"Follow Your Heart in the Outdoor Classroom: Inspiring Practices, Skills, and Ideas that Foster Joyful Learning."  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 2016 conference will offer new workshops for returning and experienced participants and entry level workshops for those just beginning to work with their Outdoor Classroom. A major focus will be on creating and enhancing robust outdoor classrooms that can bring magic to ECE programs, manifesting a community of joyful and successful learners that includes children, teachers, and parents alike.  Workshops are designed to encourage a sense of wonder, joy, and heartfelt connection with nature. 

Early childhood professionals will be able to connect 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. 

Conference activities will include:

• Breakfast, networking, and self-guided tour of the Child Educational Center
• Welcome and Opening Session
• Workshops that are Heart-Centered, Creative, Informative, and Fun!
• Examples of innovative outdoor environments and hands-on activities that manifest authentic engagement of teachers and children
• Setting-Up The Outdoor Classroom: Guided Tours of the CEC led by our Inspired Staff
• A nutritious lunch
• Closing & raffle
• Post-conference Social and Center Recognition from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Saturday for everyone attending from Outdoor Classroom Project Demonstration & Recognized Sites.
  . . . and so much more!
                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 - Wait List Started for Friday event.

We have reached capacity enrollment for the Friday, Directors' Observation and Workshop on January 22nd.  Registration is now closed for the Friday event. If you wish to attend, please call our office and your name will be placed on the waitlist.
On Friday, January 22nd, 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.  Please note: Only one person from a center may attend this Friday event.

The cost for the extended Director's Workshop is $50 when Director is attending the full-day conference on Saturday.  The fee for the Friday Directors workshop ONLY is $100.

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 Demonstration and Recognized Sites in good standing.  Those attending will have an opportunity to network and hear of developments and participation opportunities in our growing network.

CONFERENCE DATE/TIME
Full-Day Conference
Saturday, January 23, 2016
8:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Registration, CEC yard tours, media display viewing, store, networking, and a light continental breakfast will begin at 7:30 a.m. The conference is from 8:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Half-Day Outdoor Classroom Observation and Workshop for Directors and Site Supervisors
Friday, January 22, 2016
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
We have reached capacity enrollment for the Friday, Directors' Observation and Workshop on January 22nd.  Registration is now closed for the Friday event. If you wish to attend, please call our office and your name will be placed on the waitlist. 

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. In 2015 the Conference filled to capacity.

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: $159  Good for the period 11/2 - 12/4/15 (closed)
Full Registration Price:  $189  Good for the period 12/5 - 1/11/16
Late Bird Registration:  $229  Good for the period 1/12 - 1/23/16
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.)
DSN Early Bird Registration: $144  Good for the period 11/2 - 12/4/15 (closed)
DSN Full Registration Price:  $171  Good for the period 12/5 - 1/11/16
DSN Late Bird Registration:  $207  Good for the period 1/12 - 1/23/16

ADDITIONAL HALF-DAY OUTDOOR CLASSROOM OBSERVATION AND WORKSHOP FOR DIRECTORS AND SITE SUPERVISORS - FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2016  - Registation is closed for this Friday 1/2 Day event.  If you wish to attend, please call our office to have your name placed on the wait-list.
$50 WITH full-day Saturday registration
$100 Half-day Friday workshop ONLY

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 7 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 10th.  Beginning January 11th, 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!  Registration did close early for the 2015 Conference.  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).

          outdoorclassroomproject.org                                          ceconline.org