"The Benefits of Risk and Adventure in the Outdoor Classroom."  This dynamic and energizing full-day conference will offer a unique opportunity to acquire enhanced skills for cultivating and sustaining outdoor programs and natural environments at your center, provide practical information and updates on supporting nature-child connections, and enable you to experience and promote greater joy and learning through the Outdoor Classroom. 

The 2015 conference will offer new workshops for returning and experienced participants and for those just beginning to work with their Outdoor Classroom.  A major focus of the conference will be on the value and benefit of supporting appropriate risk for young children, working in partnership with Licensing.  We will feature outdoor activities and environments that are designed to encourage adventure and exploration.

The conference activities will include:

• Breakfast, networking, and self-guided tour of the Child Educational Center
• Welcome and Opening Session
• Plenary Session Introductory Remarks "Licensing and the Outdoor Classroom" by Gary Andary, Licensing Consultant
• Workshops topics:  Working in Partnership with Licensing, Creating Appropriate Risk and Adventure in the Outdoor Classroom, Introduction to the Outdoor Classroom, Bringing Outdoor Aesthetics Indoors, Teacher Engagement, Safety in the Outdoor Classroom, Photography with Young Children, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) Outdoors, Gardening with Children,  Outdoor Classroom Activities . . . and more
• Examples of innovative outdoor environments and activities that encourage risk and adventure
• Small group discussions on common hot topics of Outdoor Classroom implementation; select from our list or bring your own and get input from experienced Outdoor Classroom professionals
• Closing & raffle
  
• Post-conference Social and Center Recognition from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Saturday for everyone attending from Outdoor Classroom Project Recognized and Demonstration Sites in good standing

Early childhood professionals will interface with ECE professionals experienced with outdoor classrooms to gain enhanced skills for creating nurturing outdoor spaces for children and bring more joy and effectiveness to their work with children.  Come reconnect with your sense of play and join in the fun in the Outdoor Classroom play yards of the Child Educational Center.

ADDITIONAL HALF-DAY OUTDOOR CLASSROOM OBSERVATION AND WORKSHOP FOR DIRECTORS AND SITE SUPERVISORS
On Friday, January 23rd, a special morning outdoor classroom yard observation and workshop is available for Center Directors and Site Supervisors.  This half-day workshop will be led by Eric Nelson, Director of the Outdoor Classroom Project, and will provide participants the unique opportunity to observe the CEC program in action.  Enrollment for the morning workshop will be limited to a maximum of 30 participants who will have the benefit of open observation of the staff and children engaged in the outdoor classroom at our model site.

Due to the great level of interest and capacity enrollment in the Friday Directors' outdoor classroom yard observation and workshop, we will be offering the observation/workshop a second time in the afternoon from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.  We will be able to accommodate a small group of Directors and Site Supervisors.  If you wish to attend, we recommend you sign-up as soon as possible.  If you were placed on the morning wait-list, you will be able to attend the afternoon session. Please contact the office if you have questions.
Registration is now closed for both the morning and afternoon sessions of the Friday, Directors' Observation and Workshop.  If you wish to attend, please call our office and your name will be placed on a waitlist. 

The cost for the extended Director's Workshop is $45 when Director is attending the full-day conference on Saturday.  The fee for the Friday Directors workshop ONLY is $95.

POST-CONFERENCE SOCIAL AND CENTER RECOGNITION 
At the conclusion of the conference a social gathering and center recognition will be hosted by the National Outdoor Classroom Project® Demonstration Site Steering Committee for everyone attending from Outdoor Classroom Recognized and Demonstration Sites in good standing.  Those attending will have an opportunity to network and hear of developments and participation opportunities in our growing organization.

CONFERENCE DATE/TIME
Full-Day Conference
Saturday, January 24, 2015
8:45 am to 4:00 pm
Registration, CEC yard tours, media display viewing, store, networking, and a light continental breakfast will begin at 7:30 am. The conference is from 8:45 am to 4:00 pm.

Half-Day Outdoor Classroom Observation and Workshop for Directors and Site Supervisors
Friday, January 23, 2015
9:00 am to 12:00 pm  Registration is closed for the morning observation workshop.

Friday, January 23, 2015
1:00 to 4:00 pm  Registation is now closed for the afternoon observation workshop.

Due to space limitations, enrollment will be limited. First registered, first served.
Conference registration will be closed when full.  "Wait List" registration will be taken once the conference capacity has been reached, so please register early.

LOCATION
The Child Educational Center - Outdoor Classroom Project Model Site
Oak Grove Elementary School Site
140 Foothill Blvd., La Canada-Flintridge, CA 91011

CONTACT
Linda Palkovic
outdoor-classroom@caltech.edu
626.296.1770

FEES
Early Bird Registration: $149  Good for the period 10/30 - 12/1/14 (closed)
Full Registration Price:  $179  Good for the period 12/2 - 1/11/15
Late Bird Registration:  $219  Good for the period 1/12 - 1/24/15
A group discount is available for 6 or more staff from a center.  Please contact our office for details and arrangements.

OCP DEMONSTRATION & RECOGNIZED SITE DISCOUNT (Demonstration Site Network staff will receive a 10% discount on the above rates.)
DSN Early Bird Registration: $134  Good for the period 10/30 - 12/1/14 (closed)
DSN Full Registration Price:  $161  Good for the period 12/2 - 1/11/15
DSN Late Bird Registration:  $197  Good for the period 1/12 - 1/24/15

ADDITIONAL HALF-DAY OUTDOOR CLASSROOM OBSERVATION AND WORKSHOP FOR DIRECTORS AND SITE SUPERVISORS - FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2015
$45 WITH full-day Saturday registration
$95 Half-day Friday workshop ONLY
We have reached enrollment capacity for both the morning and afternoon sessions of the Friday 1/2-Day Directors' Observation and Workshop.  Please contact Linda, in our office, if you would like to have your name placed on the wait-list. 

The 8-hour full-day program includes: opening session, workshops, continental breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, handout and resource package, tours of CEC yards and displays, closing session, resource book & display room, raffle prizes, and Certificate of Completion for 6 hours of professional development credit.

Cancellation Policy: You can obtain a partial refund of your fee minus a $35 administrative charge as late as Sunday, January 11th.  Beginning January 12th, any fee paid is non-refundable.

REGISTRATION
Due to space limitations, enrollment will be limited. First registered, first served. Register early to save your spot!  Each person attending from your center must register individually, using separate email addresses.

In order to receive regular updates regarding the workshop, it is important to follow these three steps:
1.  When registering please use an email address OTHER THAN your Center's main email
address.
2.  Please also register using an address that does not block incoming emails.
3.  Add outdoor-classroom@caltech.edu to your accepted sites to receive emails.

 The Outdoor Classroom Project is an initiative of the
Child Educational Center, Caltech/JPL Community (CEC).

     www.outdoorclassroomproject.org                                  www.ceconline.org