Ginny Yurich
Ginny is a Michigan homeschooling mother of five and the founder of 1000 Hours Outside, a global movement, media company, and lifestyle brand meant to bring back balance between virtual life and real life.
She is a thought leader in the world of nature-based play and its benefits for children, and one of her top priorities is to inspire parents to invest in spending time in God’s creation with their children. Her 1000 Hours Outside Challenge spans the globe and many people from all walks of life look to her for inspiration as well as practical tips on how to put down the screens and get outside.
Ginny has a B.S. in Mathematics and a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Michigan, she loves growing zinnias, and she is also an author of 5 books. Her newest book, Until the Streetlights Come On (Baker Books) launched in November 2023.
Ginny’s Talks
Homeschooling: You’re Doing it Right!
Whereas the public school system is very uniform, the landscape of homeschooling includes all sorts of variety. This variety can sometimes lead to confusion about the decisions we make along our homeschooling journeys. We know that God is a lover of variety. We can see that simply by looking at His creation. He made 7,000 different types of apples, for instance. In this session, you will learn how to cater learning to the individual interests of your children and you will leave embracing the freedom that homeschooling offers each family.
1000 Hours Outside: How Nature Immersion Sets Kids Up for Lifetime Success
In the last few decades, childhood has largely moved inside. With so many great opportunities that vie for our time, it’s easy to consider outside play as frivolous. In this session, Ginny reveals how “just” playing outside offers a myriad of developmental benefits to your child and how these benefits will extend through adulthood. Do less and yet gain more with nature immersion!
How to Combat Screen Time in a Tech-Heavy World
Screens are everywhere, from the local pizza parlor to your minivan and everywhere in between. Screens offer considerable benefits in many arenas of life, but excessive use can severely hamper childhood development. In this session, you will learn strategies to combat screen time in a tech-heavy world.
Preparing Homeschooled Children for an Uncertain Future
Gone are the days when people would choose a career and stick with it for life. Many careers these days last less than three years and the majority of 20-year-olds will have four career changes within that decade. In fact, it is likely that the careers they will have, haven’t even been invented yet. How are we supposed to prepare our homeschooled children for a world that we can’t predict? Learn research-backed ways to ensure your homeschooler is prepared for an uncertain future.
Steve Demme
Steve and his wife Sandra have been married since 1979. They have been blessed with four sons, three lovely daughters-in-law, and six special grandchildren. Their fourth son has Down Syndrome and lives with them in Lititz, PA. With God’s help, Steve has been seeking first the Kingdom since graduating from Grove City College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He is the creator of Math-U-See and the founder of Building Faith Families.
Steve’s Talks
Good News for Earnest Parents
Believing the good news in our innermost being is transformative and restorative. We can only give to our children what we have received ourselves. As we comprehend God’s care and affection in new ways, we will be able to minister the same to our families.
Parents as Priests
We have an incredible calling to represent God to our children and teach them about His ways and His person. Our Father has designed us to be His priests in our home.
How to Be the Best Husband and Father You Can Be
Jesus gave specific directions for how to be the best man we can be. His Father also exemplified how to raise and empower His own Son! Let’s look to God and His Word for direction and inspiration for our journey as men of God.
Gretchen Roe
Gretchen Roe has 21 years of home education experience with her six children, all of whom have now graduated. Although she considers herself a reluctant homeschooler, she now says it was “the best journey of my life.” With a degree in psychology and child development, she has spent the last 27 years in positions of homeschool advocacy, developing special bonds with families of children who must work harder to learn. She loves the outdoors, all things furry, chicken raising, and beekeeping. She serves her local community as a high school swim coach and is a second-degree Taekwondo Black Belt.
Gretchen’s Talks
Reading & Spelling: One Journey, Two Paths, and How They Connect
Does your child ace Friday’s test and then spell the same words wrong the following week? What if they have no spelling skills at all? Why does reading comprehension not lead to spelling proficiency? Come learn how neuroscience teaches us to join the paths of reading and spelling and create one seamless, literate journey and why traditional spelling methods often are frustrating and less than successful.
Teaching Independence – Ways Your Middle Schooler Can Accomplish Math, Composition, and Spelling
Middle schoolers are at a delicate age where they need to learn executive function, but it can be tough to launch them. Join Gretchen as she offers you practical guidance in teaching time management, math word problems, compositional writing, spelling confidence, and study skills.
