lot and exhibit hall).
  
  Please arrive 20-30 minutes before the starting time listed on the program for field trips to avoid delays. Each event will have a presider holding up signs for the departing trips. Find your sign and stand with your group. The group presider will lead you to the buses. It will help if you have your conference personal agenda printed to show proof of your registration. The transportation schedule for socials is available here.
  
  Field Trips and Socials will leave on time - do not arrive late for your departure.


• Continuing Education Credit - All sessions at CAST offer TEA approved continuing education credit. In the back of your program, there is a form to fill out which sessions you attended and how many hours they ran. To validate your form, please bring it by one of the CAST information kiosks. One is located at Moody Gardens Convention Center in front of the Exhibit Hall and the other is located upstairs in the Floral Hall Prefunction area.
  
  Certificates will be validated from 1 - 7 pm on Thursday, 7 am – 7 pm on Friday, and 7 am - 5 pm on Saturday.


• Moody Gardens Attractions Passes – If you have purchased a special three day attraction pass you can pick it up at the upstairs CAST Information booth in front of the Floral Hall.
  
  Floral Hall is open: Wednesday 4-9pm, Thurs 7am-7pm, Fri 7am-7pm, Saturday 7am-10am


• Volunteer Check-in – If you have offered to volunteer please check in at the Volunteer Booth on the first floor of the Moody Gardens Convention Center. If you have extra time in your schedule and would like to contribute to CAST please stop in and donate your time to keep CAST moving smoothly.

Thank You Sponsors, for Making CAST 2009 Possible