Family & Friends Program at IESO 2024
Parents, Family Members, Family Friends, Teachers, and Coaches are welcome to attend the International Environmental Science Olympiad! For IESO 2024, we held a comprehensive Family & Friends program (which applied to coaches, teachers and family friends in attendance as well).
There were two distinct options for the Family & Friends program: the Extended Option (which included the chance to take part in field trips, certain competitions, and other activities) and the Basic Option (just attendance at the school). Please see below for details.
Please note that participants needed to register at the Basic Option at a minimum to be able to access the school for any purposes, including the Opening, Closing, and Medals Ceremonies, and watching students in the competitions that were open to spectators.
The costs and benefits of the Family & Friends program were as follows:
Family and Friends Program – Extended Option
$375 for anyone born before July 21, 2012
$275 for anyone born July 21, 2012-July 20, 2016
$175 for anyone born July 21, 2016-July 20, 2019
Children born from July 21, 2019 onwards were free, though note that some sightseeing may not be suitable for the youngest children. The price of the Extended Family & Friends program included the following:
1. All sightseeing entry and tour guides (for the Rainforest Hike, Snorkeling Adventure, Puerto Rico Science Park, Puerto Rico Art Museum, Birds of Puerto Rico Trip, and Beach Ecology Walk) during the times marked in dark blue on the schedule.
2. Any Multiple Choice Exam (i.e. Battery, Climate Change, Meteorology, Oceanography) all of which have Family & Friends Divisions – there were separate awards for adults, older children, and younger children)
3. The Environmental Science Bee and the Zoology Bee. There were separate divisions and awards for adults, older children, and younger children.
4. The Old San Juan Family Scavenger Hunt
5. The Family Beach Quiz
6. Access to the host school, including all events which were open to spectators, Medals Ceremonies, the Opening Ceremonies and Closing Ceremonies. Access to the host school is not allowed to anyone not participating in the Family & Friends Program.
7. A commemorative souvenir pack, including T-shirt, pin, hat, pencils, drawstring backpack bag, and water bottle.
Please note that the Family & Friends Program Extended Option did not include accommodations or meals, except for the Rainforest Alliance Coffee Break and the Family and Friends Closing Reception, both of which featured light refreshments.
Family and Friends Program – Basic Option
$125 per family member, regardless of age, with the exception of children born from July 21, 2019 onwards who were free. The price of the Basic Family & Friends program included the following:
1. The Basic Option included access to the host school and to all ceremonies and competitions that are open to spectators (remember, some, like exams, are not open to any spectators). The fees are charged as we still need to keep track of the number of people in the school at all times and prevent people who are not affiliated with IESO from entering the building, ensure that we do not have too many people in any one space and run afoul of fire codes, and provide staff for additional security.
2. The Basic Option did not include any sightseeing, nor does it include any souvenirs. Parents who wish to accompany their children on field trips must register for the Extended Option.
3. The Basic Option did not allow people registering under this option to themselves compete in any competitions in the Family and Friends Divisions.
For further questions, please email ieso@iacompetitions.com.