NWAYM Conference 2024

salem-to-eugene

We are proud to be hosting the NWAYM Conference of 2024!

Conference Hosts: Adventure! Children's Museum and Gilbert House Children's Museum

When: November 3rd-4th 2024

November 3rd: Adventure! Children's Museum in Eugene, OR

490 Valley River Center Eugene, OR 97401

November 4th: Gilbert House Children's Museum in Salem, OR

116 Marion St NE Salem, OR 97301

Fees: Registration will be open until October 15th. Registration for all conference attendees is free thanks to your NWAYM fees! However, with inflation and the exciting fact that we are expecting an especially large number of attendees this year, costs for the hosts will exceed the the contribution from NWAYM. As hosts, we are requesting you consider a donation to help cover additional conference costs. All donations will be restricted to conference expenses and can be made here:

Conference Donation
Register Now

Itinerary:

Sunday:

  • 1:00-1:30 PM Planetarium show "Out There" at Eugene Science Center

2300 Leo Harris Parkway Eugene, OR 97401

  • 4:00-7:00 PM Opening Reception of NWAYM Conference 2024 at Adventure! Children's Museum

4:00 PM Tours and play at Adventure! Children's Museum

5:00 PM Food, drinks, and desserts

Monday:

  • 10:00-11:00 AM Tour and play at Gilbert House Children's Museum
  • 11:00 AM-4:00 PM Presenters and break out sessions at Broadway Commons (https://broadwaycommons.org/)

1300 Broadway St NE Salem, OR 97301 

-11:00-11:30 Snacks and get settled

-11:30-12:30 Main Presenter

-12:30-1:30 Lunch and move to break out groups

  • 1:30-3:30 Break out sessions. 4 will be offered, attendees will be able to go to 2. They will be 45 minutes each.

-1:30-2:15 First Session

-2:15-2:30 Break

-2:30-3:15 Second Session

-3:45-4:00 Closing thoughts and goodbyes

Presentations and Breakout Sessions:

Main Presenter – Kelly Hoke, STEM Researcher Doctoral Candidate at OSU 

NSF-funded project “interplay: Developing STEM Skills through Play and Exhibit Design for Early Learners in Children’s Museums and Science Centers (interplay)”. The project was a collaboration between the STEM Research Center at Oregon State University and the Association of Children's Museums. 

Breakout sessions – 

Marketing in the Northwest presented by Kara Kuh, Chief Marketing Officer at Travel Salem 

HR Updates presented by Sarah Holmes, Associate Attorney at Buckley Law, P.C. 

Radical Changes in Programming presented by Tammy Jo Wilson, Director of Bush House Museum Exhibits and Programming 

Creative Learning in Maker Spaces presented by Chris Ross, Gilbert House Children’s Museum Educator 

Traveling: Those of you flying will arrive in Eugene Airport. Amtrak Cascades line can get you from Eugene to Salem in about an hour if it's running on time. Please note: there is no public transit from the train station to the museum conference space. To opt in for ride share amongst conference attendees, please circle the ride share option on the registration form. Registration will be planned and paired on opening night in Eugene.

 

Places to stay in Eugene, OR: 

"The Gordon Hotel is the official hotel of the 2024 NWAYM Conference!
This social hotel features a lobby bar, an exercise room, a rooftop restaurant, and a speakeasy hidden in a Janitor closet. Local artists created all the art in this locally-owned hotel.
There is no code or reserved room block.
Rates are often lower through websites like Expedia or Priceline.
For a quieter, more spa-like atmosphere, Inn at the 5th, next door, is recommended.