Recently I went to the National Conservation Training Center in West Virginia, near DC and Harper's Ferry. It is a training facility for the Fish and Wildlife Service, and all of the Department of Interior uses it for training... it's a great campus because it's completely self contained. It's not so great in that it can be difficult to get to, and it is spread out, so folks with mobility issues have some work arounds. It also a fine example of pork barrel spending, from the late great Senator Byrd.
Arriving in the evening it was lovely to see Christmas lights on the drive to the training center. NCTC will always have a warm place in my heart for two* reasons, but I've never been there when it is warm. It is probably lovely then in a very different way.
*The two reasons are:
1. My unfounded theory that the site is cover for a secret underground bunker to house Congress in the event of a large emergency. Notice how much of the site is clearcut from trees, as if setting up a helospot were a key consideration.
2. My first visit there was when Max was four months old and a snowstorm made the whole trip delightfully memorable, but that's another story.
A better editor would have narrowed down these pictures some, but I hope these will give you an idea of the lovely campus.
The Commons building houses a bar, exercise facility, dining hall, gift shop, large living room, and more. These are the stairs up to the dining hall.
This is the dining hall, looking left as you enter.
And to the right is this fireplace, behind which is the cafeteria which has a stunning selection of delicious food for every meal.
Despite the wood it is gas powered because environmentalists.
Did you notice the "hidden" fish in the staircase?
There is other wildlife too.
And another fireplace downstairs.
Now it is time to walk to class.
Past the back of the main building, which has a large auditorium and hosts public events sometimes.
This building holds several different sized classrooms.
There is an official morning and afternoon break, with food and coffee that differs each time. Thursdays there are warm cookies in the afternoon.
And here is where the break is between parts 1 and 2
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