Bravely Optimistic
Date: Saturday, February 8th, 2025
Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Address: Harrow United
995 Mulvey Ave, Winnipeg
Registration Deadline: January 31st
Registering early helps conference organizers with scheduling tables and facilitators.
Ticket Price:
$40 – for two people registering together
$25 – for an individual registering
$30 – for an individual registering (after January 31)
Lunch, snacks and refreshments will be provided.
Ways to Pay:
1. etransfer to [email protected] with a note of your name/names of participants registering together.
2. Make alternate arrangement through Michele Merchant or Tiffany Todosichuk by emailing [email protected].
Are you BRAVELY OPTIMISTIC?
…if you’re a homeschooler, you already are!
We as homeschoolers have BRAVELY made a decision to homeschool. This path is not always clear or well walked, but by gauging those on the trail with us and our surroundings, we walk this path. While we are homeschooling not only are we leading our children, we are following them too, as that is the way to walk the unbeaten path.
“There is always light if only we were brave enough to see it, if only we were brave enough to be it.”
-Amanda Gormon
When deciding to set off on this homeschooling journey, we all had OPTIMISTIC outlooks. None of us started this adventure hoping these steps would lead to hunger, sore muscles, scrapes and bruises, and getting lost. On the way, we might prepare for these eventualities, but that is not the reason we made the choice to embark.
“Optimism is essential to achievement and the foundation of courage and true progress.”
-Nicholas M. Butler
In the thick of homeschooling, we may feel the occasional doubt. We all do. Winter lulls due to cold weather and some isolation does happen here in Manitoba. That is why we should come together to be the light that shines and reflects the initial spark that lit our homeschooling flame.
*Update* SPEAKERS
We are happy to announce our “Bravely Optimistic” 2025 MASH Conference speakers:
Jennifer Gehman and Daniel McIntyre-Ridd
Jennifer has been an activate member in the MASH homeschooling community. She is a seasoned homeschooling ninja and proud mom to a lively bunch of five grown-up adventurers! She will not sugar coat the homeschool lifestyle, but cuts it into easily understandable tips. We are happy to have her share about being “Brave”.
Daniel is a homeschool graduate himself, graduating in 2016. His passion for homeschooling and life show us how unique each journey is. His confidence is contagious while speaking and answering questions. He helps us homeschooling parents have an “Optimistic” view about our own charges.
If you were at the 2023 MASH Conference, you will remember what wonderful speakers they are. We are happy to welcome them back to this year’s conference.
TABLE TALKS
Last conference, we changed the format to table talks that run like a living library (an event where people can borrow volunteers to have conversations about their experiences). The table talks are facilitated small-group discussions of up to eight participants along with two facilitators. We learned a lot from each other and loved it. We will be following the same format. These discussions are meant to connect homeschoolers that share experiences with specific topics. The conference strives to create a comfortable environment where these intimate group discussions can really help connect participates with each other and help build a strong foundation for the homeschooling community.
2025 MASH Conference Table Topics:
- Talking about Life-Learning/Unschooling
- Likely you’ve seen life learning and unschooling in action as your child explores, asks questions and naturally builds on previous knowledge. These child-led educational approaches do not involve a curriculum, rather they involve supporting your child in their desired learning, and trusting that they will learn what they need to know. At this Table Talk, chat with homeschoolers about the benefits and challenges with this educational approach.
- Nurturing Your Homeschooler’s Passions
- Supporting your child’s passions is a wonderful sentiment, but what does it mean? At this Table Talk, we look forward to discussing what your child is excited about and how supporting those interests may look. It can be challenging to support an interest that isn’t easily identifiable as providing life skills, but let’s delve into how those interests can provide opportunities for growth and mastery.
- Homeschooling Neurodivergent Children
- Homeschooling any child can be a struggle sometimes, but homeschooling children who don’t “fit the mould” can provide an extra layer of challenges. At the same time, homeschooling can provide our neurodivergent children with the freedom to develop in their own way. At this Table Talk, we’ll talk about the real life struggles and successes of homeschooling students who are neurodivergent.
- Creating Co-ops and Coordinating Events
- Are you looking for a community to share experiences with? Do you have an idea for a club that you’d like to create for your kids to play with other homeschooled kids? Would you like to attend field trips with other homeschoolers? How do you go about finding your community? At this Table Talk, we will be discussing these questions and sharing how homeschoolers have created – and kept – their homeschool co-op community alive.
- Homeschooling the Early Years (start to approximately 12 years old)
- It is natural to be born with a love of learning. How can you foster this love of learning and help your child(ren) develop a solid foundation for future learning? At this Table Talk, chat with two homeschoolers about the trial and error of developing an early years homeschool plan.
- Homeschooling the Later Years (teen years to graduation)
- Homeschooling during the teen years comes with unique challenges, such as planning for the future, providing opportunities for engaging with peers, and ensuring that plans are in place if further education (university, college, etc.) is anticipated. At this Table Talk, chat with homeschoolers to hear their experiences, ask your questions and to get inspiration as you homeschool your teen(s).
- Homeschooling Multiple Ages
- Homeschooling children of multiple ages can be challenging because there are just so many kids!! Juggling your time to meet the needs of each child and each subject, while dealing with frequent interruptions is a lot. However, it can also allow for unique opportunities like prioritizing teamwork, strengthening family bonds and developing character. At this Table Talk, we look forward to discussing some of the challenges and opportunities when simultaneously homeschooling children of different ages.
- Homeschooling with Anxiety
- Has your anxiety prevented you from taking part in homeschooling events or reaching out to fellow homeschoolers? Has it made it challenging to be the homeschooling parent you want to be for your child(ren)? At This Table talk, chat with homeschoolers who live with anxiety, hear about their challenges/successes, share your own (if you’d like) and, hopefully, feel comforted on your homeschooling journey.
2025 MASH CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:
| 9:30am – 10:00am | Registration, Refreshments, Find Your Seat at First Table Talk |
| 10:00am – 10:30am | Welcome Speeches |
| 10:30am – 11:30am | First Table Talk |
| 11:30am – 12:30pm | Lunch Break |
| 12:30pm – 1:30pm | Second Table Talk |
| 1:30pm – 2:00pm | Break |
| 2:00pm – 3:00pm | Third Table Talk |
| 3:00pm – 4:00pm | Closing Remarks |
OPTIONAL THINGS TO BRING
- Your own reusable mug
- Homeschooling resources to share – labeled with your name
- This helps homeschoolers see different resources that other homeschoolers recommend.
- Homeschooling resources to sell – labeled with your name and the price
- Homeschooling resources to give away – labeled with “FREE”
- Paper and pen for notes
GRADUATE SPOTLIGHT
We were hoping to create a graduate spotlight booklet of homeschool graduates to help inspire the rest of us. If you are or know a homeschool graduate, please fill out this form to help us create our Graduate Spotlight for our conference pamphlet.
SPONSORS
This year we will not have on-site vendors, but will still open our conference pamphlet, Facebook groups, website and emailed newsletter to homeschool related sponsors. If you would like to sponsor our 2025 conference, please fill out our Sponsorship Form.
Payment can be etransfered to [email protected] or alternative arrangements can be made with Michele Merchant or Tiffany Todosichuk by emailing [email protected]. If you have questions, please email our conference sponsor coordinator Emma Farmer at [email protected]. THANK YOU!
We hope you will join us for the 2025 “Bravely Optimistic” MASH Conference.
Let’s get together to get inspired and get motivated.
If any questions, concerns, or you would like to help, please email us at [email protected].
[This is a MASH event]