Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children (PAEYC)

The PAEYC invites you to submit a proposal for a presentation at its annual conference on Saturday, October 25, 2008 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh. Our last conference featured 60 exhibitors, 75 workshops, and over 1,200 attendees. This year's conference is certain to be equally exciting!

The theme for this year's conference is Children, Nature and Wellness: Open the Door to Learning. Our Keynote speaker is Cheryl Charles, Ph.D., President of the Children and Nature Network. Known for her work with Richard Louv on children's nature deficit, Dr. Charles' presentation will focus on the positive impact of the children-nature connection. We welcome presentations that support high-quality early education practices on this topic and those which align with Pennsylvania's Early Learning Standards or address a topic within one of the eight Core Body of Knowledge Areas. Workshop submission deadline is March 31, 2008. Workshop proposals are invited on these topics:

Health and Wellness Childhood Obesity Mental Health Nature and Outdoors Play Planning/Creating Green Spaces Child Growth/ Development Communication Environment, Curriculum & Content Professionalism & Leadership Health, Safety & Nutrition Families in Society Child Assessment Infants and Toddlers Program Organization & Administration Special Needs School-Age K -4 Community Development The Conference format has changed this year. Participants will not pre-select workshops to attend. The format will offer fewer workshops per series and therefore, each session will be larger. Additionally, rooms will be set up in schoolroom and/or theater style based on final attendance and room size. All sessions will be 1½ hours in length and should be based on the principles of developmentally appropriate practice. In the past, workshops blending theory and practice, with an opportunity for interaction with participants, have been most successful. Varied formats, including panel presentations, participatory sessions and informal discussions on a particular topic, are encouraged. Multiple session presentations to provide an in-depth investigation will be considered.

One presenter per presentation will receive complimentary conference registration. Additional presenters are entitled to the PAEYC member registration rate. In preparing your proposal, use the guidelines noted on the following page. Keep in mind that while audiovisual equipment can be valuable in effective workshops, the use of electronic equipment by presenters often has prohibited the free exchange of ideas. Thus, we are limiting presenters to one piece (complete set-up) of audio visual equipment per workshop, whether single or multiple-session.(Power point LCD is not included) PAEYC will provide support for copying session materials that are submitted in electronic form and received by PAEYC no later than September 30, 2008.

You can find further information and proposal forms at www.pghaeyc.org

For questions or additional information please contact:
Cyndi Syskowski at csyskowski@ccac.edu or (412) 422-8597 or call the PAEYC office at (412) 421-3889

• June 7
  Nature Photographs
  Slide Show @ 12 noon
  Robert Earl Lynch


• August 2
  9:00am – 10:00am
  Family Yoga Outdoors


• September 6
  11:00am – 1:00pm
  Make Thyme for Herbs
  Gretchen Schmitt, R.D.


• October 4
  Noon – 2:00pm
  The White Buffalo Message
  Michael Muchnock


• November 1
  Four Seasons of WPNR
  Art Exhibit
  Latrobe Art Center


• December 6
  Noon – 2:00pm
  Native America Myths and Legends
  Michael Muchnock