Exceptional Kids – What’s a Parent to Do?
We all think our children are unique, but are they exceptional? Exceptional could mean that they taught themselves to read at four or they are not reading independently at ten. How do you, as a parent, reach your differently-wired kids and help them succeed without losing your mind in the process? Join Gretchen for an interactive conversation about how to sort learning differences and set expectations to make your child thrive.
When Math and Anxiety Pull up Chairs to Your Academic Table
Math anxiety can undermine our confidence at any age! As parents, we have to break the generational frustration of “not being good at math.” Evaluating math apprehension, filling gaps, and goal-setting can change outcomes for struggling students (and parents.) This workshop benefits any age student but is essential to parents of middle and high-school-level math students.
Bonni Greiner
Bonni Greiner is married to Nevin and is the mother of 8 adult children and 14 grandchildren. She is passionate about mentoring and speaking to women in all stages and chapters of life and homeschooling moms in particular. Bonni homeschooled her children from kindergarten through high school graduation. She has been a certified PA homeschool evaluator for 25 years and has authored several books. She has had the honor of speaking at both homeschool and women’s conferences for 25 years. Learn more about Bonni on Facebook and Instagram.
Bonni’s Talks
Seasons of a Woman’s Life
We will explore God’s faithfulness and direction for each season of our lives, using examples from the Bible.
Time Management
Are you managing time, or is it managing you? At the end of the day are you satisfied with what you’ve accomplished physically, spiritually, and emotionally? We will discuss easy ways to prioritize our days.
Organize, Declutter, and Be Happy
A humorous talk aimed at simplifying your home, possessions, and life in order to increase your joy and free time.
Developing Godly Character in Children through Discipline
We will explore how to raise responsible, respectful, and responsive children in today’s world using examples from the Bible and everyday life situations.
Bridget Anderson
During Bridget’s early homeschooling days, God showed up and made an ordinary moment extraordinary. Finally seeing Him, she discovered His beauty had been there all along. Guiding others to recognize His Presence has become Bridget’s passion. Here’s the catch: To access His Fullness, we must get free of wrong beliefs that keep us from experiencing the close, intimate, and personal relationship our Abba longs to have with each of us. Bridget will help attendees through steps to freedom in her sessions. Bridget is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and New Life Ministries networks of recommended coaches. Her book, The Longing for Belonging: Giving Up Ashes to Find Beauty can be found on Amazon. Learn more about Bridget on her website.
Bridget’s Talks
Learning to Let God In: Soul Care for the Homeschool Parent
The longing to be known, loved, and accepted lives deep within each of us. This need can only be filled as we allow the One to whom we belong to reveal Himself in new ways. Bridget gently challenges her audience to plunge into this longing and find their heavenly Father.
Attitude Adjustment: Soul Care for the Homeschool Parent
Maybe you’ve never heard of the orphan spirit, but chances are, you’re living in it to some degree. Using scripture, personal examples, and powerful illustrations, Bridget teaches on this timely topic, laying out what the orphan spirit is, how to recognize it, and how it affects our lives and relationships.
Finding Fullness with God: Soul Care for the Homeschool Parent
Is it really possible to know God and be aware of His Presence in your everyday life? Do people really live this way? Yes! Bridget teaches the audience to recognize the barriers to living in the nearness of God and how to get free of them. She teaches her audience practical steps to live in His Fullness and how to get back when we lose our way.
Benjamin Myers
Benjamin is a father of eight and is passionate about helping fathers lead their families to know God and His Word. He and his wife Felicita are founders of Inner-City Movement in Philadelphia. There they combined their passion for discipleship and the arts by creating a unique, immersive space where families participate in dramatizing the Scriptures in the world’s first 360˚ projection DOME for live theatre. They also created the ActorsBible App which gives everything needed to role-play the Scriptures for family discipleship.
Benjamin’s Talks
Interactive Family Devotions
Ben and Felicita Myers will share their story of how they struggled to have family devotions the traditional way. Ben asked for help and God showed him to cast parts and role-play their way through the Bible. The character of God truly invaded every story and transformed their hearts.
Dad Play Your Part in Homeschooling by Directing Bible Study
Learn how Ben imparts Bible Study that points all academics back to God. Hear how God has cast you for this role in giving your children a strong foundation in Scripture, Godly character, public speaking, reading, vocabulary, as well as Biblical geography and archeology.
