Who can come to parrents weekend?

Knittle

Knittle

5-Year Member
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Oct 21, 2011
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Can only parents and family members come to parents weekend, or can family friends also attend?
 
I think just about anybody you want. There are lots of girlfriends and boyfriends as well as grandparents, friends, aunts and uncles, and little brothers and sisters.

C4Cs are required to eat lunch at Mitch's on Friday and you are only issued a set number of tickets so if you bring extra folks you will need to get some extra tickets from a squadmate.
 
One year my DS's high school friend was in town because her brother was playing soccer against USAFA. So she came to watch the game and did all the Parent's Weekend activities with us-- she even came to classes. Parents Weekend is very welcoming -- so bring whomever you think can handle the altitude and the activities.
 
Parents Weekend a good idea for Grandparents?

Strictly in terms of the physical limitations, the altitude, the pace of events, places to sit when needed, etc.. Is Parents Weekend grandparent friendly?
 
Of course, it depends on the grandparent. There is lots of walking as the buildings are far apart. They need to be in good shape. All the flat landers will definitely feel the altitude but this will make it more challenging for grandparents. We took grandmother but she was nurse from Montana and they are tough.
 
I know this was not the original question, which has been answered, but as a parent I'd like to say that it is very important that we get to spend quality time with our cadet during PW that first year. We probably had a pretty rough transition away from the hoopla of graduation to the trauma of I-Day and experiencing BCT only through small glimpses in Webguy and we need that alone time. Frankly I didn't want to have to take care of anyone, including my own parents, during PW. I just wanted time with my daughter. Call me selfish...but that's the truth. Today it may be a nice idea to meet up with extended family, include gfs and bfs (that's another issue altogether) or meet up with far-flung friends who might live close by. But in a few months after the summer has seemed like an eternity, it might not. Just food for thought.
 
And no matter how old or young the visitors are, encourage them to drink alot of water. We were attending my DS physics class his first year at the academy. One of the fathers of another cadet proceeded to collapse and have a seizure in the middle of the lesson because he had just arrived in Colorado from sea level and had forgot to drink. They had to call the paramedics and iv him fluids. He was fine when we saw him the next day at the football game, but quite embarrassed. And when you are a 4 degree parent, the last thing you want to do is bring attention to your cadet.
 
MedB said:
Strictly in terms of the physical limitations, the altitude, the pace of events, places to sit when needed, etc.. Is Parents Weekend grandparent friendly?
Click to expand...

I have mobility issues. At PW USAFA has carts to shuttle you around the cadet area (Sijan to Fairchild, Mitchell Hall to base of ramp, McDerrmott Library to Arnold Hall, etc). They are very much available to both the elderly and infirm.

We brought the grandparents with us last year. There was plenty of room in the classes (the cadets made room) and at the parade field. We rented a big house in the Springs and stayed together on the weekend. Good times.
 
I had a bad back injury which I sustained the day after we got to the graduation last May. USAFA let me first on the shuttle buses (and I sat in front), helped me up and down stairs if needed, etc. I don't remember if they had available wheelchairs but there were grandparents of all kinds there for that occasion and certainly, for PW, there are all kinds of people there.

I believe the cadets need certain information for those coming onto the base (or maybe that was because the Pres was speaking at the graduation last year?). But make sure you get the parking pass from your C4C and remember to leave A TON of time for shopping in the gift store. Those lines can be L.O.N.G. (and join the AOG before you go so you get the 20% discount).

We found that a trip to the supermarket just after arrival in COS made life very tolerable; we could go to restaurants off peak, and it left us free to do other things besides stand in line. There is a older tiny Walmart on the east side of town which even on PW has very few USAFA people in it. Not like those that line I25.

Best advice for ppl coming from climes where the sun shining is an event, not the standard: BRING SUNSCREEN AND USE IT.
 
We are taking a grandmother and I have already rented a motorized scooter. We did this in the past and it worked out justgreat! ( In fact, the grandfather we rented one for promptly returned home and bought one.) He had no problem getting around the T'zo or into classrooms.The scooter rider was the "flatlander" who fared the best during the weekend. We did it again for Graduation.
The scooter company will deliver and pick up the scooter to your hotel at no cost. The rental amount is $120.00 for the week.

Blue Skies
 
Thanks for all the information. This may seem like an odd question, but what about citizens of other countries (specifically Taiwan)?
 
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