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2024 Programming

This was our NEUC 2024 Planned Programming. We hope it will give you an idea of what our 2025 programming will be like. Have a look at what we offered last year!

Basketball

Basketball

Slam dunk your way into fun as we offer the chance to shoot hoops and play pickup games with fellow unschoolers on our basketball court.

Campfire

Campfire Music Jam

Join us with your favorite instrument for a fireside jam session!

Question Marks Made of Craft Paper

Grown Unschoolers Panel

Join us for a panel discussion where grown unschoolers talk about how unschooling shaped them and their experiences growing up as unschoolers. Feel free to ask all the questions on your mind, and listen to a discussion about the benefits and disadvantages these panelists have observed in their own lives as a result of being unschooled!

Question Mark

Self-directed Learning for Beginners

How do you get in the right mindset as a beginning parent of an unschooler? Sarah McEleney is here to help! This presentation will also have a Q&A afterward.

Rainbow Tie Dye T-shirt

Tie-dye/acid washing

Join us for a hands-on experience where you will learn the step-by-step process of acid washing or tie-dyeing your favorite T-shirt. bring your own 100% cotton T-shirt- black or dark colors are best for acid washing.

Ping Pong

Ping Pong

Get ready to showcase your fast-paced skills and precision shots on the ping pong table, where players of all ages can enjoy friendly matches.

Game character

How to Use Video Games in Your Child’s Educational Journey

Gaming and education don’t have to be enemies. In fact, gaming can be a huge ally in your child’s education. Devyn Ricks has been using games as teaching tools for many years and wants to show you the skills your child learns every time they play popular games like Minecraft, Pokemon, Zelda, Fortnite and more.

Rubik's Cube

Demystifying the Puzzle Cube (aka Rubik's)

Have you ever tried to solve the cube, but had no idea how to even get started? We'll show you the seven steps to solving a cube for beginners, and possibly introduce you to the world of speed solving, cube mosaic art, and going beyond the standard 3x3x3!

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Letting Them Lead: Adventures in Game-Based, Self-Directed Learning

Laurie Block Spigel reads from her new book (Letting Them Lead) with time for Questions and Answers. Laurie shares her journey, doubts, fears, surprises both good and bad, and the ultimate rewards that spring from game-based, personalized education.

Graduation Caps

Let's Talk College

How do you choose which College to go to? How do you get in? How do you have a good experience? How do you recognize when to get out? Come with your questions and get tips from Grown Unschoolers who have been/are going through College!

Badminton Racket and Birdies

Badminton

Grab a racket and birdie for some high-flying fun on the badminton court. Join us for friendly matches and rallies that will keep you on your toes.

Notebook and Pen

Writers' Sprints

Many writers hone their skills by writing sprints: receiving a one-line prompt and writing whatever comes to mind in a fixed amount of time. Sound scary? It can be, but once you learn how to let ideas flow, the possibilities are endless!

Magnifying Glass

Murder Mystery Night

Despite the best efforts of our hard-working staff, it seems trouble is afoot! Join us for a friendly 80’s theme roleplaying game on our Murder Mystery Night and show off your best crime-solving skills!

Volleyball

Volleyball

Dive into the action with our volleyball games, where you can team up with others and enjoy the thrill of this dynamic sport on the sand or court.

Tree growing out of a half broken glass sphere.

Unschooling as a Liberatory Philosophy

Join Grown Unschooler Tony Patterson (he/him) to discuss self-directed learning as a liberatory philosphy!

Catan Board Game

How to Create your own Board Games!

Ever wanted to make your own board game? What makes a board game fun to play? How do you build one from the ground up? Join us as we talk about all things board games, RPGs, ect!

Frisbee on a picnic blanket on green grass.

Frisbee/Frisbee Golf

Soar into the sky with exhilarating frisbee throws or try your hand at the strategic sport of frisbee golf. Experience the joy of outdoor play and friendly competition.

Deck chairs on green grass.

Grown Unschoolers Space

This will be a space for unschoolers over the age of 13 to discuss their experience with other unschoolers!

Work Desk with Laptop and Keyboard and Plants.

Entrepreneurship Panel

For many unschoolers, entrepreneurship as a career path makes a lot of sense. Come join this discussion with folks who have launched a wide variety of our own businesses - you’ll hear from artists, music teachers, a YouTuber, a professional life coach, just to name a few. We’ll share our stories and answer your questions about how and why we, as unschoolers, became entrepreneurs, and the ups and downs of our journeys!

Tennis Ball

Tennis

Serve up some excitement on the tennis court! Whether you're a seasoned player or just learning the ropes, join us for friendly matches and rallies under the sun.

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Driven by Dance

Driven by Dance is a workshop allowing participants to expand their experience with movement practice by using both body and mind. An interdisciplinary approach, this class by Mariah Lopez is inspired by multiple pioneers of western modern dance, improvisation, and somatics, offering participance the art of movement in a unique way. Driven by Dance is for all levels of movers.

Duct Tape and scissors.

Untrepreneurial Fair

This space is always open to anyone who wants to sell their creations, share about their business, or purchase some amazing gifts! Some sellers will have digital payment options while others may prefer cash, so be prepared for both.

Foosball Table

Foosball

Test your reflexes and strategic prowess with fast-paced foosball matches. Gather around the table and challenge friends old and new.

Vanilla Ice Cream Cone

Ice Cream Social

I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice cream! Join us for some refreshing ice cream!

Video Editing Timeline

Online Video Creation in 2024!

