The 40th Annual Convention

just got even better!

Visit the convenient FCF online registration form 

Here’s all the latest news on our all-star

line-up of felines and fun-filled events.

Now including a newly added bonus trip on Friday to

Dade City's Wild Things!

This year we are gathering at the Sheraton Safari Hotel in Orlando, Florida

Thursday, June 9 through Saturday, June 11

Wednesday, June 8 at the Sheraton Safari Hotel

8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Wild/Exotic Feline Husbandry Course

Some of the topics include:

• Natural History of Wild Felines

• Regulatory Agencies and Permits

• Facility Design

• Handling Equipment

• Nutrition

• Contingency Planning

• Veterinary Care

Wildlife Conservation Educators Class

Learn:

• How to select the ‘purrfect’ cat to be your wildlife ambassador

• What are your responsibilities under the law

• Training methods that start from day one

• Basics of conservation education using felines as outreach tools

• Transportation and program set up

• Crowd control and cat control

• Preparing for escapes, bites, emergencies, and contingency planning

• When is it time to retire your ambassador?

Afterward, students of the Wildlife Conservation Educators course are invited to watch a wildlife program put on by course instructor Ron DeArmond, of Pella Wildlife Company. Time and location to be announced

FCF certified instructors present both these classes.

Course fee includes lunch, textbooks and certificate of successful completion.  Sign up for one or the other online today!

Thursday, June 9 at the Sheraton Safari Hotel

9:00 am FCF Board of Director meeting, members welcome

2:00 pm Hospitality Suite opens for convention registration,

Auction item drop off, and silent auction bidding begins

Kittens will be on display

Vendors and booths set up and on display

5:00 pm Enrichment building workshop

Youth Wildcat Camp

6:00 pm Drinks and dinner

7:30 pm Annual FCF membership meeting

Friday, June 10 – two field Trips!

8:30 am Leave hotel by bus and travel to Dade City's Wild Things!

Our hosts, Kathy and Kenny Stearns have closed to 22 acre botanical and wildlife park so that it will be open just for the FCF attendees. Big cat enthusiasts will not be short changed, with black and spotted jaguars, lions, tigers, black panthers, Florida panthers, mountain lions and South America cougars all on site. And there are small cats too, including serval, bobcat and jungle cat. This lovely park features landscaped habitats for the enjoyment of the animals and visitors. Expected babies include fox, snow macaque, skunk, and tiger. In addition to the Cats, the Dade City Wild Things also exhibits plenty of primates, such as white-handed gibbons and brown and ring-tailed lemurs. There are bears, otters, birds and a variety of hoofstock.  After our tour we will enjoy a refreshing lunch.

12:30 pm  Board bus.

2:00 pm Arrive at Joel Slaven’s Professional Animals! We will get a special tour of this top-notch facility, featuring an assortment of trained domestics and wildlife ambassadors. Attendees who are registered in the FCF Feline Handler database will be treated to a live training demonstration. (If you have at least one year’s feline handling experience, you qualify to be a Registered Handler) Everyone can ride airboats and view the abundance of native wildlife and birds on the lake. Joel says bring your rod and reel and fish off the peer! After an afternoon of fun, you’ll be hungry for an outdoor barbeque supper and marvel at the beauty of a Florida summer sunset.

8:00 pm Return to hotel

Saturday at the Sheraton Safari Hotel

9:00 am to 3:00 pm  Our all-star line up of speakers, including special international guest Li Quan, founder of Save China’s Tigers, on this incredible effort to restore the South China tiger to its native habitat: Dr. Jim Sanderson, FCF conservation advisor, with updates on felines around the globe; Michelle Skurski, Zoological Manager of Behavioral Husbandry, on the “Disney” approach to behavior conditioning: Jean Slosberg with incredible video of a re-wilded Margay; and lots more.

The Youth Wildcat Camp will be in session during the speaker line-up

Lunch 12- 1:30 pm  On your own

5:00 pm  Cocktails

6:00 pm  Evening banquet dinner, awards ceremony, entertainment, and live auction!

If you wish to donate to the live auction and cannot make the convention, please contact Lynn Culver to get shipping or delivery information.

FEES:

$200 Convention Registration – this price covers Thursday ice-breaker drinks and food, Friday field trips, lunch, and barbeque dinner, Saturday speakers, cocktails, and banquet dinner.

Convention registration fee increases to $225 after May 17^th!

$35 Thursday only

$125 Friday only

$85 Saturday only 

Children 12-18 $125,

kids under 12 are free with adult.

$95 Educator course registration fee / $130 non-FCF members.

$95 Husbandry course registration fee / $130 non-FCF members.

Visit the FCF online registration form and pay with PayPal, or download and print the Registration form and mail payment to: FCF Treasurer, P.O. Box 31210, Myrtle Beach, SC 29588, or call the treasurer with your credit card at 843283-2826

Call 800-423-3297 to reserve your room at the lavishly exotic Sheraton Safari Hotel, 12205 S. Apopka Vineland Rd, Orlando, Florida. The Feline Conservation Federation room rate of $90.00 is good until May 17. – Hurry and book your room today!