We are dedicated to building a welcoming environment
We are making concrete efforts to achieve this, including establishing community norms, detailing physical accessibility elements, sharing some mental wellbeing reminders, and providing an easy map to plan your route around Gig Harbor. If you have additional ideas or suggestions on how to make PLACES 2025 more welcoming and accessible for you, please let us know in your conference registration form or by emailing our planning team at .
To welcome everyone to Gig Harbor, the Gig Harbor Waterfront Alliance put together a VIP Pass just for conference attendees! Check it out here to learn about awesome attendee-only promos across downtown!
Our Community Norms
For the next three days, we will be living in community with each other. And like any community, it is important we establish shared norms: standards that set a foundation of how we will be interacting with, speaking to, and speaking about each other.
Below is our list of community norms, which we expect everyone in our PLACES community to follow. Following these norms will ensure we keep our community happy, healthy, and ready to learn!
Everyone is welcome.
We believe PLACES should be welcoming and safe. Our learning community may last three days, but the way we treat each other and relationships we create last much longer. As such, discrimination, harassment, or any form of exclusion will not be tolerated. If you experience discrimination or harassment and you want support, please tell PLACES conference staff.
Respectful communication.
Listen actively and refrain from interrupting others, especially panelists. Raise your hand if you have a question during the Q&A portions of the presentation, and wait for a microphone to be brought to you to ensure everyone can hear your question. Be sure your questions and comments relate to the content being discussed and are not about a panelist’s or speaker’s identity (ex: “You’re part of the LGBTQ+ community; how do I get more LGBTQ+ people to join my board?”).
Supportive environment.
We aim to foster a space where everyone feels comfortable sharing their ideas and opinions. Please be sure your actions and language reflect that supportive space. There are many ways to help foster a space where everyone feels comfortable sharing their ideas and opinions—by staying curious, taking time to reflect, and remembering that no one person knows everything, but together we know a lot!
Be mindful of pronouns.
We will provide pronoun stickers (among others!) for nametags at our registration table. When referring to someone in third person, be sure to use the pronouns that are on their nametag or that they shared with you, rather than assuming based on how they look. Share your own pronouns when you introduce yourself (ex: “Hi, I’m Lydia, and I use she/her pronouns. What’s your name?”). When in doubt, you can always default to using the person’s name.
Learn more about the importance of pronouns >
Honor personal boundaries.
Not everyone is a hugger! Ask before physically touching someone. This includes asking someone if they need help rather than just jumping in (ex: “Do you need help getting your wheelchair across the street?”). We are a group of doers, but don’t let that mean you take someone else’s agency away.
Respect our host community.
Gig Harbor has generously opened its streets and buildings up to our conference. We are their guests. Treat those living and visiting Gig Harbor for non-conference reasons with respect.
Accountability.
Hold yourself and others accountable for upholding these norms. If you need support or want to learn more, please tell PLACES conference staff.
We ask YOU to help us live out these norms!
Easy Route Planning
Check out our map of all the conference’s venues and sites, including public bathroom locations, rest areas, and hotels! View our digital program here to see where each session or event is happening.
Shuttles at PLACES 2025
All venues are within the downtown district and no more than 0.8 miles apart—perfect for an autumnal maritime stroll. We will also have shuttles to help you get around Gig Harbor and beyond. Official shuttle schedules will be provided the week of the conference, but the below is an overview of what you can expect:
Along Harborview Drive. We will have shuttles running along Harborview Drive that will make stops near the session venues, including Gig Harbor Church of the Nazarene (Gig Naz), the Gig Harbor Marina & Boatyard (for the Club @ the Boatyard), Gig Harbor BoatShop at the Historic Eddon Boatyard, and the Harbor History Museum.
- Wednesday, October 8 | 11:30 am-4:30 pm
- Last shuttle | Departs Harbor History Museum at 4:15 pm and arrives at Gig Naz at 4:30 pm
- Thursday, October 9 | 8:30 am-4:30 pm
- Last shuttle | Departs Harbor History Museum at 4:15 pm and arrives at Gig Naz at 4:30 pm
- Friday, October 10 | 8:30 am-2:00 pm
- Last shuttle | Departs Harbor History Museum at 1:45 pm and arrives at Gig Naz at 2:00 pm
To and from the Hotel and Hop Pharm. Our hotel shuttle will run from the Best Western Wesley Inn & Suites to Hop Pharm, where our Registration and Check In HQ will be located. There is a park and ride across the street from the Wesley Inn, so if you’re staying elsewhere, you can leave your car there and catch the shuttle from the Wesley Inn.
- Wednesday, October 8 | 8:30-10:30 am, 11:30 am-2:00 pm, 3:30-7:30 pm
- Last morning shuttle | Departs Wesley Inn at 10:25 am and arrives at Hop Pharm at 10:30 am
- Last afternoon shuttle | Departs Wesley Inn at 1:55 pm and arrives at Hop Pharm at 2:00 pm
- Last evening shuttle | Departs Hop Pharm at 7:25 pm and arrives at Wesley Inn at 7:30 pm
- Thursday, October 9 | 8:30-10:30 am, 4:00-7:00 pm
- Last morning shuttle | Departs Wesley Inn at 10:25 am and arrives at Hop Pharm at 10:30 am
- Last evening shuttle | Departs Hop Pharm at 6:55 pm and arrives at Wesley Inn at 7:00 pm
- Friday, October 10 | 8:30-10:30 am, 2:00-5:00 pm
- Last morning shuttle | Departs Wesley Inn at 10:25 am and arrives at Hop Pharm at 10:30 am
- Last evening shuttle | Departs Hop Pharm at 4:55 pm and arrives at Wesley Inn at 5:00 pm
To and from Excellence on Main. This year, Excellence on Main will be held at the Foss Waterway Seaport in Tacoma. Parking is extremely limited at the venue due to construction, so buses will be available from Gig Harbor to Foss and back. There is a park and ride across the street from our pick up/drop off location (Wesley Inn), so if you’re staying elsewhere, you can leave your car there and catch the shuttle from the Wesley Inn. If you do choose to drive to the venue, please plan on street parking.
