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:
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!
2022 Homeschool Iowa Conference
MidAmerican Energy RecPlex
West Des Moines
June 10-11, 2022
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.
Hundreds of homeschooling families reaped a harvest of encouragement and motivation at our 2021 Conference, gathering new ideas, strategies, vision, and perspective.
We enjoyed a weekend together to recharge, learn, grow, and walk this beautiful, sometimes messy, but always incredibly vital journey together.
Looking for conference recordings? Email Rhino Technologies.
Make plans now to join us for our Homeschool Iowa Conference next year on June 10-11, 2022.
QUICK VIEW CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
To view a full block schedule, click here.
7:45AM
Conference Registration Opens
8:15-9:45AM
Friday Morning Keynote
8:15-9:45AM
Start Homeschooling Special Track
10:00AM
Exhibit Hall Opens
10:00-11:00AM
Workshop Session I
11:00AM-1:00PM
Lunch & Exhibit Hall Shopping
11:45AM-12:45PM
Exhibitor Workshop Session
12:30-6:00PM
Special Needs Special Track
1:00-2:00PM
Workshop Session II
2:30-3:30PM
Workshop Session III
4:00-5:00PM
Workshop Session IV
5:00-7:00PM
Exhibit Hall Shopping
6:30-8:30PM
Couples' Dinner with Rob Rienow
7:00PM
Exhibit Hall Closes
7:45AM
Conference Registration Opens
8:15-9:15AM
Workshop Session V
9:00AM
Exhibit Hall Opens
9:30-11:00AM
Brunch & Learn
9:30AM-10:30AM
Workshop Session VI
10:30AM-12:30PM
Lunch & Exhibit Hall Shopping
10:45-11:45AM
Exhibitor Workshop Session
12:00-5:30PM
High School & Beyond Special Track
12:30-1:30PM
Workshop Session VII
2:00-3:00PM
Workshop Session VIII
3:30-4:30PM
Workshop Session IX
4:30-5:30PM
Exhibit Hall Shopping
5:30PM
Exhibit Hall Closes
CONFERENCE
PROGRAM
Take a digital peek
at our 2021 Conference program!
You'll find complete information
about every aspect of this
exciting event!
All conference registrants
will receive a print version
of this program
when checking in
at the conference.
Conference SPECIAL TRACKS
BUILT INTO THE CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Friday, June 18
8:15-9:45am
Friday, June 18
12:30-6:00pm
Saturday, June 19
12:00-5:30pm
Make & Take Workshops
COUPLES' DINNER
Speaker: Rob Reinow
BRUNCH & LEARN
Speaker: Heidi St. John
THANKS TO OUR 2021 Sponsors
CONFERENCE DETAILS
PARKING
Onsite parking is available
in the Grand View University parking lots.
Parking is free.
We have arranged for a block of rooms at Holiday Inn & Suites in Urbandale. For details and a direct link, check the Conference Location & Lodging page.
Grand View is offering a very limited number of their affordable on-campus housing options to our conference attendees.
If you want to investigate this option, contact Grand View at conferencing@grandview.edu.
Homeschool Iowa is excited to be planning for an in-person conference this year!
We will be following the guidelines for masks set by the Governor of the State of Iowa, so masks will not be required at the conference.
A few of our exhibitors who are older or who have health concerns have told us that they may require masks in their booths. We ask that you honor their request if you choose to shop in their booths.
ONSITE MEAL OPTIONS
COUPLES' DINNER
6:30pm | Friday, June 18
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.
BRUNCH & LEARN
9:30am | Saturday, June 19
Enjoy a delicious catered brunch 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
Sub sandwich, chips, cookie. bottle of water
$8.50 per lunch
SATURDAY BOX LUNCH
Deli sandwich, chips, cookie, and bottle of water
$8.50 per lunch
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.
Representatives Chat Area
Experienced Homeschool Iowa representatives are available throughout the conference to answer your homeschooling questions and to share wisdom and encouragement with you.
Our experienced and helpful Homeschool Iowa Regional Representatives will be staffing the chat area, and they are eager to help.
Mothers’ Room & Toddler Town
For the comfort and convenience of our attendees with young children, there will be a private room available for nursing, diaper changing, and other needs that arise with small children.
Teacher Credit Course
Once again, we are offering an AEA professional development activity providing credit for teacher re-certification in connection with our conference.
Information is available HERE.
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.
Rhino Technologies recorded our conference workshops and keynotes and sold them onsite.
Recordings are also available for purchase directly from them:
Photograph/Video Usage
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.
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.
PLAN TO JOIN 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
Use our secure online form for signup to receive conference information,
including e-mail updates and the conference issue of Homeschool Iowa magazine.
Questions about the conference?