HOMESCHOOL IOWA CONFERENCE

Dear Iowa homeschooling families,

After prayer and careful consideration, the Homeschool Iowa board has determined that the most prudent course of action is to cancel the 2020 Homeschool Iowa Conference.

We announce this to you with heavy hearts, as we were so excited about this year’s conference and all the new and exciting options we had to offer.

Here are the 3 primary factors that led to this decision:

STEWARDSHIP

Although we anticipate and pray that the current situation will continue to improve, it is uncertain whether large event gatherings will be sensible or safe by our scheduled conference date.

Continuing the significant planning, work, and expense required to host an event with a very unpredictable future was determined to be unwise.

As a nonprofit volunteer-based organization dependent upon donations and member support, we especially want to be good stewards of those resources.

LOGISTICS

With homeschool conferences across the nation cancelling, the plans and schedules of many have changed. Several of our vendors and speakers let us know they would not be able to participate in our 2020 Conference due to the COVID-19 situation. This would have significantly impacted what we would have been able to offer to you, our conference attendees.

In addition, our conference venue is currently not allowing large group gatherings in its facility and cannot offer any assurances that this would change by our scheduled conference date.

OPPORTUNITY

The Lord has a way of taking challenging circumstances and using them for His glory.

We see this less-than-ideal situation as a great opportunity to develop expanded services and additional events for the Iowa homeschool community and for new and potential homeschool families.

We are already working on some exciting new projects and events. Read more below about some of the things we're planning!

2021 Homeschool Iowa Conference
June 18-19, 2021
Mid-American Energy RecPlex
West Des Moines

Teaching your children – and helping them to be all that they were created to be – is a challenging, complex journey filled with doubts and joy, despair and love, and everything in between.

You wonder if you're up for this staggeringly formidable task.
The answer is "Yes!" And you're not alone. We're here for you.

You'll reap a harvest of encouragement and motivation at our 2021 Conference with just what you need to equip and encourage you: new ideas, strategies, vision, and perspective.

Come join us and many other like-minded homeschool families.
Let’s recharge, learn, grow and walk this beautiful, sometimes messy, but always incredibly important journey together.

REGISTRATION AVAILABLE NOW!

At this time, we are continuing to plan for the conference, prayerfully trusting that the event will occur onsite as planned.
Check our registration page for our updated refund policy.

REGISTRATION

You'll Find Our Featured Speakers Authentic & Inspiring

USED CURRICULUM SALE & EXPO

SPECIAL TRACKS

TEACHER CREDIT COURSE

VOLUNTEERS

Conference SPECIAL TRACKS

BUILT INTO THE CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Homeschool Iowa Conference Couples' Dinner

BEGINNING HOMESCHOOLING SPECIAL TRACK DETAILS

Homeschool Iowa Conference Moms & Muffins

HOMESCHOOLING SPECIAL NEEDS SPECIAL TRACK DETAILS

HIGH SCHOOL & BEYOND SPECIAL TRACK DETAILS

Special Conference Meal Events

ADVANCE REGISTRATION | LIMITED OPENINGS

COUPLES' DINNER

6:30PM | FRIDAY, JUNE 12
Speaker: Rob Rienow

COUPLES' DINNER DETAILS

LUNCH & LEARN

11:30AM | SATURDAY, JUNE 13
Speaker: Heidi St. John

LUNCH & LEARN DETAILS

Make & Take Workshops

ADVANCE REGISTRATION | LIMITED OPENINGS

FRIDAY MAKE & TAKES

IOWA-THEMED LAPBOOKS

SENSORY BINS

SATURDAY MAKE & TAKES

NATURE JOURNALING

MEAL PLANNING

QUICK VIEW CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Homeschool Iowa Conference Friday Schedule

8:00AM
Conference Registration Opens
8:30-10:00AM
Friday Morning Keynote
8:30AM-Noon
Beginning Homeschooling Special Track
10:00AM
Exhibit Hall Opens
10:15-11:15AM
Workshop Session I
11:30AM-2:30PM
Lunch & Exhibit Hall Shopping
1:00-7:00PM
Special Needs Special Track
2:30-3:30PM
Workshop Session II
3:45-4:45PM
Workshop Session III
5:00-7:00PM
Exhibit Hall Shopping
6:30-8:30PM
Couples' Dinner with Rob Rienow
7:00PM
Exhibit Hall Closes

Homeschool Iowa Conference Saturday Schedule

7:45AM
Conference Registration Opens
8:15-9:15AM
Workshop Session IV
9:30-10:30AM
Saturday Morning Keynote
10:00AM
Exhibit Hall Opens
10:30AM-1:00PM
Lunch & Exhibit Hall Shopping
10:45AM-4:30PM
High School & Beyond Special Track
11:30AM-12:45PM
Lunch & Learn with Heidi St. John
1:00-2:00PM
Workshop Session V
2:15-3:15PM
Workshop Session VI
3:30-4:30PM
Workshop Session VII
4:30-5:30PM
Exhibit Hall Shopping Spree!
5:30PM
Exhibit Hall Closes

CONFERENCE DETAILS

Conference Parking

Hotel Accommodations

Special Meals, Box Lunches, & Snacks

ONSITE MEAL OPTIONS

COUPLES' DINNER
6:30pm | Friday, June 12

Homeschooling parent couples are invited to an evening of encouragement and hope, including a delectable catered dinner and presentation by Rob Rienow. Details are provided above.

