As a SeaWorld Wildside blogger, I was invited to AdventureCon for Texas parenting bloggers at Aquatica and SeaWorld Texas. I received complimentary admission to the conference which included food, drinks, quick queue passes, and free conference sessions. I was not asked to write, photograph, or film anything. All opinions are mine.
Earlier this month I attended my second AdventureCon blogging conference at SeaWorld Texas here in San Antonio. A blogger reunion weekend filled with Shamu, blogging, and all of my Texas blogger friends? Heck ya, I look forward to it all year long!
SeaWorld Texas invites bloggers to their park throughout the year to learn about their new shows, the amazing animals for which they care, and their conservation efforts. But, since starting the Wildside Blogger program back in 2009, a second goal of creators Kami Huyse and Julie Pippert was to cultivate a community of Texas parenting bloggers who would get to know and learn from one another. AdventureCon brings all of that together along with the joy and excitement of playing in America’s best theme park (Yes, I’m biased but have you been to SeaWorld or Aquatica lately? There truly is something for everyone of every age to enjoy.).
AdventureCon is unlike any blogging conference I’ve ever attended before. It’s a mix of educational sessions by renowned speakers and fun exploring the park with family and friends. What better way to get to know what SeaWorld is all about than to experience it–all–over one summer weekend?
Speakers at AdventureCon this year included:
- Magaly Chocano with Sweb Development who talked about mobile apps and blogs.
- Photographers Nan Palmero, Bob French, Sarah Hubbell who shared their wealth of experience during a session and on photo walks throughout the parks.
- Ashley O’Neill, writer and the editor in chief for The Savvy Source, who encouraged attendees to think and work like an editor on their blogs.
- Kami Huyse, a PR and social media consultant (and AdventureCon creator, along with Julie Pippert), who recommended the best ways for bloggers to work with brands.
- And, the attendees themselves who listed, during a round robin-format, their favorite apps, tools, and blogging advice.
I’ll share my favorite blogging tips and secrets learned at AdventureCon this year in an upcoming post. But, for now, I want you to experience AdventureCon first-hand. I’m learning iMovie (finally!), so you get a front-row seat for my cinematic debut: AdventureCon13. Go easy on me. It took me HOURS to create (Seriously. Don’t laugh.). And I didn’t know I couldn’t use licensed music so I originally edited this flick to the perfectly-suited background sound of Our House by Madness. Thankfully, I’ve got great AdventureCon friends who gently explained that I was a doofus what I created wasn’t “legal.” So, royalty-free, canned music, it is! Go easy on me. I’m kind of broken up that Hollywood isn’t breaking down my door yet.
Are you a San Antonio mom blogger who’s interested in attending AdventureCon next year? Leave a comment with your name and your blog’s URL (or send me a private message) and I’ll be sure to submit you and your blog to SeaWorld for consideration to attend next year’s AdventureCon!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxHZOtzM-5A
Thanks to SeaWorld, Brian Carter, Mason Rodriguez, Kami Huyse, and Julie Pippert for inviting me to AdventureCon and for bringing together this incredibly talented and wonderful group of Texas parenting bloggers!
Check out my Animoto video of last year’s AdventureCon 2012.
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This looks like so much fun colleen! Great video 🙂
Alvina, it’s a great conference. So much helpful information for bloggers and the chance to meet, in person, with wonderful Texas bloggers. I hope you go next year!
Great job! I have made a few videos with iMovie and really like it. And it was indeed a great conference!
Thanks, Kathryn! I’m still learning my way around iMovie but I had fun doing it. Can’t wait to do more with it now that I’ve learned my way around.
WOW. What a fantastic video! Great job, Colleen!
That means a lot coming from you, Heidi! Thank you so much. It was great to see you again at AdventureCon. We need to squeeze San Antonio and Austin just a little closer together so I can see you more often. 😉
How cool! Yes, please sign me up for consideration. I am just getting started and had no idea there so many local mom bloggers!
Melly! Are you in San Antonio? Then I definitely want to list you on my site here (in addition to submitting you for consideration for AdventureCon next year). I’ve got more great info for you too, as a San Antonio mom blogger. Send me your email address to colleenpence at socialmediamentoring dot com so I can fill you in!
That’s fantastic! I think you did a great job.
Thanks so much, Jennifer. It’s silly, but I’m kinda proud of it! 😉 Loved meeting you at AdventureCon. Thanks, too, for sharing the link to my video on Twitter.
Such an awesome video Colleen! Wouldnt think it was your first time. The way you incorporated everything makes it so much fun to watch! Nice meeting you by the way. 🙂
Hi, Cris! I enjoyed meeting you too (still remembering how gorgeous your dress was that day!). I’m so glad you liked the video. I tried to capture as much as I could while still learning and paying attention. LOL. 😉
AdventureCon was so great! I especially loved Kami’s session!
Yes. Kami’s session was super helpful. I’m going to write another post with my favorite tips from her sessions and the others too. Stay tuned…
I am buying our season tickets tomorrow and I am now even more excited than I was!! This was such a great story! And your video was great!! Maybe you could teach me how to use iMovie!! I would love to get involved with this!! Thanks for sharing Colleen!!
Nicole, I’d love to show you what I learned sometime. It was a lot of trial and error (and my husband kept my kids busy for a few hours so I could focus). 🙂
Have a blast at SeaWorld. I love it there! Maybe we’ll run into each other.
I would love to have the opportunity to attend and meet local bloggers! Please sign me up for consideration!
Suzanne, I’ll add you to the list! 😉
I wish I could have made it this year, but I loved following your adventures on Twitter!
I’m glad you were able to follow along, Sarah. Having you there would have been better! Maybe next year? That would be fun.
That looks like so much fun!
I look forward to reading about what you learned!
It was, Ashley. I’d love for you to join us next year!
It was a great conference. I always like to learn new things and meet new people. Visiting Seaworld was an added bonus.
I agree, Fred. And it was nice to get to meet you and the other bloggers in person!
AdventureCon was my first “blogger” conference and after attending BlogHer I can say I learned more and made more real connections at AdventureCon. I hope to be invited again next year!
This looks like such a fun event. I would love to attend it this year.