Ginger Wayde
Ginger Wayde is the grateful wife of Steve Wayde and mom to six amazing people. Homeschooling for seventeen years has shaped and changed her in ways that nothing else could. Besides learning along with her children, Ginger serves on the CHAP board, hosts the weekly vlog/podcast Chattin’ with CHAP, and directs stage productions for the local co-op where they live. She is looking forward to being together with the homeschool community again for this year’s conferences!
Ginger’s Talks
Understanding the PA Homeschool Law
Is the PA Homeschool Law a total jumble to you? Are you confused about the paperwork? What about all those requirements? Have your fears and confusion allayed as Ginger explains the process and the details of homeschooling in PA.
Do You Make the Grade?
How do grades work in homeschooling? Do you grade your kids from kindergarten on? Can my child skip a grade? In this helpful chat, Ginger shares new thoughts about grades, grading, and the process of learning.
Sarah Collins
Sarah Collins, MSOT, OTR/L is an occupational therapist with a background in both pediatrics and home health and a homeschooling parent. She currently serves families as an occupational therapist through HomeschoolOT. She focuses on helping parents make the match between the homeschool and their children’s current skill set all while working towards what their children specifically need and want to do to occupy their time (hello occupation!). She does this by consulting with parents around the world, teaching month-long classes on specific topics, building community in an online membership, and communicating nationally at conferences.
Sarah’s Talks
The Impact and Development of Prewriting Skills
Ask about handwriting in any social media post and people will tell you to squeeze putty or work on fine motor skills. But, handwriting requires so much more than the development of hands. This course will discuss all academic skills, motor skills, and even social skills that influence handwriting as well as provide options to adapt.
The Sensory Balanced Homeschool
Do you hate to wear a certain type of clothing? Does the sound of a person chewing really bother you? Do you tap your leg or repeatedly fidget during the day? These are all “sensory quirks”. When these quirks impact your or your child’s participation in what they need and want to do, we need to address it. This course will discuss the 8 sensory systems and ways to help our children organize information from them all.
What Is This Function You Speak of with Executive Functioning Skills?
Executive Functioning is defined as the “brain-based skills needed to effectively execute or perform tasks and solve problems.” As with most skills, there is a range, not everyone needs to complete the same tasks on a daily basis. But, there must be a match between the environment, expectations, and abilities of a person. This class will 1) define executive functional skills, 2) explain why they can be hard for some people, and 3) give helpful solutions to use the homeschool to help your children build these skills.
The Sensory Balanced PARENT
As homeschool parents, we constantly prioritize our children’s well-being, including their sensory needs. We often wonder about the factors influencing their ability to sit and focus, their clothing preferences, and their food choices. However, it’s crucial to recognize that our own sensory needs play a significant role in shaping theirs. In this insightful seminar, we will explore all eight sensory systems and then provide practical tips and strategies to enhance our own sensory regulation, creating a positive trickle-down effect on our kids. Together, we’ll learn how to foster a nurturing environment that supports sensory growth and overall well-being for all. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to empower yourself as a homeschool parent and boost your child’s sensory development!
Jonathan Brush
Appearing on stages, podcasts, and events around the country, Jonathan teaches young adults and parents key truths that enable them to live well. Jonathan’s energetic speaking and teaching style engages and inspires, while his honesty, practical advice, and relentless focus on hope encourages, equips, and enables audiences. Jonathan brings almost 25 years of experience working with young adults and families in a variety of settings. He lives in VA with Kara and their eight children. Learn more about Jonathan on the Unbound website.
Jonathan’s Talks
What You Really Need to Know: What a Student Should Learn Before They Launch
Strip away everything else and, at the end of the day, your goal is to make sure your child progresses from sleeping on your couch to being an adult sleeping on their own couch. What does a student really need to learn between the ages of sixteen and twenty-two to be ready for “real life”?
Ask: Why Learning to Ask Good Questions is Far More Important than Knowing Answers
Technology has fundamentally changed education and almost every educational institution on the planet hasn’t caught up yet. There is a foundational shift from an answers-based paradigm that has dominated education since universities were invented to a questions-based paradigm. Simply stated, if you are still learning in an answers-based paradigm you are preparing for a world that no longer exists. This session will teach you what a questions-based paradigm is, and how to use it to learn for the world we live in now.