by Renée Gotcher

Last month, I shared the top five reasons I believe all homeschooling parents should consider attending a homeschool conference — especially if it’s local. However, I also understand that many aspects of attending a conference can be daunting for even the most organized homeschooler. Decisions such as how to simplify travel, stay within a budget, arrange for childcare (if needed), and, of course, manage your limited time to see and do “all the things” can become overwhelming. 

The good news is that homeschool conferences are designed to equip you, not overwhelm you — even if you’re a brand-new homeschooler or a homeschool-curious attendee trying to decide. Conference teams spend a lot of time and effort to provide a supportive, encouraging experience for you and your family. However, you might need some pre-conference guidance on how to set yourself up for success so that you don’t return home frazzled and exhausted. These five strategies will help you make the most of your homeschool conference experience.

 

Homeschool Conference Smart Strategy #1: Prepare in Advance

I remember how overwhelmed I felt at my first homeschool conference almost 15 years ago, walking into a massive conference center bustling with hundreds of families (not knowing a single one) while trying to make heads or tails of the detailed map in the brochure-length schedule I just picked up. Even though I’m sure I received some advance information about what to expect, I arrived that morning unprepared for the maze of hallways, sprawling vendor exhibit hall, and plethora of choices among workshops taking place at the same time. 

Thankfully, I arrived early enough to find my way to the opening keynote and grab a seat before it started (hint: following the masses usually helps!). I quickly scanned the conference schedule to make sure I knew where to head next. As I flipped through the pages, questions began to stack up in my already frazzled mind: 

• How do I choose from several sessions that sound compelling but take place at the same time? 
• What if I miss out on an important speaker? 
• When will I find time to check out the exhibit hall?
• Where will I get lunch and much-needed afternoon coffee?
• Why didn’t I grab some energy-reviving snacks before I left home?

Maybe you have already run through these questions and thoughtfully come to your own conclusions. Or maybe you’re realizing for the first time that you should think about some of these things before you set foot in the conference center (this was me). On my drive home that day, I realized I should have taken some time to prepare for the conference — mentally and physically.

Here’s what I learned that helped me prepare for the next day’s logistics:

• The schedule is available before the conference. Why didn’t I think of that? Now that I had my hands on a physical copy, I spent the evening going through it and circling the sessions I didn’t want to miss. These days, conferences usually provide apps and interactive online schedule tools that make planning your day a snap! If you are attending CHEC’s Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference, make sure to download the CHEC Homeschool app: click here for Apple or click here for Google.
• The map is also available before the conference. Take some time to locate the rooms where the sessions you just circled are taking place. Make note of essential stops such as restrooms, grab-and-go options, and the exit closest to the parking lot. Becoming familiar with the venue layout before you show up will save time and eliminate frustration.
• Make food decisions in advance. Even if the venue has food available for purchase, think through your personal needs in advance. Do you have food allergies that need to be accommodated? What if you don’t have time for a sit-down meal? (More on that later.) How will you satisfy your coffee/tea/caffeine cravings? Where will you refill your water bottle? Trust me, you want to think about these things before you leave the house. Your body will thank you for it!

 

Homeschool Conference Smart Strategy #2: Prioritize Your Time

Most homeschool conference schedules are packed with practical teaching, timely topics, valuable resources, and inspiring speakers. In theory, you don’t want to miss anything that could apply to your homeschooling and family discipleship season. In practice, you will need to prioritize your time (and energy) so that you come home equipped, encouraged, and refreshed — ready to continue homeschooling with confidence.

Here’s what I learned that helped me manage my time more effectively:

