Durango 2013

June 2013

Durango, Colorado is a vacation destination that delights tourists year round.  In the fall, enjoy warn days and nights with cool breezes and spectacular views of the mountains, river and lakes.  Hiking, biking, rafting, kayaking, movies, theater, concerts and festivals are a few of the delights Durango holds in store. 

Friday evening is an introductory presentation on education lead by local children guided by Zahra Lightway founder of Light Way Schools, co-creator of Seeding The Future NOW, and Children of the New Earth Conferences.
You will hear their thoughts and ask them questions on all issues they and you are interested in,  including our education, mental health, and juvenile justice systems.


Saturday morning begins early at 7 am with a yoga class open to all.   Then follows a plethora of break-out sessions and keynotes lead by presenters who are experts in their fields with sessions in the areas of:

• NeW eDucation and teaching
  
• mental health professionals
• children
• by children YES children will be invited to present. We encourage youth of all ages to apply.
  
• parents
• juvenile justice professionals
• Native American issues
• Latino issues
• gender issues
• education

There are currently three main goals for this conference:
1. to create awareness of local resources for youth and families. The kinds of resources we are creating awareness of are those that see children as whole complete Beings and recognize their genius.  The description you will find here of a local mentoring program says it all. We aim to transform relationships with children, ideas about who children really are, and bring many new ways of co-creating our world with them, knowing them as our teachers.  We are all co-learners in this journey of life.
2. to build awareness of and promote educational choices in Durango and the surrounding area.  We encourage local schools to showcase their programs through sponsorship, vendor tables, presentations relating to their programs and other creative ideas we are open to hearing. We will explore innovative, totally out of the box options, ideas and ground-breaking schools and programs for youth currently emerging in our community.
3. To showcase the local educational programs offered by Light Way Schools.

Saturday Evening is a fun-filled, inspiring, AWEsome, amazing, and wonderful show of children's CREATIVE GENIUS eMerging. Any and all kids of all ages are invited to participate solo, in duos, triads, quads, groupings of any kind they choose and create, dAnce, siNg, pLay Music, acT, pAint, read poetry, DJ, share music, give a talk, share a presentation, and generally share their JOY with us in a two hour long CHILDREN OF THE NEW EARTH extravaganza of taLent, skiLls, giFts, FUN.  All welcome.  Kids will prepare during the day Saturday guided by a few well-chosen older youth/adult who will aid with logistics.