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

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

Join us for our annual gathering dedicated to the art of nurturing resilient children and strengthening the will forces at the heart of their development. Our keynote speaker, Annie Bosque, will share new perspectives and practices in encouraging these capacities in children based on her personal research and experience.

She will highlight her work mentoring teachers and guiding parents to support our children on their journey through childhood and beyond.

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.

Annie Bosque has been teaching at Golden Valley River School in the Sacramento area for over twenty years where she created the Outdoor Hybrid Kindergarten program. Annie serves as a mentor, workshop facilitator, and teacher/parent educator. She holds a master’s degree in Waldorf Education, with a focus on cultivating meaningful and collaborative parent-teacher partnerships. In addition to her professional work, Annie has raised two young men, an experience that deeply informs her understanding of child development, resilience, and the long arc of parenting.

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 - Annie Bosque

8:30pm Puppetry - Jennifer Aguirre

8:45pm Good Night - Diane David

Saturday, November 7th

8:30am Singing - Anna Rainville

9:00am Keynote Lecture II - Annie Bosque

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 - Annie Bosque 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: Partnering with Parents to Foster Resilience” with Annie Bosque

Supporting young children through meaningful challenges can sometimes lead to difficult conversations with families. Tools for navigating sensitive topics with warmth, clarity, and respect will be explored while helping families recognize the developmental value of age-appropriate challenges and partnership needed in a Waldorf early childhood setting.

“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

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

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