Kindling the Fire Within: Strengthening the Will Through Community and Celebrating Our Commitment for the Next 100 Years

Kindling the Fire Within: Strengthening the Will Through Community and Celebrating Our Commitment for the Next 100 Years with Liz Beaven

Friday, November 6, 2026 | 5pm-9pm

Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 8:30am-4pm

In-person at the Marin Waldorf School | 755 Idylberry Road, San Rafael, CA 94903

Conference Fee: $175

On Friday evening, Liz Beaven will work with us to examine the landscape of Waldorf education in 2026. What have we built together over the past 100 years? What are the emerging needs and demands as we enter a second century?

On Saturday, we will turn our attention to what this landscape means for our children who come to us today. With strong will and good heart, we will examine what is essential and what can or must be adapted for the important task of preparing our children for their evolving life's journey.

The conference will include artistic workshops, heart-centered conversations, our annual Roses and Thorns, and a celebration of 100 years of Waldorf Early Childhood education.

Liz Beaven, EdD, has been involved in Waldorf education for 40 years as a class teacher, school administrator, Board and College of Teachers member, lecturer, consultant, speaker, parent, and grandparent. She sees herself as a research practitioner, combining extensive practical experience with inquiry and writing. She serves as the Executive Director for Public Waldorf Education and is a member of the Pedagogical Section Council of North America. Her work is committed to interrogating, expanding, and deepening the understanding of Rudolf Steiner's transformative intentions and indications and their application in evolving, diverse settings.

Schedule
Friday, November 6th

5:00pm Tea and Registration

6:30pm Outdoor Singing Among the Lanterns and Oaks; Land Acknowledgement

7:00pm Move Inside for a Warm Welcome - Diane David

7:15pm Keynote Lecture I - Liz Beaven

8:30pm Puppetry - Jennifer Aguirre

8:45pm Good Night - Diane David

Saturday, November 7th

8:30am Singing - Anna Rainville

9:00am Keynote Lecture II - Liz Beaven

10:30am Snack and Mini Marketplace

11:00am Workshops - Various workshop leaders (see below)

12:30pm Lunch and Mini Marketplace: If you are both a teacher and craftsperson and have select items appropriate for the early childhood classroom, you are welcome to bring them for sale. There will be time during the two breaks for a mini marketplace.

1:45pm School Reports - Roses and Thorns

2:15pm Spacial Dynamics® - Kate Hammond

2:30pm Plenum - Liz Beaven and others

3:00pm Report from WECAN and Thank Yous- Diane David

3:15pm Celebrate 100 Years! - Everyone!

3:30pm Puppetry - Jennifer Aguirre

3:45pm Farewell

Workshops

Please sign up for one of the following workshops.

“Make a Sweet and Simple Puppet” with Jennifer Aguirre

The puppet will be accompanied by a poem with ideas on how to bring it to life for young children. Please bring a material fee of $20 in cash, check, or pay on the day with Venmo.

“Courageous Conversations: Do Your Hear What I Hear?” with Liz Beaven

In the course of our work, we may need to have difficult conversations with families. It is helpful to understand what we and our families are bringing to these conversations: what is being said and left unspoken? How can we courageously approach essential dialogue with clarity, sensitivity, and awareness of who is speaking and what we are hearing?

“Why Do We Paint and Sculpt Beeswax Every Week in the Classroom?” with Diane David

A revisiting and a deepening of how we do these artistic activities in the classroom. Why are they important? What capacities are the children developing for their future?

“Silk Painting” with Kate Hammond

Play with a variety of techniques to create variegated colored silks. Opportunity to try painting, sunprints, nature dyeing and cup dyeing for a mottled effect. Wear clothes that are dye friendly and be prepared to get creative! Working with four silks, 21.5" x 21.5." Please bring a material fee of $20 in cash, check, or pay on the day with Venmo.

“Food and the Young Child” with Stacy Ito

Bring strength and nourishment to the body and soul through story, movement, rhythm, and seasonal food offerings. Exploring the young child’s relationship to food and offering holistic support for both early childhood programs and home. Recipes and inspirations for menu planning will be provided and co-created within this workshop.

“Building Children’s Resilience in the Wilds of a City Park” with Paula McCabe

How to offer a full Waldorf early childhood program in an urban city park, highlighting the philosophy, the practicalities, and the delight and engagement with nature.

“Five Magic Notes” with Anna Rainville

Why indeed do the children of these times need musical magic in their early childhood classroom?  Come learn pentatonic songs and dances to brighten the day and celebrate the season.

A discount is available for group signups.

For more information, please contact:

tiffany@bacwtt.org | (415) 479-4400 | www.bacwtt.org