• Many sessions are on “tracks” that follow themes. If this is the case for the conference you’re attending, following a track that aligns with your current homeschooling season will help you fulfill your immediate needs. If there isn’t a theme that seems essential to your family right now, choose an age-based track (such as young learners, high schoolers, etc.) to help you meet your children’s specific needs.
• Many speakers lead a variety of sessions. If there are particular speakers that you are looking forward to hearing from, keep in mind that they are likely to be speaking several times — even the keynote speakers usually lead a workshop or two as well. If you are trying to balance information needs with inspirational messages, check the speaker page to find out which sessions they are teaching throughout the conference so you have more options to choose from.
• Conference recordings are available for purchase. Although you probably don’t need to hear every session taking place at the conference, you likely won’t have time to attend all the sessions that apply to you in this season of homeschooling. Conference recordings are usually available at a reasonable price, and most conferences also offer session-specific recordings (not just the entire conference). If you know that you will take the time to go back and listen to recorded sessions, this is the best way to take the pressure off yourself to fill every nook and cranny of your schedule with workshops and sessions.  
• You don’t have time to do it all — so don’t try! This starts with selecting sessions and vendors that align with your current homeschooling season and immediate needs, as previously mentioned. However, you also want to protect yourself from burning out before the conference is over. Take breaks, drink enough water, bring plenty of purse-sized snacks, sit down for a meal or two when possible, pack a portable phone charger and a sweater (if you get cold in air conditioning), and step outside to get fresh air! If you’re staying at the venue, you can even escape to your room for quiet time without taking too much time out of your day.

 

Homeschool Conference Smart Strategy #3: Set a Budget & Stick to It

The idea of shopping at a homeschool conference is exciting for some: “I can’t wait to see and take home what I need!” But it can also be intimidating: “I can’t decide what to buy now or later… or at all!” If you’re an analytical shopper like me, a bountiful exhibit hall can cause analysis paralysis. You might be worried that you won’t have enough time to evaluate products before the conference is over, which means you’ll miss out on conference-only discounts. But can you make up your mind in time?

Here’s what I learned that helped me make the most of my exhibit hall browsing:

• The schedule provides time for shopping. You will be able to walk through the exhibit hall without missing out on an important workshop or keynote session. Most conferences also offer an exhibit hall “grand opening” to kick off the in-person shopping experience. Vendors are also aware of the schedule, so you don’t need to feel bad about ducking out to get to the next session and coming back later.
• Many vendors & service providers offer conference-only discounts. If you’ve never attended a homeschool conference, you may not know that one of the benefits of shopping at the conference is saving money (with conference-only discounts) and not having to pay for shipping. However, don’t let the discounts throw you off your budget. My strategy was to decide in advance what I definitely would need for the upcoming school year and base my budget on those needs. Then you do actually save money instead of overspending on spontaneous purchases you don’t end up using.
• Used books & curriculum are also usually available. If your budget is tight but you know there are some items you need for the upcoming school year, start by shopping at the used curriculum sale (if one is provided). The Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference provides a two-day, off-site used curriculum sale that starts before the conference! My daughters especially enjoyed browsing a particular vendor booth on the main exhibit floor that featured used classics and older editions of books that are ideal for a homeschool library. You don’t have to break the bank to pick up some valuable resources at the conference!

 

Homeschool Conference Smart Strategy #4: Make Time for Fellowship

I remember being pleasantly surprised to run into a friend from my local homeschool group after the opening keynote session of the first conference I attended. Later that day, I realized I hadn’t even thought of asking any of my local homeschooling friends if they wanted to attend the conference with me, or if anyone from our homeschool support group planned to attend. I was so focused on our immediate practical needs that I overlooked the long-term benefit of in-person fellowship with other like-minded homeschoolers. 

Here’s what I learned that helped me grow my homeschool support network:

• Attending with friends can save time, money, and frustration. If you have already decided you are going to attend a homeschool conference, don’t forget to invite your local homeschooling friends! You can: carpool together, split a room at the venue, potluck some picnic lunches, “divide and conquer” those important sessions you didn’t want to miss (and share notes), and debrief together at the end of each day. I attended several conferences with homeschooling family members, and we got to have memorable family fun along with learning together.
• Many conferences offer “meet & greet” or focused fellowship events. Whether it’s by region, stage of homeschooling (such as new homeschoolers), or specific homeschooling topics (such as special needs schooling), many conferences offer opportunities to make valuable connections for your region or season of homeschooling. Most also offer bonus events just for moms, dads, high schoolers, or families. These are wonderful opportunities to be filled and encouraged by one another, so don’t miss out on these special fellowship times!
• Get to know the person sitting next to you. When you go to a specific session or workshop, you likely have something in common with the person sitting next to you, because you both chose the same session. Take a minute to say hello before the session starts. Ask them what they are hoping to get out of the session or if they have heard the speaker before. You might make a new friend to stay in touch with after the conference!

