Our planned keynote speaker, Annie Bosque, is dealing with unexpected health issues and regrettably is unable to join us. We send her our sincere wishes for a steady recovery.
We are very fortunate to have our colleague Liz Beaven, a longtime Waldorf teacher and adult educator, to speak from her wide range of experience on the important theme of the conference. Liz will approach it from two perspectives.
This conference is co-sponsored by BACWTT and WECAN.
Northern California and Nevada Regional Conference For Waldorf Early Childhood Teachers
Kindling the Fire Within:
Strengthening the Will Through Community and Celebrating Our Commitment for the Next 100 Years
With Liz Beaven
Friday, November 6, 2026 | 5pm-9pm
Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 8:30am-4pm
On Friday evening, Liz Beaven will work with us to examine the landscape of Waldorf education in 2026. What have we built together over the past 100 years? What are the emerging needs and demands as we enter a second century?
On Saturday, we will turn our attention to what this landscape means for our children who come to us today. With strong will and good heart, we will examine what is essential and what can or must be adapted for the important task of preparing our children for their evolving life’s journey.
The conference will include artistic workshops, heart-centered conversations, our annual Roses and Thorns, and a celebration of 100 years of Waldorf Early Childhood education.
Liz Beaven, EdD, has been involved in Waldorf education for 40 years as a class teacher, school administrator, Board and College of Teachers member, lecturer, consultant, speaker, parent, and grandparent. She sees herself as a research practitioner, combining extensive practical experience with inquiry and writing. She serves as the Executive Director for Public Waldorf Education and is a member of the Pedagogical Section Council of North America. Her work is committed to interrogating, expanding, and deepening the understanding of Rudolf Steiner’s transformative intentions and indications and their application in evolving, diverse settings.
Conference Fee: $175
A discount is available for group signups.
In-person at the Marin Waldorf School: 755 Idylberry Road, San Rafael, CA 94903
For more information, please contact:
tiffany@bacwtt.org | (415) 479-4400 | www.bacwtt.org
Schedule
Friday, November 6th
5:00pm
6:30pm
7:00pm
7:15pm
8:30pm
8:45pm
Tea and Registration
Outdoor Singing Among the Lanterns and Oaks/Land Acknowledgement
Move Inside for a Warm Welcome
Keynote Lecture I
Puppetry
Good Night
Diane David
Liz Beaven
Jennifer Aguirre
Dian David
Saturday, November 7th
8:30am
9:00am
10:30am
11:00am
12:30pm
1;45pm
2:15pm
2:30pm
3:00pm
3:15pm
3:30pm
3:45pm
Singing
Keynote Lecture II
Snack and Mini Marketplace
Workshops
Lunch & Mini Marketplace: If you are both a teacher and craftsperson and have select items appropriate for the early childhood classroom, you are welcome to bring them for sale. There will be time during the two breaks for a mini marketplace.
School Reports – Roses and Thorns
Spacial Dynamics®
Plenum
Report from WECAN and Thank Yous
Celebrate 100 Years!
Puppetry
Farewell
Anna Rainville
Liz Beaven
Various Workshop Leaders
Kate Hammond
Liz Beaven and Others
Diane David
Everyone!
Jennifer Aguirre
Workshops
Please sign up for one of the following workshops.
“Make a Sweet and Simple Puppet” with Jennifer Aguirre
The puppet will be accompanied by a poem with ideas on how to bring it to life for young children. Please bring a material fee of $20 in cash, check, or pay on the day with Venmo.
“Courageous Conversations: Do You Hear What I Hear?” with Liz Beaven
In the course of our work, we may need to have difficult conversations with families. It is helpful to understand what we and our families are bringing to these conversations: what is being said and left unspoken? How can we courageously approach essential dialogue with clarity, sensitivity, and awareness of who is speaking and what we are hearing?
“Why Do We Paint and Sculpt Beeswax Every Week in the Classroom?” with Diane David
A revisiting and a deepening of how we do these artistic activities in the classroom. Why are they important? What capacities are the children developing for their future?
“Silk Painting” with Kate Hammond
Play with a variety of techniques to create variegated colored silks. Opportunity to try painting, sunprints, nature dyeing and cup dyeing for a mottled effect. Wear clothes that are dye friendly and be prepared to get creative! Working with four silks, 21.5″ x 21.5.” Please bring a material fee of $20 in cash, check, or pay on the day with Venmo.
“Food and the Young Child” with Stacy Ito
Bring strength and nourishment to the body and soul through story, movement, rhythm, and seasonal food offerings. Exploring the young child’s relationship to food and offering holistic support for both early childhood programs and home. Recipes and inspirations for menu planning will be provided and co-created within this workshop.
“Building Children’s Resilience in the Wilds of a City Park” with Paula McCabe
How to offer a full Waldorf early childhood program in an urban city park, highlighting the philosophy, the practicalities, and the delight and engagement with nature.
“Five Magic Notes” with Anna Rainville
Why indeed do the children of these times need musical magic in their early childhood classroom? Come learn pentatonic songs and dances to brighten the day and celebrate the season.
