WISE Gateways 2024

Nancy Blanning

FRIDAY KEYNOTE & SATURDAY MORNING FOLLOW-UP TALK

There are so many different gestures we offer to our children. We can stand as authority, caregiver--or as the British say "child minder"--gardener, farmer, tailor, healer, leader, judge, listener, witness, joy-bringer. And the list goes on. . . How can we give to our children what we know they will need and how can we draw out of them what already lives as capacity, talent, and wisdom within them? And how do we develop the flexibility as adults to dance in so many different pairs of shoes? These will be our questions to explore with each other.

Please see more detailed information below:

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Friday Night

6:00 pm ~ Registration opens

6:30-8:15 pm ~ Keynote speech (Nancy Blanning)

Saturday daytime

8:30 am ~ Registration opens

9:00-10:00 am ~ Plenary session (Nancy Blanning)

10:00-11:45 am ~ Morning Workshops (Various Presenters)

11:45 am-noon ~ Break

noon-1:00 pm ~ Catered Lunch

1:00 pm-2:45 pm ~ Afternoon Workshops (Various Presenters)

2:45 pm-3:00 pm ~ Break

3:00 pm-onwards ~ Conference wrap-up

SATURDAY MORNING WORKSHOP OPTIONS

A. HOW CHILDREN GET INTO THEIR BODIES: THEIR MARVELOUS AND WISE ADVENTURE, Nancy Blanning

Children's healthy development is guided by a natural wisdom which they bring with them at birth. Given time and the right kind of supportive environment, each child will blossom. This workshop will see what kinds of opportunities invite this wisdom forth and what things in our modern life are unfriendly and potentially disruptive to the child's comfortable and secure unfolding.

B. WATERCOLOUR PAINTING, Thalita Essinger

Relax with some guided watercolour with WISE parent, Thalita, using artist grade Stockmar watercolour paints.

C. GROUP SINGING, Emily Toews

Come enjoy group singing with simple, soulful harmonies with WISE Band/music teacher, Emily Toews. No musical experience necessary, but come prepared to experience beauty.

D. NATURAL COSMETICS, Marie Smith & Ali-Sun Morgon

Come learn how to make your own natural cosmetics in your own home with WISE parents, Marie & Ali.

E. HAND SEWN STAR BABY, Kory Baker-Henderson

Kory Baker-Henderson will teach participants how to make their very own pocket babies. Kory will explain the importance of dolls in a child's imaginative play and participants will take home their own pocket babies.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON WORKSHOP OPTIONS

1. HOMEOPATHY FOR PETS, Dr. Aziz Merchant

WISE parent and homeopath, Dr. Aziz Merchant, will show you how to care for your pet with homeopathy.

2. GROWING MUSHROOMS AT HOME, Jack Martin

Mushroom farmer and mycologist, Jack Martin of Woodland Mushrooms Ltd (Gourmet & Medicinal Mushroom Farm), will discuss the benefits of mushrooms and teach you how to prepare grow kits for growing your own mushooms at home.

3. THE FOUR TEMPERAMENTS, Christina Tozer

Developed by the ancient Greeks and expanded upon by Rudolf Steiner, the four temperaments are Sanguine, Phlegmatic, Choleric and Melancholic. Christina Tozer, Waldorf Pedagogy expert, will help you gain insight into the temperaments for yourself and your children.

4. SUSTAINABLE LIVING, Robin Smith Mandel

Join Robin Smith Mandel, WISE Outdoor Education teacher and farmer, to learn about sustainable living using perma-culture practices.

Fee Details

Before April 15th, Single* - $75, Couple - $115

After April 15th, Single* - $90, Couple - $130

Snacks & lunch are provided.

More about our Keynote Speaker, Nancy Blanning: Nancy Blanning: A member of the Sunbridge Early Childhood faculty since 1994, Nancy assumed the title of co-director in 2015. Now retired from a nearly forty-year career at The Denver Waldorf School, where she served as a kindergarten teacher and member of the educational support staff, Nancy’s main focus is therapeutic education with a special emphasis on developmental movement as supporting young children’s physical incarnation and sensory development. A frequent keynote speaker and presenter at national and international early childhood conferences and workshops, including serving as a faculty member at Denver’s Nurturing the Roots Therapeutic Course, Nancy’s writing credits include serving as contributor and editor of Gateways, the publication of WECAN (the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America, based in Chestnut Ridge; NY); regular columnist for Lilipoh magazine; contributor to

“You’re Not the Boss of Me” (WECAN publication), editor of WECAN’s First Grade Readiness; and co-author, with Laurie Clark, of Movement Journeys and Circle Adventures, a collection of original movement imaginations for the classroom. Nancy holds a BA in English from the University of Colorado, with teaching credentials. She also earned a certificate as Extra Lesson provider and therapeutic educator from Gradalis Seminars, where she attended four-year anthroposophical therapeutic/remedial training in Extra Lesson and supplementary therapies and academic support strategies.

Host or Publisher Waldorf Education Society of Edmonton