 

Homeschool Conference Smart Strategy #5: Plan to Unpack & Debrief

Even if you follow all of the success strategies suggested thus far, you will still return home with a lot to “unpack” — and I don’t just mean your luggage and shopping bags. You have just been exposed to A LOT of new information, ideas, suggestions, resources, tools, and services, and you may be tempted to leave all the brochures and handouts in the bag you brought them home in and shelve your notebook for now. It feels good to put all of that aside for now, but I recommend you take some time AFTER you’ve reconnected with your family (if they didn’t attend) to mentally unpack and debrief with your spouse.

Here’s what I found helpful to maximize my post-conference experience:

• Throw away anything you don’t need right now. I am a bit of a pack-rat when it comes to filing, but over the years, I learned that I rarely, if ever, retrieved brochures and handouts I had saved for potential future use. By the time you get to that stage of homeschooling, or that educational topic in your lesson planning, you will likely have a whole new pile of information and resources to go through and evaluate. If you are hesitant to toss something, take a digital photo and file it away in a conference “album” on your phone. Lastly, if you need to look up information about a vendor whose brochure you didn’t save, the conference catalog (and website) will have a list of all speakers and exhibitors you can refer to later — you can save that instead!
• Focus on what can make the biggest impact now. When you debrief with your spouse, you can prioritize all the good ideas you just gathered and focus on what will help your family right now, in your current season, taking into account what is already working well. Sometimes a change in curriculum or homeschooling method will make a huge difference, but what works for one family might not work for your family. Pray for confirmation about any changes or new purchases you are considering. 
• Create a realistic action plan. Once you have whittled down the most important takeaways and action items from the conference, plan your next steps at a reasonable pace. Depending on when you attended the conference, you may have all summer to do further research, plan, and prepare for new approaches or curriculum. If you aren’t on a school break, focus on one thing you can do differently (or use) that will help you finish out the school year more smoothly and leave the rest for summer investigation. Once again, ask the Lord for guidance before making too many changes.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV).

Thorough preparation, calculated session selection, and strategic time management will help you make the most of your homeschool conference experience. I have attended many throughout my 14 years of homeschooling, and each one was a valuable, restorative, and reassuring experience! However, the most important thing you can do to set yourself up for success is to put all of your questions, hopes, and expectations in your Heavenly Father’s capable hands and let Him do the rest. Trust that if you’ve prayerfully prepared yourself, He will direct your steps — both at and after the conference.

 

Dive Deeper With These Additional Resources

• On the Colorado Homeschool Podcast: Listen to Episode 33, Homeschool Parents, Are You Missing Out? Why Conferences Matter, with Megan Maurer, a second-generation homeschooler, mom of four, homeschool group leader, and the voice behind a popular and encouraging YouTube channel for homeschool families.
• On the CHEC YouTube Channel: Listen in as RMHC Director Brandee Gillham and CHEC Outreach Director Kashia Davis share specific tips on making your conference attendance productive, stress-free, and fun for the whole family.
• On the CHEC Blog: Need more reasons to consider attending a homeschool conference? Read the blog post, Why Attend a Homeschool Conference? Five Reasons All Homeschoolers Should Consider It.
• On the Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference website: Start here if you are planning to attend the Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference for the first time. You will find everything you need to begin preparing!

 

About the Author: Renée Gotcher

Renée Gotcher is the Communications Coordinator at CHEC, as well as a freelance writer, editor, and recently “retired” homeschooling mother of three daughters (two are also college graduates and the youngest attends BJU). Renée and her husband of 31 years, Kenny, are next-generation homeschoolers who were homeschooled in the late 1980s and began homeschooling in 2010. Soon after, Renée launched a homeschooling blog, NextGenHomeschool.com, and actively supported the local homeschool community through various leadership roles for 14 years. She recently contributed to Proverbs 31 Ministries’ Encouragement for Today devotional series and writes monthly devotionals for the Daybreak Devotions series on Crossmap.com and her personal blog, The Pace of Grace.