LUNCH & LEARN
11:30am | Saturday, June 13

Enjoy a delicious lunch catered by Olive Garden™ along with a special opportunity to participate in a Q&A session with Heidi St. John. Details are provided above.

BOX LUNCHES
(Advance Order)

For your convenience, we offer advance order box lunches for Friday & Saturday.

FRIDAY BOX LUNCH
Pot Belly™ sub sandwich, chips, cookie. bottle of water
$8.50 per lunch

SATURDAY BOX LUNCH
Chick-fil-A™ chicken sandwich, chips, cookie. bottle of water
$8.50 per lunch

Complimentary Coffee

We're pleased to offer complimentary coffee at the Homeschool Iowa Conference.

Onsite Snack Sales

A limited assortment of snacks and beverages will be available for purchase onsite at the conference.

Our conference facilities are located near a number of restaurants and convenience stores offering offsite food and beverage purchases.

HI Bucks (Discounted Exhibit Hall Vouchers)

HI BUCKS

We're helping you stretch your purchasing power in our conference exhibit hall.

Purchase our HI Bucks vouchers on the advance online conference registration -- at a 10% savings -- and use them like cash in the exhibit hall.

Each $20 HI Bucks voucher costs you only $18, but is worth $20 in our exhibit hall.

HI Bucks can only be used in the Homeschool Iowa Conference Exhibit Hall, and only at exhibit booths that have agreed to accept them.

Limit of $200 of HI Bucks per registration.

Unused HI Bucks can be redeemed for the purchase value at the end of the conference on Saturday afternoon.

Homeschool Iowa Representatives Chat Area

Mothers’ Room & Toddler Play Areas

Mothers’ Room & Toddler Town

For the comfort and convenience of our parents and young children, there will be private rooms available for nursing, diaper changing, and other needs that arise with small children. The mothers’ room and a toddlers' room are located on the lower level of Valley Church.

The Valley Community Center, where our conference exhibit hall is located, also has both indoor and outdoor play areas for children.

Teacher Credit Course

Wrist Bands

A wristband will be issued to every registered attendee at registration check-in.

Wristbands will be specially-designed to indicate the access level purchased by each registrant.

Wristbands must be worn at all times while attending the Homeschool Iowa Conference and/or Exhibit Hall.

They are not to be removed from the wrist until the conference concludes and may not be shared or transferred.

Conference Recordings

Photograph/Video Usage

Homeschool Iowa reserves the right to use any photograph/video taken at any event sponsored by Homeschool Iowa without the expressed written permission of those included within the photograph/video.

Homeschool Iowa may use the photograph/video in publications or other media material produced, used or contracted by Homeschool Iowa including but not limited to: brochures, invitations, books, newspapers, magazines, television, websites, social media, etc.

THANKS TO 2020 Conference Sponsors

Plan toJOIN US AT THE CONFERENCE!

"I came to the conference feeling overwhelmed with our school year. I left feeling refreshed and renewed, with helpful tools and excellent reminders of what is important and why I am doing this."

~Homeschool Iowa Conference Attendee

Be a Conference Insider!

Use our secure online form for signup to receive conference information,
including e-mail updates and the conference issue of Homeschool Iowa magazine.

GET CONFERENCE INFO

Disclaimers: While Homeschool Iowa is a Christian organization and whereas this belief guides the structure of the annual Homeschool Iowa Conference, Homeschool Iowa does not require attendees, speakers, or exhibitors to profess or assert agreement to the Homeschool Iowa statement of faith. In the same way, while we may not accept or approve an exhibitor or hire a speaker who is specifically “anti-Christian”, we do admit speakers and exhibitors that are not explicitly “Christian” but that DO provide home educators, both Christian and non-Christian, with information, knowledge, or curriculum that is relevant, useful, and beneficial. Please note that Homeschool Iowa does not necessarily endorse everything found in our exhibit hall or presented in workshops and keynotes. All posted conference details, including the schedule, speakers, workshops/keynotes, exhibitors, etc. are subject to change.

CONFERENCE PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO RECORDINGS: Please note that photos will be taken and videos will be recorded at the Homeschool Iowa Conference. Homeschool Iowa reserves the right to use any photograph/video taken at any event sponsored by Homeschool Iowa, without the expressed permission of those included within the photograph/video. Homeschool Iowa does not provide compensation or royalties in conjunction with publication or use of these images and videos. Homeschool Iowa does not offer the opportunity to inspect or approve the use of an image or video prior to our publication of any photo, video, or audio recording taken by Homeschool Iowa or those designated by Homeschool Iowa to do so. .Homeschool Iowa may use the photograph/video in publication or other media material produced, used, or contracted by Homeschool Iowa, including, but not limited to: brochures, invitations, books, newspapers, magazines, television, websites, etc. Please email us at contact@homeschooliowa.org with any questions or concerns.

Questions about the conference?

EMAIL US