Parents Day advice

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mnolan

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Our daughter is a 2/C cadet from the US Coast Guard Academy on exchange at the USAFA this fall. We are planning to attend Parents Weekend this year and could use some advice.

We are arriving in Denver Thursday, driving down to COS that evening and will stay overnight at a hotel near the North Gate. We would like to attend (assuming permission is granted) her first hour course that begins at 7:30 am. How busy will the gate be, how much time should I allot to get from the gate to wherever we meet her, and what time do you think we should arrive at the North Gate in order to make the 7:30 class?

Thanks in advance for the advice......if you've never been to USCGA, the entire academic area would easily fit within the Terrazzo, and it takes about 2 minutes to drive from the front gate to the academic areas!
 
I'm from the east coast and have had the privilege of visiting 3 of the 4 academies back east. Nothing compares to the awe of 18,000 acres in the mountains. I believe it's the largest or 2nd largest college campus in the entire country.

Anyway, for your question. You most definitely can attend your daughter's classes. Matter of fact, that's what parent's weekend is all about. You'll spend Friday with her in all of her classes. (Unless you choose to do something else. But SHE has to go to classes). I suggest meeting her at the gate at the cadet area around 7am-7:10am. This will give you all a chance to say hi, hugs, etc... and get off to class. As for the gate, the north gate should actually be a little easier to get in that time of day. Most will be coming in through the south gate. But I would still give yourself at least a 1/2 hour. Once through the gate, it takes about 10 minutes to drive to the cadet area. However, finding a place to park and such will also take a bit of time. So, If you're going to meet your daughter at 7am, I would try and hit the gate by 6:30-6:40. Then again, I am NEVER LATE. That is the one compulsive thing about me. I would rather be 30 minutes early, than 1 minute late. Anyway, plan accordingly. Mike....
 
I think hitting the gate at 6:30 - 6:40 might not give you enough time. By that time, there will be most everyone coming in at the same time and you will likely be parking down by the field house, so you will need to allow time to walk from there or catch one of the buses that will be there giving rides. I know we will likely try to hit the gate no later than 6:15. Like Mike, I would much rather be early than late.

One thing to mention. Like mike said, she has to go to class with or without you. So if you end up late for some reason, she can't simply stand around waiting and you can't go into the cadet area unescorted. Some would say here to have a backup plan to meet somewhere after her first class. I would simply say Don't Be Late. haha

A good meeting place is at the Base of the Core Values Ramp. Lots of cadets/families meet there. It is next to Fairchild hall so easy to go off to class and squadrons will have coffee and snacks if you didn't have time to catch some breakfast.
 
mnolan -
have you looked at the parents weekend link on the usafa homepage? it gives the schedule of events for the day.

http://www.usafa.edu/superintendent/parentsweekend/?catname=Parents' Weekend

if meeting up for 1st period class is too early, you can park at field house, take the bus to the chapel and then meet your daughter there after her class.

you can also see her Thursday night at the chapel, field house or Arnold Hall.
 
Attending classes on PW

My son mentioned that it would be boring if he had a "T" Day on Parent's Weekend because he has only one class on that day. Sure enough..it's a "T" Day.

Is there any way possible to at least meet his teachers for "M"Days? Or do we just shadow our son to the library and whatever he may do on his "T" Day?

Thanks
 
You need to ask your son. He can check with his teachers. They might let him/you sit in on one of their other classes. Or, if the teacher has that period off, might be willing to meet with you all. Have him check on it. We can't tell you what the teacher's schedule is for that day.
 
Also note that the cadets will have a revised class schedule the Friday of Parent's Weekend. They will still have their "T" day classes but the times of the classes will be revised to allow for the cadets to participate in the parade. If I remember correctly, the classes are still in the same order but have shorten class times with the gap for participation in the parade.
 
Parents weekend

bandit said:
I think hitting the gate at 6:30 - 6:40 might not give you enough time. By that time, there will be most everyone coming in at the same time and you will likely be parking down by the field house, so you will need to allow time to walk from there or catch one of the buses that will be there giving rides. I know we will likely try to hit the gate no later than 6:15. Like Mike, I would much rather be early than late.

One thing to mention. Like mike said, she has to go to class with or without you. So if you end up late for some reason, she can't simply stand around waiting and you can't go into the cadet area unescorted. Some would say here to have a backup plan to meet somewhere after her first class. I would simply say Don't Be Late. haha

A good meeting place is at the Base of the Core Values Ramp. Lots of cadets/families meet there. It is next to Fairchild hall so easy to go off to class and squadrons will have coffee and snacks if you didn't have time to catch some breakfast.
Click to expand...

thanks for all the suggestions....we have been to USAFA before, but not with thousands of parents trying to get in at the same time! :smile:

Unfortunately, the class my wife really wants to visit is the one scheduled at 7:30am.....so will plan accordingly and get there early.

Thanks again
 
We were delayed during our sons' 4* year and got there just before their required lunch at Mitchell Hall! Now, we arrive the day before - lesson learned.

Leave PLENTY of time; it's a long long walk to anywhere and especially if you are not used to the higher altitude, the walk(s) might seem even longer.

I don't know if the instructors will have time to meet you, since most of them have many cadets, and it is my experience that sometimes "special" things go on during parents' visits. Certainly, there is NO TIME for a "conference" situation.
 
Get a 24 pack of bottled water and keep it in your car. Take water with you everywhere you go.
 
For the football game, graduation and sometimes for the T-zo (e.g. during ESPN College game day last year) women were not allowed to bring in a large purse or clutch. Nothing larger than 8 X 11 inches.
 
I have a quick question as well. One of our party going out for PW is likely to have a hard time keeping a brisk pace from 'one end of the earth to the other', as my son put it, between his first 2 classes. I'm wondering what arrangements we may be able to make to let them get a break. Is there somewhere they can spend one of the class times unescorted? Also, I've noticed a lot of different activities, events, displays, etc listed during the day. Most say they must be escorted by the cadet but I'm not sure how that's possible if he will be in classes, parade etc all day.

Btw, I don't post much but I greatly appreciate the wealth of info here .. keep it up great AFA gurus .. :thumb:
 
non-cadets (parents, sibling, grandparents, etc...) only must be escorted while in the cadet area. They can be at arnold hall, visitors center, chapel, field house and many other places (outside the cadet area) un escorted.

So for example, a person could leave the cadet area on a bus at the bottom of the core values ramp and go back to arnold hall and wait there if walking is an issue.
 
Class times for Friday of Parent's Weekend

Here is the revised class schedule for the Friday of Parent's Weekend (obtained from the USAFA website):

ATTEND CLASSES WITH CADETS
Friday, 3 September, 7:30 a.m. - 4:55 p.m.
Fairchild Hall

Guests may attend classes with their cadets with prior permission from instructors.

7:30-8:15..................First Period
8:25-9:10.................Second Period
10:00-11:00.............Cadet Parade
11:30-12:30.............Noon Meal
12:30-1:15...............Third Period
1:25-2:10.................Fourth Period
2:20-3:05.................Fifth Period
3:15-4:00.................Sixth Period
4:10-4:55.................Seventh Period
 
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