Our next ECE Retreat will be scheduled when COVID-19 protocols allow for such gatherings to safely resume.
Dear ECE Colleagues —
I’m delighted to share a little more with you about ECE Retreats. For more than 30 years, I’ve been working on projects, initiatives and collaborations — big and small — connected to the field of Early Childhood Eduction.
Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about not only the field and myself, but about the kinds of professional development experiences that truly impact Early Learning and Care Professionals. I know how much it matters to take part in personal and professional growth and development opportunities that are educational, positive and meaningful. Experiences that make you not only a better Early Childhood Educator — but — a better person.
It’s because of the important work that every single Early Childhood Educator does — day in and day out with children and families — that I began offering ECE Retreats. And because of the unequivocally significant impact that 5 SOBCon retreats had on my own life and on my career, thanks to my dear friend, SOBCon founder and GeniusShared business partner — Liz Strauss.
I passionately believe that it pays to create opportunities for Early Childhood Educators to step into professional development experiences that are vastly different than the norm. I understand how important it is to be part of relevant and professional conversations with colleagues who not only value what you bring to the table — but who appreciate and respect the very person you are. People who recognize the value of divergent thinking as much as collaborative professionalism. And who want to make a difference in the field of Early Childhood Education.
So that’s it — I’m on a mission to offer profoundly, exceptional professional development experiences for Early Childhood Educators through ECE Retreats. And I’ve got the support, encouragement and partnership of some truly amazing people and organizations — from inside and outside the field — locally and globally.
I invite you to join us.
Kind regards,
Jane Boyd
Founder ECE Workshops, ECE Retreats & CEO 45 Conversations Media & Education Ltd.
Early Childhood Educator & Special Needs Educator in British Columbia,
Child Development Supervisor in Alberta
Level 2 Certification in Nova Scotia.
Also Previously Certified as a Licensed Infant, Preschool, School Age and Family Educator in Newfoundland & Labrador, and a Child Care Supervisor in Prince Edward Island.
What ECEs Say About ECE Retreats
My experience at the ECE Reflect and Recharge Retreat has forever shifted the way I think about professional growth. I am beyond grateful for Jane’s kindness and wisdom. She gives herself wholeheartedly and shares with such grace and passion. She leads by example and encourages others to find their own special passion. The format of presenter, Mastermind discussion, to setting an intent left each of us with a clear connection to what we wanted to accomplish as well as tools to help that come to fruition. I came home with a vision for my practice, tools to bring that vision to life and a new found strength to dream big. The ECE Reflect and Recharge Retreat has impacted my life and my practice in the most wonderful ways. I am forever changed and so thankful I had the chance to attend. ~ CARRIE NAHORNEY, ECE
This is the best workshop that I have EVER attended. It beats every other workshop and every other means of education that I have received in the last 17 years in this field. It was the most informative, inspiring and professional training one could possibly ask for. This was nothing short of brilliant! ~ INGRID SCHAAF, CALYPSO MONTESSORI SCHOOL
I really loved the ECE Retreat I attended because it offered a unique opportunity for everyone to feel heard and appreciated while obtaining their professional development hours. I’ll be returning to future ECE Retreats! – MELANIE JAMES, ECE & ITE
Our next ECE Retreat will be scheduled when COVID-19 protocols allow for such gatherings to safely resume.
About ECE Retreats
- We bring together small groups (40 – 75) of Early Childhood Educators & Early Learning Professionals to work together for an intensive 2 or 3 day face-to-face professional development retreat experience. Sometimes we organize a social dinner or gathering in collaboration with the ECE Retreat.
- We provide ample opportunities for learning, growth, conversation, connection, collaboration, reflection and recharging.
- Through a combination of presentations, learning modules and small group masterminding – participants collaboratively work together to discuss issues in the field, explore personal and professional experiences, set goals in order to further develop their ECE practice and plan action steps related to the work they do on a day to day basis.
- We create opportunities for connection and collaboration in unique ways. Sometimes a few of us — or — many of us — decide to work together on a collaborative project that evolves out of the ECE Retreat experience. In 2017, we began the development of an online video series called “Ask an ECE” which we released in 2018.
- Jane Boyd personally invites colleagues from outside the field of early childhood education to share their personal and professional experience, learnings and thinking with ECE Retreat attendees through short presentations. AND she invites professionals from within the field to do exactly the same thing. This results in a profoundly unique mix of learning, connection and conversation.
- We do all of this — and more — in a fun and inspiring location and trusted environment that is carefully designed to open hearts and minds through collaborative learning and connection. Sometimes we gather in historic houses, other times we are hosted by exceptional early learning and care programs and yet other times we find ourselves in corporate headquarters or unique educational settings. No matter where we meet — we work together to create a professional development experience that inspires, delights and advances our individual and collective thinking related to the field of Early Childhood Education. It’s professional development like you’ve never experienced it before!
- While we follow the same framework for each ECE Retreat — we choose different areas to focus on and are always adding in new and different speakers. Because what we offer is so unique, highly educational and profoundly different; we expect many ECEs to attend multiple ECE Retreats in 2018.
Future ECE Retreats
- Fall 2021
Past ECE Retreats
March 2019 – Kelowna – 1 Day ECE Retreat – Calm, Caring & Connected
October 21 & 22, 2017 – 2 Day ECE Retreat – The Reflect & Recharge ECE Retreat
In the Fall of 2017 we offered a 2 day ECE Retreat. It was held October 21 & 22, 2017 at The Cammidge House in Tsawwassen, BC. The Reflect & Recharge ECE Retreat brought together 37 Early Childhood Educators & Early Learning professional who work in a variety of roles to support children and families. Each day, speakers — from inside the field AND outside the field — were part of number of collaborative conversation and learning opportunities related to important issues in the field of Early Childhood Education. In addition, there was a Friday evening opportunity for attendees to meet and greet prior to the beginning of the ECE Retreat. Without question this was a truly incredible, valuable and memorable professional development experience for everyone who attended.
March 2019 Presenters, Contributors & Topics Included
Presenters for the ECE Retreat Kelowna: Calm, Caring & Connected
Ann Douglas, Canadian Parenting Author
Ann Douglas sparks conversations that matter about parenting and mental health. She is the author of numerous bestselling books about pregnancy and parenting and the weekend parenting columnist for CBC Radio. A passionate and inspiring speaker, Ann delivers keynote addresses and leads small-group workshops at health, parenting, and education conferences across the country. If you’ve already met Ann via one her books, you know what you can expect from one of her workshops: to be inspired, informed, and entertained.
Happy Parents, Happy Kids is the latest book by parenting author Ann Douglas. It will be published by HarperCollins Canada in February 2019.
See below for further information on Ann’s books.