Spring 2021

SPRING 2021

HOMESCHOOL IOWA 5

AFTER

THE

o say that we are excited about this year’s conference is an

understatement. Planning for much of this year’s confer-

ence began back in 2019 when we had no idea that our

2020 conference would end up being cancelled. Then this year, we

were recently faced with the fact that our 2021 conference venue

would not be finished on time due to construction delays. We are

nowmoving our conference to the beautiful Grand View University

campus in Des Moines.

We were forced to pivot, to make a crucial decision that would

change everything. Many of you have faced similar circumstances

over the past year.You have been in a positionwhere you needed to

make a significant change because that was what was best for your

family. For many of you, this meant bringing your children home to

educate them, and you found yourself on this homeschool journey.

For others, you continued to homeschool as you had before, but

things still looked different.

As we have waited for this conference to actually come to frui-

tion, we are realizing that the pivots we have all been compelled to

make are reaping many benefits.

Families have had more time together and have grown closer to

each other. The number of homeschooling families has more than

doubled, maybe even tripled, since we began planning for this

conference more than two years ago.

We are thrilled for the opportunity to serve more homeschool

families and to do that with an in-person conference, which is quite

uncommon this year. Our new venue, Grandview University in Des

Moines, has a beautiful campus and will be a great place for our con-

ference. As your conference planning team, we have refined and re-

designed our offerings to bring you a conference that will encourage

you wherever you are on your homeschool journey and point you in

the direction that God wants for your family for the upcoming year.

We are offering exciting new registration options to our Homeschool

Iowa members, which you will find on our website.

Our speaker lineup this year is amazing and includes keynote

speakers Heidi St. John and Rob Rienow, as well as many other awe-

some workshop presenters. These speakers bring not only a wealth

of knowledge about homeschooling but also a deep well of wisdom

and insight regarding God’s word, marriage, and parenting – all the

things that matter the most as we strive to raise our children.

New this year are our special tracks which are specialized confer-

ences within a conference. Our Beginning Homeschooling track will

offer new or potential homeschoolers a chance to learn about Iowa

homeschool law, hear from experienced homeschool moms, and

ask all of their questions. Our Homeschooling Special Needs Track

will feature speaker Peggy Ployhar along with exhibitors who can

help families meet their children’s special learning needs. Our Home-

schooling High School and Beyond track will spotlight Carol Becker

from HSLDA and will also feature a college and career fair. This will

be a tremendous resource for parents and

teens approaching or in the high school

years.

Teens will also want to check out our

teen track workshops which are occurring

throughout the entire conference.

And, of course, our amazing KIDS TREK

children’s program is always a popular

choice for parents attending the confer-

ence who want their younger children to

enjoy an amazing weekend experience

as well.

This year, once again, we are offering

our Make & Take Workshops. In them,

you will learn about a special topic and

then create a related item to take home

with you. These workshops have limited

space, so be sure to sign up soon if you

are interested.

Many more opportunities will be fea-

tured at our conference this year, in-

cluding exhibit hall shopping, a licensed

teacher renewal credit course, special

meal events, and much more.

We are eager to see the new faces of

homeschooling who will be joining us for

the first time. We are also delighted to see

the familiar faces of homeschooling who will be connecting with

us once again.

You’re all invited! We have a place for you. We are expectantly

waiting for you and are eager for you to be a part of the 2021

Homeschool Iowa Conference!

KIM BLOM, CONFERENCE COORDINATOR

P l a n n i n g t h e H o m e s c h o o l I o w a 2 0 2 1 C o n f e r e n c e !

A few of the members of our Conference Planning Team were privileged to tour the brand-

new MidAmerican Energy RecPlex, prior to its completion this spring! Our 2021 Conference has

moved to Grand ViewUniversity, but we still enjoyed the opportunity to visit this new facility. Left

to Right: Sarah Roth, Assistant Volunteer Coordinator; Dawn Cowman, Conference Coordinator;

Julie Nieberhaus, Homeschool Iowa Administrative Assistant; KimBlom, Conference Coordinator;

and Jill Oppman, Volunteer Coordinator

As we have

waited

for this

conference

to actually

come to

fruition,

we are

realizing

that the

pivots we

have all been

compelled

to make

are reaping

many benefits.