What makes a video viral? Can AI do it all for us? Are you making videos the wrong way? Whether you want to be a TikTok or YouTube star or just promote your projects or business, the ability to make great videos is an increasingly necessary skill! Join Grown Unschooler, Video Editor & YouTuber Alex Patterson (he/him) to learn tips, share tricks, and level up your video creation skills!

Question Mark with Wood Texture

My Kids Are Grown, Now What?

Are you the parent of a grown unschooler? Are you finding yourself in the stage of life where you are parenting a young adult? Or perhaps you are re-inventing yourself as you transition to a new phase of parenting? Come join this discussion and share, explore, advise or simply be in community with like-minded folks!

Kayaks on the Water

Kayaking

Paddle your way to adventure with kayaking excursions on the water. Soak in the beauty of nature and experience the joy of outdoor aquatic exploration. New to kayaking? We'll have an instructor on hand!

Watercolor Stain Transparent

Watercolor

Whether you're a beginner or expert, everyone's welcome to come and paint some watercolors together!

Sports Field Flag

Capture The Flag

Channel your inner strategist and team player in this classic game of Capture The Flag. Work together with fellow unschoolers to outsmart the opposing team and claim victory.

The 2024 Northeast Unschooling Conference (NEUC) will be held at Camp Winadu in the Berkshires of Western MA, offering a diverse range of activities and learning opportunities for all ages! Family friendly programming will include activities such as story time, arts and crafts, and outdoor games! There will also be opportunities to connect with Grown Unschoolers, discuss topics like College, Neurodivergence, along with unique events like a Murder Mystery Night, Fiber Arts, Arts and Crafts, Trivia Night, Rubiks' Cubing, Tabletop RPGs, and an Entrepreneurial Fair. We’ll have affinity spaces for neurodivergent, Queer, and grown Unschooling community members and more! Additionally, the camp itself provides amenities like hiking trails, kayaking, a pool, campfire site and ample space for outdoor activities, enhancing the unschooling experience for events like Campfire Music Jam, LARPing, and Tie Dyeing! If there's something you'd like to learn about or an event you'd like to see happen at NEUC 2024 fill out this form and we'll take a look!

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Are you interested in leading a workshop for NEUC 2024? Fill out this form and we'll take a look! We already have some presentations lined up on Unschooling as a Liberatory Philosophy, The Philosophy of Science, and Entrepreneurship!

 

For more details on the previous year's programming, you can visit NEUC's 2023 Programming page. Check back in on this page closer to the conference time as we update it with more details regarding programming.

Four diverse children running outside and smiling.

Family friendly

Family friendly programming will include activities such as story time, arts and crafts, and outdoor games!

River flowing from a mountain with trees.

Outdoor activities

The camp itself provides amenities like hiking trails, kayaking, a pool, campfire site and ample space for outdoor activities, enhancing the unschooling experience for events like Campfire Music Jam, LARPing, and Tie Dyeing!

Progress Pride Flags

Affinity Spaces

We’ll have affinity spaces for neurodivergent, Queer, and grown Unschooling community members and more!

Marshmallows being roasted over a Campfire

Opportunities to connect

There will also be opportunities to connect with Grown Unschoolers, discuss topics like College, and Neurodivergence. We’ll also have presentations on Unschooling as a Liberatory Philosophy, The Philosophy of Science, and Entrepreneurship!

Colorful yarn

Unique Events

Unique events like a Murder Mystery Night, Fiber Arts, Arts and Crafts, Trivia Night, Rubiks' Cubing, Tabletop RPGs, and an Entrepreneurial Fair.

Ring of Light Bulbs with a lit bulb in the center.

Want to lead a workshop?

Are you interested in leading a workshop for NEUC 2024? Fill out this form and we'll take a look!

If there's something you'd just like to learn about or an event you'd like to see happen at NEUC 2024 fill out this form and we'll take a look!

community guidelines

This is what we believe. Please take a moment to read through what we stand for.

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Community Guidelines & Safe Brave Statement

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It is important to us that we create and maintain a community that is safe, welcoming, and respectful to all. As unschoolers, we know that there is no value in creating rules for the sake of control, discipline, or to maintain hierarchical structures. This is why we have carefully crafted community guidelines that we hope every member of our community can see the value in and agree to follow.

 

By registering for NEUC, you will be agreeing to conduct yourself in accordance with these guidelines, and help young members of your family to do the same, so please read the guidelines carefully.

 

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact conference Board chair, Skyler, directly: skylertdupont@gmail.com.

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GUIDELINES

 

We believe that unschooling is about joyful self-expression, so racism, sexism, transphobia, ableism, sexual harassment or discrimination of any kind is not welcome in this space. NEUC takes a strong stance on these issues, and we expect other conference-goers to do the same. If issues arise, please find a member of the advisory board, and we will help work through the situation using Restorative Justice.

 

Specifically, taking a stance against transphobia in the unschooling community means not promoting “unschooling” resources that also promote transphobia, and not inviting conference presenters who support such resources. If you have questions about this policy, please contact: skylertdupont@gmail.com. If you feel that you are lacking knowledge on any of these issues, NEUC will be hosting programming discussing these topics, and you are welcome to attend!

 

Our goal is for everyone of all ages to follow these agreements, so please make sure they are communicated to every member of your family, and make sure every member of your family has the support they need to follow these agreements to make sure that NEUC is a safe, enjoyable, joyful conference for everyone! Thank you for joining us in our commitment to making our second home better and better every year!

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