Our 7th Annual Conference will be held on September 27 and 28th, 2019. The conference will be at Montessori Academy in Nashville, TN. Our annual theme of Our Roots: Montessori Fundamentals, encourages participants to embrace, renew, and crystalize the roots of Dr. Montessori's Philosophy. We are deepening the conference theme this year to focus on nature and outdoor education for all levels, infants through adolescents.
Emerson Farm Experience (9am-2pm Friday)

Visit Abintra Montessori's farm campus for a hands on experience with the farm guide! Participate just as upper elementary and adolescent students do. Emerson Farm is part of a land trust and managed with the help of students from Abintra. Started in 2017, this farm raises chickens and sheep on 9 acres of pasture with 2 acres in vegetables, berries, and honey bees. Students come out 3 days each week to learn the art of small sustainable farming and much more. Tickets can be purchased for $25 as an add on when you purchase your conference ticket.
Friday Night Keynote with Amy Eshelby

Amy Eshelby currently guides a 9-12 community at Childpeace Montessori School, an urban school in Portland, Oregon. Amy will bring an interactive keynote experience to our Friday Night opening session.
She also taught at the Montessori School of Beaverton, a six acre school with outdoor extensions to every room. Amy received her AMI elementary diploma from WMI in 2001 and has an M.Ed from Loyola University, Maryland. Amy grew up in the central Oregon woods with no running water or electricity. She is an intense lover of nature and shares this with her family. Tickets are $15 per person. Please access the conference registration link here.
Saturday Conference with Adam Bienenstock Keynote

Adam is an internationally acclaimed designer, builder, and researcher of nature-based play spaces, and the founder of Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds. Adam has traveled globally to advocate for children’s rights to nature play, and to design spectacular natural parks and playgrounds.
His resume in the natural playground industry is unparalleled; highlights include creating campuses for nature play in Jakarta following attacks by ISIS, and redeveloping the baby panda exhibit for the Toronto Metro Zoo. Adam lives and works at the forefront of the movement to connect children to nature. His bold, charismatic personality sets the tone for the entire company, and he’s at his happiest when he’s pushing executives, municipal managers, and educators out of their comfort zones.
He sits on numerous advisory committees, including the Canadian Standards Association Playground Safety Standard writing committee, Parliamentary Commission on Urban Conservation and the Systematic Literature Review on Risky Outdoor Play. His work is accessible, natural and fun.
Known for his wit and humour as a public speaker, Adam invites us to shed our inhibitions and play in the mud. He is the proud husband of Jill Bienenstock, and father of two sons, Sam and Leo. He sneaks off to northern Ontario when he needs to immerse himself in nature; he believes it’s one of the most beautiful places on earth. Tickets for Saturday are $110 access the conference registration link here.
His resume in the natural playground industry is unparalleled; highlights include creating campuses for nature play in Jakarta following attacks by ISIS, and redeveloping the baby panda exhibit for the Toronto Metro Zoo. Adam lives and works at the forefront of the movement to connect children to nature. His bold, charismatic personality sets the tone for the entire company, and he’s at his happiest when he’s pushing executives, municipal managers, and educators out of their comfort zones.
He sits on numerous advisory committees, including the Canadian Standards Association Playground Safety Standard writing committee, Parliamentary Commission on Urban Conservation and the Systematic Literature Review on Risky Outdoor Play. His work is accessible, natural and fun.
Known for his wit and humour as a public speaker, Adam invites us to shed our inhibitions and play in the mud. He is the proud husband of Jill Bienenstock, and father of two sons, Sam and Leo. He sneaks off to northern Ontario when he needs to immerse himself in nature; he believes it’s one of the most beautiful places on earth. Tickets for Saturday are $110 access the conference registration link here.
Sunday Assistant's Training with Tammy Oesting (9am-4pm)

A one-day intensive workshop geared to support staff. Tammy has held positions at every level within Montessori schools and is certified to teach 3-6, 6-9, and 9-12 students. She is a teacher educator and advisor for multiple training centers, an accomplished public speaker who delivers lectures, workshops, and keynote addresses globally, and a practiced consultant who advises schools and training centers around the world.
Add this to your conference ticket or select on its own through the conference registration link
Add this to your conference ticket or select on its own through the conference registration link