If you’re already registered or are planning to register for HippoCamp: A Conference for Creative Nonfiction Writers, here is some information we think you’ll find helpful and useful. Just click on the title and the category’s information will slide out.
In addition to the details here, we’ll periodically send conference updates to registered attendees, especially in the weeks leading up to the conference.
We understand that things can happen. If you have registered for HippoCamp and can no longer attend, here are some options:
1) HippoCamp can transfer your conference registration to another individual with no penalty until August 10. [Workshops cannot be transferred.]
2) If you cannot find a replacement, you may request a refund; refunds are offered on a sliding scale based on date of request and how close we are to the conference.
Please send your refund or transfer request in writing to info@hippocampusmagazine.com.
(If you pre-ordered a t-shirt and would still like it, please notate so in your request. We’ll ship it to you in late August, in a flat-rate $6.95 USPS box, which deducted from your refund. International shipping will be handled on case-by-case basis. Otherwise, the t-shirt order will also be refunded along with registration.)
Once confirmed by HippoCamp staff, we will issue your refund, if applicable (based on dates below), through EventBrite (funds will be sent to your card on file). Please allow up to a week for us to process your request.
Please note that should you cancel or transfer your registration, HippoCamp is not responsible for any cancellation fees charged by airlines, hotels, or other travel arrangements.
NOTE: Except with the seven-day-from-purchase window, HippoCamp will not make partial refunds/adjustments based on attendee’s failure to use a provided promo code/special offer at time of registration. (HippoCamp is not responsible for missed or unread emails, or expired offers.)
A note about why conferences and expos have refund policies: Throughout the planning process, conference organizers make important decisions based on current registration/cash flow numbers, but at the 30-day mark, and especially the week-of mark, funds are released (or have already been released) to vendors, such as hotel, caterers, major speakers, supplies, etc., and are no longer available to issue refunds. This is why you’ll see that most conferences have a tiered schedule on their policies, and why, at some point (usually 30 days), refunds are no longer given. This is an industry standard and one HippoCamp has adopted; we add this explanation to give an understanding behind this best practice. Please contact us if you have further concerns about a request.
Hippocampus Magazine is excited to welcome writers and creative nonfiction lovers from all over to Lancaster, Pa. for our conference. We’d like to remind our attendees that we expect that conference-goers will respect others, and to formalize that request, HippoCamp has adopted a code of conduct.
HippoCamp asks that all attendees give our speakers the courtesy they deserve. Please silence mobile devices during presentations, and do not disrupt presentations in any other way.
HippoCamp is dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age or religion. We do not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form.
Harassment includes verbal comments that reinforce social structures of domination (related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age or religion), deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of official conference events, inappropriate physical contact, and any unwelcome sexual attention.
Attendees asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. Conference organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, including issuing a warning to the offender, or expelling him or her without a refund.
If you are being harassed or witness someone else being harassed, please contact a member of the conference staff immediately. Conference organizers also will be happy to help attendees contact convention center security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or assist those experiencing harassment in any other way.
Session Etiquette
Media Guidelines [Thank you to Open Source Bridge and DrupalCon Austin 2014, from whom this media policy was derived.]
When you register for HippoCamp, you consent to be photographed by our official conference photographer(s), and to have those photographs published under a Creative Commons license and potentially used in various promotional materials, on the conference website, social media channels, or other online properties controlled by Hippocampus Magazine and Press LLC. We also encourage attendees to take and share their own photographs, as long as these rules are followed:
1. Photography/recording that is legally allowed in public spaces is allowed at the HippoCamp.
2. Photography/recording should be treated like other potentially harassing interpersonal interaction. That is, when one person being photographed says “stop” or “leave me alone” (etc), the taking of photographs must end and no further attempts to photograph that individual should occur.
3. Photography/recording shouldn’t be done in such a way as to hide from the subject that it’s happening.
4. The subject may inspect the photo/recording at any time and, if requested, the photo/footage/etc must be deleted immediately if so requested.
5. Those who are taking photographs and/or recording must also follow our general Code of Conduct.
6. While this won’t likely come into play at the conference venue itself, please be respectful of our Amish neighbors; the Amish do not like their photos taken, so if you peruse Central Market or drive through the rural areas, please do not photograph them. (From a distance, where the subject cannot be identified is an alternative.)
How to opt-out of photography: If you do not wish to be photographed or have your image published, you may opt out by contacting the conference organizers. The committee will make every effort to accommodate your request.
Dress Code
HippoCamp does not have an official dress code. But we provide this information because some conferences do have a dress code. Wear what you feel most comfortable in. If that’s a business suit, wear it. If it’s cozy jeans and your funniest writerly tee, go with that!
We do recommend wearing shoes that won’t hurt your feet after walking a bit, and suggest that you bring a sweater, light jacket or zip-up hoodie along to sessions just in case the AC gives you a chill.
You can receive updates about HippoCamp through several mediums:
The Backchannel: During the conference, we encourage attendees to tweet along with speakers and sessions.
Add some flair to your website or blog, while showing your support and participation in our annual conference for creative nonfiction writers in PA!
Share that you are attending HippoCamp 2018 on your blog or website! Copying and pasting this code onto your site (such as in a widget area in WordPress) makes it easy to post image with link; it’s already coded here for you!
It will look like this:
OR
Share that you are speaking at HippoCamp 2018 on your blog or website! Copying and pasting this code onto your site (such as in a widget area in WordPress) makes it easy to post image with link; it’s already coded here for you!
It will look like this:
Ways to promote your work at HippoCamp:
Attendees have a few opportunities to have their work showcased at the conference:
If you didn’t pre-order your t-shirt when you registered, but still want one, we encourage you to pre-order to reserve one. Due to having lots of leftovers last year, we’re ordering fewer to sell onsite. T-shirts are $10 when pre-ordered, and we’ll have a limited amount available onsite for $12.
T-SHIRT ORDER FORM IS NOW CLOSED. WE’LL HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT AVAILABLE AT EVENT ($12 each).
We’re thrilled that some of you are bringing along a friend, relative, or your partner in crime! While your guest might not be attending the conference, we’d like to offer you the option to invite your spouse or other adult guest to some of the social events and/or meals. Below, you have the option to purchase from a variety of options, such as the opening reception, our headlining keynote, the opening reception, keynote AND all meals, or just meals. We’ll include your guest’s meal/event tickets in your registration packet, which you’ll pick up on site.
Please Note: HippoCamp is a professional development conference; Guests must be 18 years of age or older.