Welcome to the IPA USA 2024 Conference, The Right to Play, RIGHT NOW! To ensure ease in registration, here are a few tricks.
Once you have purchased your ticket for the conference, you will be directed to a Registration Form. This form is not just a document; it’s a key part of our planning process, and your participation is highly valued. Please complete it to help us track attendees for each of the special events.
To add the T-shirt or the Saturday Evening Celebration to your registration, click on the ’Reserve Tickets’ button and select the option/s you want to add on.
If you want to attend the Pre-Conference, please follow the link below to register.
PreConference Session – Wednesday, September 25 – 9:30-2:30 pm Connecting Children with Nature: A Practical Workshop for Educators Follow this link to register for the preconference——https://events.humanitix.com/connecting-children-workshop
For the last 20 years as our society has been consumed in a culture of over-protecting children. To meet parent safety expectations and align with school accountability policies, school-age care programs reinforce this culture. We now know that many of these efforts have resulted in negative developmental consequences for kids. Our carefully cultivated “best practices” have inadvertently contributed to the worst outcomes for children. Youth workers can contribute to a new conversation! Join this exciting action research reflection session for practitioner insights. We’ll highlight new best practice possibilities and what supporting them could mean for school-age professionals!
Emily is a professional development and programming specialist for school-age Out-of-School Time providers. With over 25 years of experience leading before and after school programs, and master’s degree in youth work, she’s delivered training sessions at regional, state, and national... Read More →
Join me for an inspiring journey into the world of play-based learning, where creativity and imagination take center stage. In this session, educators will explore innovative strategies for fostering creativity and imagination through a play-based curriculum in early childhood settings.
"Ms. Webb is a native of San Antonio Texas. Ms. Webb started out working in childcare at a young age working with the babies in the church nursery. She has been working in childcare for 20 years. Fast-forwarding a bit to high school, ReShaun started taking childcare co-op classes... Read More →
Nature based learning holds many benefits for learners of all ages. However, many settings do not have access to a large outdoor space or may have limited resources. Through discussion, reflection, and hands-on creation, we will learn ways to connect nature into our unique environment.
Kayla Souza, M.Ed. is the owner of a play and nature focused home preschool. After almost 20 years working in the traditional classroom setting, she started her own small program in order to create the learning environment she wanted to see for her own child. Now nearing its 5th year... Read More →
"With the introduction of 'ISO 4980:2023 Benefit-risk assessment for sports and recreational facilities, activities and equipment' it is important for professionals supporting children through play to understand what this document means for them.
This session will touch upon the Benefits of undertaking Risky Play for children, introduce the ISO standard and what taking a Benefit Risk Assessment Approach means in practice. This introductory session will also share real life examples of risky play activities being undertaken by children both in Scotland and Australia.
We will follow up that introduction by giving participants the opportunity to collectively write a Benefit Risk Assessment and then head outside to undertake some risky play activities. The activities that we offer will be greatly impacted by the grounds and setting of the conference centre. "
Co-Head of Nursery/Head of Training, Stramash Social Enterprise , United Kingdom
Cameron emigrated to the U.K. following completing his BSc in Outdoor and Environmental Education in 2007 from Northern Vermont University. Cameron worked at the Child Development Centre on campus throughout his studies and this led him taking his outdoor learning foundation to the... Read More →
"Learn how we progressively started recognizing the value of embracing risky play as an essential component of children's development for our Preschoolers. Rather than sheltering them from all potential dangers, teachers are creating environments that allow for calculated risks, fostering resilience, problem-solving skills, and confidence among young learners. By encouraging activities such as climbing, exploring nature, and building with loose parts, we have been empowering our Preschoolers to navigate challenges, make decisions, and learn important life skills in a safe and supportive environment. Our teaching team participatedin Rusty Keeler's Risky Play Roundtable sessions."
Lead Teacher, Child Development Lab-University of Georgia
Dina is the Lead Teacher of the Preschool Program at the Child Development Lab (CDL) at the University of Georgia. She is beginning her 17th year at the CDL. During this time she has worked as an Assistant Teacher with Older Toddlers, Preschool, and Multi-Age. In March 2019 Dina became... Read More →
Laura is in her 5th year as an Assistant Teacher in Preschool. She attended the University of Missouri and completed her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education in 2010. She has taught young children in a variety of different settings throughout her career including... Read More →
