Throughout the conference, there will be a virtual scavenger hunt to challenge your Googling skills and conference know-how. Gift card prizes will be award to the individuals and teams who can succeed in finishing the hunt.

Additionally, each evening NCPTW will host an event for attendees.

Thursday evening will have a welcome meet-and-greet in the hotel ballroom. Free hand massages will be available for weary travelers from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the hotel’s lobby area (tips are accepts and much appreciated). From there, we will have a private “Spooky ‘Burgh” tour in Station Square where our guide will tell us some of the ghostly tales from the city as well as other Pittsburgh fun facts, such as how to speak Pittsburghese and how this is the city of champions. There is minimal walking involved, but this event is weather-permitting. The tour will end at the foot of the Monongahela Incline. Those who wish to may choose to pay $3.50 round trip to ride the incline to Mount Washington for an amazing view of Pittsburgh. (Did you know Pittsburgh is the only city where you can see the entire skyline while still inside the city limits?) The guide will go to the top with those who choose to extend their tour by riding the incline.

Friday is the NCPTW awards ceremony. Hors d’oeuvres will be served as we congratulate the winners of the Ron Maxwell award among others.

Saturday is our farewell event. On the eve of a football Sunday, we will host a tailgating evening with games such as corn hole, giant Jenga, ladder toss, KanJam, and cup stacking. Friendly competition is encouraged. Wear your favorite team jersey or college shirt to support your team.

Station Square is a hot spot for fun in Pittsburgh! Located along the Monongahela River near the three river confluence, visitors get a full panoramic view of downtown Pittsburgh while having pedestrian-only walking access to coffee, restaurants, and activities. It’s the perfect location for a conference stay!

Food at station square

• Bucca di Beppo
• Hard Rock Cafe
• Joe’s Crab Shack
• Kiku Japanese Restaurant
• Terrene
• Texas de Brazil
• Melting Pot
• Tupelo Honey

Fun at station square

• FA Climbing indoor rock wall
• Gateway Clipper boat rides
• Monongahela Incline to Mount Washington
• Segway Pittsburgh

fun just beyonD station square

• Carnegie Science Museum: This fun museum can be accessed by the Gateway Clipper or a 10-minute car journey across the river. There is free access for K-12 teachers in PA, OH, WV, MD, and NY. Just sign up at this website and bring your school ID.
• PNC Park Tours: The beautiful PNC baseball park is a 10-minute car ride from Station Square. Off-season park tours are 90 minutes and $15 per ticket.
• The Mattress Factory: Those interested in modern and cutting-edge art of all media will love this museum laboratory. Exhibits change frequently, so check out what’s featured. Once again, this is only a 10-minute drive; tickets are $20 each.

Public Transportation

Pittsburgh Regional Transit offers many public transportation options near Station Square, including the Monongahela Incline to Mount Washington, bus routes to Downtown, and our light rail system (also known as the “T”).

Within the Downtown and North Shore areas, rides on the T are fare-free; this includes the First Avenue, Steel Plaza, Wood Street, Gateway, North Side, and Allegheny stations. Please note that the fare-free zone does not include the Station Square T stop. Transit fares may be paid in cash, but transit passes are also available at T station stops and the Port Authority’s Downtown Service, as well as at most Giant Eagle Stores. More information about fares and transit passes can be found on the Pittsburgh Regional Transit website.

Thank you to our TOP sponsors! Click on each to learn more!

Duquesne University McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts

Duquesne University English and Theatre Arts Department

Duquesne University Center for Teaching Excellence

Additional thanks to our Carson Bridge sponsors. Please click on each to learn more!

• The National Writing Project
• Ohio University
• Northwest Missouri State
• Monmouth University MA in Professional Writing, Rhetoric, and Composition

If you would like to contribute to NCPTW 2023 as a sponsor, please email ncptw2023@yahoo.com