Download this FREE printable homeschool convention planner today: Complete with planning pages, packing checklist, and note-taking sheets.
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Free Printable Homeschool Convention Planner, Checklist, and Note-taking Sheets
As I prepared for our biggest North Carolina homeschool convention, NCHE Thrive!, I needed to make myself a checklist and to-do list. I wanted to be sure I would not leave anything that I would need while I was there. As I made my own list, I made one for you too! Here it is! In addition, I’ve provided a handy FREE printable so you can print these ideas out easily.
Things to take with you when you go to a homeschool conference!
1. A Bag
Not just any bag, but a huge one. A duffle bag or even a drag-behind luggage case or pull-along file cart will do. It needs to have plenty of room in it for carrying not only the stuff you’ll bring with you, but the TONS of stuff you’ll pick up during the conference. You’ll need something easy to carry all that stuff along with you throughout the day.
2. Electronic Devices
Bring your smartphone, tablet, or even your laptop computer if you want to. You’ll want to snap photos, take notes, share things on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (For NCHE conference-goers, use hashtag #NCHE2015). I’ll be bringing my laptop since I’m a blogger, but I’ll also have my handy tablet as well for social media and sharing my conference fun with others (follow me!). Also, don’t forget a backup battery!
3. Old Fashioned Notebook and Pen
I will have these things as well, for jotting down notes and encouragement for future reference. If you take nothing else – these are definitely a MUST. For each speaker you sit in on, you are guaranteed to want to write something down, and you’ll hate it if you don’t have pen and paper. Trust me. My first year I attended, I was jotting notes in my conference program book. There wasn’t enough space!
4. That reminds me, you’ll definitely need a Conference Program Book.
Usually, conferences and conventions publish them online before the event begins. You can sometimes even download them.
5. Take your business cards if you have them.
They are so handy for when you meet new business contacts, or when you make a new friend. You’re sure to meet all kinds of people, and you never know when you’ll need to quickly give them your contact information. Plus, sometimes the vendor booths have contests for chances to win their products, and all you have to do is drop your business card in a bucket.
6. Snacks/Gum/Mints/Water/Drinks (& possibly even lunch)
For the NCHE Conference, there are lots of nearby restaurants and even some onsite concessions, but if you’re looking to attend the conference frugally (like me) pack a little cooler with plenty to keep you satisfied throughout the day. You’ll be walking ALOT and will need food and drinks. In between sessions, you’ll only get a 30-minute break, which is often the perfect time to run to a vendor booth to check out curriculum, and waiting in line for snacks might be a waste of time or may cause you to be late for the next session. If your children are in the Children’s Conference program, you will only have an hour and 20 minutes to pick them up, eat lunch with them, and return them (and it’s during session times that you may not want to miss, so the kids may have to attend the sessions with you during that time). So, you may want to pack lunch, too!
7. Comfort Items
Things like lip gloss, hand lotion, hand sanitizer (you will run into new and old friends, and shaking hands, holding handrails, touching elevator buttons, etc.), and facial tissues (for those especially inspiring speakers who make you cry!). If you’re going to the NCHE Conference, take a sweater – it’s always so cold in the convention center for some reason!
If you don’t have a smartphone or tablet that takes pictures, you may want to take a camera. You will make lots of good memories, meet lots of new friends, hear from wise and experienced speakers, and you’ll want to remember the inspiration and encouragement that you received at the conference. Make sure you have your memory card and backup battery too!
Free Printable Homeschool Convention Planner, Checklist, and Note-taking Sheets
Click the image below to download the printable version of this list plus all the extras included (scroll down). There are actually two versions of this printable – one for the first year I went to our state’s conference, and another one for a subsequent year. I’m including both versions here for you so you can pick the one you like! They both include the same things:
- The checklist for preparation
- A Daily To-Do List (you write in your goals for the day)
- Note-taking pages (several styles: with or without graphics, lined or unlined)
Is there anything I missed? What would YOU bring to a homeschool conference?
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