Seattle Mind Camp 7 is coming up fast.  For those of you who aren’t sure what to expect, this guide will hopefully give you a bit of an orientation.  Even you Mind Camp veterans might want to look over the details, here, as a few things have changed this time around:

When should I arrive?
The doors will open at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 20.  Opening remarks and introductions will start promptly at 12:00, so please arrive in time to check in, mingle, check out the session candidates along the walls.  Note that if you’re hoping to present a session, you should arrive on time to post your Session Organizer Candidate Form.)

How do I get there?

You’re going to the offices of ThinkSpace in downtown Redmond. The address is 8201 164th Ave NE, Redmond, 98052.

Where do I park?
There is a small parking lot on-site, but we will be needing that space. However, there is a large Park and Ride structure one block away from ThinkSpace.

What will the introductions be like?
We are working on this - and it will be fun.  The aim is for everyone to have a chance to say something, and for these introductions to start priming the pump for later discussions. Expect the traditional Mind Camp game of Rock-Papper-Scissors to take place!

What else should I expect?  How do I participate?
You are expected to participate in some fashion, so come ready to share the things you’ve been working on or that get you excited.  Do note that Mind Camp is an NDA-free zone, so if you can’t talk about it, don’t bring it up.

See Getting Ready for Mind Camp - The Philosophical Guide for an explanation of the unconference concept.

What will be provided?
Room space, Wi-Fi, power outlets, lunch, dinner, breakfast.  We will have two rooms with projectors, and two LCD flat-panel televisions. Wanna bring an Xbox 360 and Kinect? Go for it. If you need or want anything more that what is provided, then you’ll have to bring it with you.

Lunch is sponsored by Monster Costume, and Alki Dog will be serving it up. They'll also be doing breakfast on day two. There will be a two-hour break you to grab dinner from 7:00-9:00pm. We will have the WhereYaAtMatt food truck serving up some goodness, sponsored by Uber Seattle. If you don't like those choices, there are a bunch of local places to grab food, but of course, you'd have to pay for that on your own!

We will also have a bunch of snacks provided by PopChips.

Puzzazz, one of the companies that works out of ThinkSpace, is providing a bunch of board games for the event as well.

What to bring
It’s up to you, of course, but if you plan to stay overnight, you might want to gear up.

• Comfortable clothing will be helpful.
• Aside from the items mentioned above, don’t assume anything will be there.  Bring what you need, especially for your presentations.
• Bring a sleeping bag, pillow, toothbrush, ear plugs, sleeping mask, teddy bear… that sort of thing.
• Bring snacks and drinks; we’ll be providing lunch and dinner on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday, but we encourage people to bring stuff to share. It's a social snack and drink mash-up fest.
• Bring your own power strips and extension cords.
• Bring any electronic stuff you have to swap or give away.
• Bring your gaming gear, portable or otherwise.

Will there be Wi-Fi?
Yes!

What will the rooms be like?
A handful of conference rooms, plus two other areas set up for sessions. There are also a kitchen/dining areas, two common areas, and even space outside. It is gonna be a beautiful weekend, so we should take advantage of that. Anyone up for a photowalking session?

Who can I ask if I have questions?
We’ll identify the organizers and Camp Counselors, who are there to make sure you have a great experience.

What about alcohol?
We have agreed with our hosts, ThinkSpace, that there will be no alcohol allowed on premises. Please respect that decision. In addition, if you go out for drinks and get smashed, you won’t be let back in.

Do I have to stay overnight?
No.  Mind Camp is your event, and you can make of it what you will - but you’ll miss out on some very interesting things if you decided to leave! Seriously - overnight is where a lot of good stuff happens.

Can we take pictures?  Can we record audio and video?
Unless you are specifically asked not to do so by another attendee, please feel free to document as much of the event as you can. We’d love to feature your videos on the Seattle Mind Camp YouTube channel.