Which unschooling conference to attend?

[Joy larson]

We are planning to go to our first unschooling conference. My husband is very supportive of unschooling. He has also read one or two books. But he hasn't had lots of time investing in this subject. So I would like him to enjoy the conference and ideally meet other dads.

Also another consideration is that our children are young: ds 4.25 dd 1.25. So what conference will be more suitable for us?

Timing and distance are not factors.

I appreciate all replies.

Joy

[Sandra Dodd]

Ooooh... I wish you'd asked a bit ago. The Ohio Waterpark thing is on right now.

[Sandra Dodd]

I've put a list of unschooling conferences here, and there's a link, too, to Deb Cunefare's e-mail notifications of conferences. I didn't list those where the focus is something other than unschooling, but some others might be on Deb's list, and on my list too if people want to send unschooling notifications to me (on RUN or at my e-mail Sandra at Sandra Dodd.com)

http://unschooling.info/gatherings

[Jon Gold]

Hello Joy,

The Live and Learn would have been a good place to start, but alas it is no more. The Autodidact Symposium being presented by Cameron Lovejoy should be an excellent experience. I've known Carmeron for several years and he is a most excellent human being and I expect his conference symposium will be excellent too. I would go if I could afford time away from the restaurant. Kathryn Baptista's Northeast Unschooling conference in the Northeast is also well done. Finally, if I don't mention my wife's conference I might get in trouble, the Life is Good Conference in Vancouver, WA in May is a really good show. Four days of presentations, funshops, concert, teen prom, henna, tie-dye, circle chats, SUDDs meetings and endless opportunities to talk unschooling with families who are all walking the same path as you. The dad bonding at Life Is Good is legendary.

~jon gold

[Joy larson]

Hi, jon;

Thanks a lot for the information. As a matter of fact, I have two conferences in mind: one is the autodidact symposium and the other is Life is good Conference.

The reasons that I am interested in Autodidact symposium:
1. I really like their website. It is very well designed. :)
2. I am interested in meeting some unschooled young adults.

The reasons that I am interested in life is good conference:
1. I think it is well established, since it has been around longer
2. May be more suitable for families with young children and new unschoolers.
3. May be more suitable for my husband.

I really want to impress my husband and get him comfortable with unschooling concept.

I am more leaning to life is good conference.

Do people go to more than one conference?

And thanks to Sandra for the link.

Joy

[Meredith]

Some people go to more than one conference - it kind of depends on where folks live and how many conferences and gatherings are in the area. Last year I made it to a conference plus two gatherings and that was fantastic.

I like aspects of both, although my partner, George, much prefers gatherings to conferences. They're more social, more about connection, with less onus on trying to get to as many workshops/funshops as you can. To some extent it depends on what you think will "work" for your family and your husband. Will motivational talks and structured events help him more or does he like something more free-form? George likes free-form hanging out with moms (often the only man, which appeals to his ego) and the free-form kid scene of gatherings, but that's also the sort of thing that would put some dads Off in a big way.

[Carol Reinhard]

Hi Joy,

I see you live in Texas. The Rethinking Education conferences are in Texas. The RE conference is a yearly homeschooling conference that leans toward unschooling / alternative learning and living. The next one is Sept 3 - 7 in Fort Worth.

I'm up in Ohio and have never ventured down to any of them, so maybe some who have attended an RE conference in the past, will respond with more details.

Here's their website:
http://www.rethinkingeverything.net/

~ Carol

[JennyStar]

yearly homeschooling conference that leans toward unschooling / alternative learning and living

I'd caution anyone who isn't into new age things to really read up on the bios listed for this conference!

While I'm sure there are some great speakers and some great unschoolers at this conference both speaking and attending, the focus has changed this year towards the alternative living aspect.

I know a few families that are VERY into unschooling that would be very turned off by this for religious reasons. So for Joy, the original poster, and others reading, really think about how your spouses/partners and how you yourself would feel in that environment.

If your reason for going to a conference is to get great unschooling information and you are NOT currently looking into living an alternative lifestyle, this would probably not be the conference to go to.

Different strokes for different folks for sure, and this post is meant with no offense in mind, only information.

[Joe Martin]

For sure Rethinking will blow you away. You get Scott Noelle ,Sarah and Chris Parent, Brent Cameron, Courtney Talor Clay and others i have never heard talk. Your in TX your there. You will be tired and so glad you went once you get home. This will be the 1st year we have missed it in 3 years as we will be at the http://www.unschoolingretreat.com/ we are also hosting the 2nd http://www.liferocksunschoolingcruise.blogspot.com/

I would hit the RT in Dallas TX have you go to some and hubby goto others so you can get the most of it there is so many speakers,speaking at the time you can not even make it to all of them one the best things about RT is that they offer much more then just Unschooling info. So once you "get it" you can spend time looking the other speaker topics that are offered

have a great time Joe

PS: the water park is great too.

[lifeAgift]

The rethink everything conference and liferocks cruise is our universal wish list and we plan to return to the Kalahari unschool conference next year unless we are out of the country.

There is lots out there to choose from