- Buses to Tacoma: departing the Wesley Inn between 5:10 and 5:40 pm
- Please arrive at the Wesley Inn by 5:30 pm at the latest.
- Buses to Gig Harbor: departing Foss Waterway Seaport between 8:15 and 8:30 pm
Parking
Prefer to park somewhere downtown? Check out the City’s parking map here.
Distance between Classroom Venues
⛵ Leaving from Gig Harbor Marina and Boatyard
- ⛪ Church of the Nazarene (7721 Pioneer Way) | 0.1 miles, 3 minute average walk
- 🛥️ Yacht Club (8209 Stinson Ave) | 0.7 miles, 16 minute average walk
- 🔨 Historic Eddon Boatyard (3805 Harborview Dr) | 0.6 miles, 14 minute average walk
- 🍻 Hop Pharm (3216 Judson St) | 0.3 miles, 6 minute average walk
⛪ Leaving from Church of the Nazarene
- ⛵ Gig Harbor Marina and Boatyard (3117 Harborview Dr) | 0.1 miles, 3 minute average walk
- 🛥️ Yacht Club (8209 Stinson Ave) | 0.7 miles, 16 minute average walk
- 🔨 Historic Eddon Boatyard (3805 Harborview Dr) | 0.5 miles, 12 minute average walk
- 🍻 Hop Pharm (3216 Judson St) | 0.1 miles, 3 minute average walk
🛥️ Leaving from Yacht Club
- ⛵ Gig Harbor Marina and Boatyard (3117 Harborview Dr) | 0.7 miles, 16 minute average walk
- ⛪ Church of the Nazarene (7721 Pioneer Way) | 0.7 miles, 16 minute average walk
- 🔨 Historic Eddon Boatyard (3805 Harborview Dr) | 0.2 miles, 4 minute average walk
- 🍻 Hop Pharm (3216 Judson St) | 0.8 miles, 20 minute average walk
🔨 Leaving from Eddon Boat Building
- ⛵ Gig Harbor Marina and Boatyard (3117 Harborview Dr) | 0.6 miles, 14 minute average walk
- ⛪ Church of the Nazarene (7721 Pioneer Way) | 0.6 miles, 14 minute average walk
- 🛥️ Yacht Club (8209 Stinson Ave) | 0.2 miles, 4 minute average walk
- 🍻 Hop Pharm (3216 Judson St) | 0.8 miles, 18 minute average walk
🍻 Leaving from Hop Pharm
- ⛵ Gig Harbor Marina and Boatyard (3117 Harborview Dr) | 0.3 miles, 8 minute average walk
- ⛪ Church of the Nazarene (7721 Pioneer Way) | 0.1 miles, 4 minute average walk
- 🛥️ Yacht Club (8209 Stinson Ave) | 0.8 miles, 20 minute average walk
- 🔨 Historic Eddon Boatyard (3805 Harborview Dr) | 0.8 miles, 18 minute average walk
Physical Accessibility
We’re aiming to make PLACES as accessible as possible for all bodies, brains, and sensory needs. Here is what our team is already incorporating into the PLACES planning process based on previous feedback:
Captioning. Our presenters will be using PowerPoint and will make use of the automatic subtitles feature—so every presentation should include subtitles. If you arrive to a session early, please reserve the front row of seats for those who need to sit in the front to use the subtitles.
Audio. All presenters will use a microphone during their presentation. Microphones will be passed to anyone who has a question during the Q&A part of a presentation—please wait for the mic to be handed to you before asking your question (yes, even if you have a loud voice!)
Slide decks. In an effort to make presentations more widely accessible, we have provided all speakers with a template that adheres to visual accessibility best practices. Plus, all slides will be made available to attendees after the conference, so you can get a closer look or just revisit your favorites!
Mobility. All meeting and event spaces are accessible to wheelchair and scooter users.
Have an additional accommodation request? Please add your request to your conference registration or email our planning team at .
Mental Wellbeing
Let’s face it—conferences can being overwhelming. You’re engaging with new ideas, chatting with strangers and colleagues, traveling to new towns on your mobile tours, and generally running around all day. That, my friend, can be exhausting.
At PLACES, we want to make sure you are taking care of YOU. This helps you get more out of your conference experience, and we love that for you. Here are some mental wellbeing reminders:
- Take breaks. There are 15-minute breaks scheduled between sessions. If you need more time, take it!
- Get your zzz’s. Make sure to prioritize rest each night. This will help your ability to stay awake and learn throughout sessions during the day.
- Stay hydrated. We’ll provide you with a reusable water bottle, and there will be water refill stations throughout the conference venues.
- Take time to be in Gig Harbor. Conferences can be exhausting, and it’s no secret that the PLACES schedule is filled to the brim! Remember: You don’t have to attend everything—it’s okay to skip a session block, duck out of an event early, or arrive to a happy hour late. Take time to recharge each day and to really be in this vibrant city, whether by sitting in a peaceful outdoor space, people-watching in a bustling public square, or doing a little shopping (and check out some of our recommendations in the map below!)
