2009 Natural Learning Conference Australia... bounce ideas around here!

[Aurora]

Stemming from this thread http://joyouslearning.info/forums/showthread.php?t=574 we decided to start a whole new thread dedicated to nutting out some possibilities! What do you think? Would you be keen to attend? Have any locations/venues in mind to propose? What yould you like to see there? Any particular speakers, workshops, activities?

Our first attempt would probably be pretty casual and low scale, just a meet and greet for our families, but hopefully as the natural learning population in Australia (and on our forums!) grows, so can our conferences.

[Ayla]

I think we ought to choose a place that will have some kind of accomodation. I don't mind camping, but not everyone likes to pitch a tent, so I was thinking perhaps something like where school camps go? Scout groups? That kind of thing. Wdyt?

And I reckon we should aim for spring 2009 or autumn 2010.

[bella]

I think there's something already being planned for Qld/NSW for 2009-10 along these lines. But the more, the merrier I say!

[Ayla]

Bella, is NHEC planning one for then? I haven't heard anything about it, and their website isn't working.

[Ceres]

I'd be keen depending on location and cost. Obviously with 2 members in SA we can't really ask you to come here :lol but in principle I'm interested. Would you be thinking a casual get together / camp or something more formal with presenters and workshops?

[Ayla]

I don't know, they're both appealing for different reasons! :lol I love the idea of something more casual, the thought of it feels intimate and cozy. I also love the idea of having guest speakers and workshops. I wonder if we can work out a balance? One day of just us, the next with speakers & activities/workshops?

[Ceres]

If you wanted to do both you could just schedule one workshop or speaker per day so that the rest of the day is social time. Maybe ask some experienced homeschoolers like Beverly Paine if they want to present?

[~*heket*~]

Did someone say CAMPING??? :eager

[bella]

No, not NHEC, another group. I don't have details at hand and there's been no announcement yet. I was just consulted with the early planning details recently because I was very involved in the NHEC in Brisi.

This one is of the more formal kind with speakers, workshops etc.

[Ayla]

Ah ok :) Well let us know if you hear of anything more about it! :D

[Aurora]

Yeah please do keep us posted Bel, as if we *did* want to go ahead with planning we would make sure dates didn't clash. I like the idea of a balance between casual/social and workshops/speakers, and like the idea of maybe one formal event a day (over the 2 day period?) Of course we could have fun stuff like sack races, treasure hunts etc for the kids, and anyone who would like to share their skills would be welcome!

[Ayla]

Oooh, I love the idea of a treasure hunt!

[bella]

Will do. :)

[ThirdArmBabySlingProject]

At this point, just to say I'd love to see it happen...

[homebirthmum]

Also love to see it happen here.

[Izzát]

I like the idea of casual/social mixed in with a workshop/guest speaker too.

I also like the idea of holding it at a place that community groups have camps at ( there is a place in Boona that springs to mind) The only thing would be that we would then need to have a fee to cover accom costs.

[breeze]

A conferance sounds exciting! I like the casual/formal mix too. And Seals Rocks is beautiful......

[Anaed]

Ooh I would love to see this happen too :D

[GreenGully]

We would be keen and would be happy to camp. My vote is for nth NSW, somewhere like Lennox Head. Or not, we would go anywhere cos I should be driving by then!

[Asrathiel]

I'd be up for it, depending on finances and location. Sydney'd be good for us!

[Izzát]

I'll put my hand up to help with organising some part if needed

[Sarasvati]

I loike NNSW or Sunny Coast.

[~*heket*~]

Yk, I vote we just do a camping trip (most caravan parks have cabins for the WEAK) and forget about the formal stuff. It's unlikely that we'll have HUGE numbers of womyn and their kids attending, and formal events with kids isn't so great in my experience anyway!

[GreenGully]

I agree heket.

[Izzát]

i loike where the planning is going....

[bella]

As promised, keeping you in the loop. The conference I am aware of has been postponed to 2010-ish. So plan, plan away! Sounds great!

[Ayla]

Cool, thanks Bella!

[natures_natural_mum]

are all welcome to come or is it for known people only?..say if all decided to camp or something like that?:)

[Sarasvati]

I'd assume all were welcome... what about partners though?

[~*heket*~]

All welcome, the more the merrier :D

[Ayla]

:bump So maybe not this year then? :lol

[bella]

T'is very easy to organise home ed camps. I just booked a camp site in a c'van park with a HUGE open area and good facilities - then told as many other home ed'ers as I could. We mostly get unschool-y types, and other types who can tolerate our antics! We're onto our 5th year now. To have a conference would be the same, but invite people to speak/do/show/share... We have various activities at our camps, and it's all up on a blackboard and casually organised. ;) It doesn't need to be an international event to nourish the soul.

[Ayla]

How much does it cost to do the camps that you do (ballpark)?

[Aurora]

There turned out being way too much going on this year to really plan another big event. I even think next year could be a little ambitious. How about 2011, and we aim for the beginning of the year so it doesn't coincide with the Joyous Birth Festival?

[Hope]

Is this still being talked about?? I just joined Joyous Learning forums. But I'd LOVE to attend an unschooling family conference thingy like the ones I read about on the US boards and blogs... We'd probably travel anywhere! Camping would be great! Somewhere warm and beachy? or snow? or a River? or lotsa mud? any place fun...:D
Be fantastic to invite people to speak from Australia and overseas? and it'd be wonderful to meet lots of Aussie unschooling and.. er..'radical unschooling' (oh that label needs renaming...) families! Cheers, Hope :eager

[Ceres]

I think it's something we'd still like to persue, but this year is just whizzing by me so I'll revisit it in the new year.

[Harmony]

I saw this recently http://www.sydneygateway.com.au/lodge looks good :)