WHO (For whom):

All parents interested, or currently engaged, in home education and family discipleship, their teens, their children, the non-homeschooling grandparents, pastors, and the veteran homeschoolers

WHAT:

• A two-plus day conference of workshops for teens and adults

• A vendor hall filled with curriculum options and other homeschooling opportunities, and most importantly a time to get to know other homeschoolers and pick their brains, to meet the vendors personally, and to chat with the speakers

WHERE:

Sturbridge Host Hotel & Conference Center, 366 Main Street, Sturbridge

WHEN:

WHY:

• Be encouraged, inspired, and informed by the workshop speakers
• Chat with the speakers
• Meet vendors personally, ask questions about their products, and then buy from them
• Pick the brains of other homeschoolers
• Establish relationships with other homeschoolers and glean from their experience
• Get away for the weekend and be refreshed

PARKING:

There is plenty of FREE parking at the facility!

LODGING:

Enjoy the convenience of everything under one roof – hotel and conference rooms! The only hotel for which MassHOPE has rooms blocked is the Sturbridge Host. We encourage you to book your room soon, as the room block expires April 7, 2022. Call the hotel directly at: 508-347-7393.

FOOD:

There will be concessions available at the Host:

• breakfast at the Greenhouse (sandwiches, pastries/breads, yogurt, fruit, and beverages)

• lunch (sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, chicken fingers, soup, salad, treats, and beverages)

As an overnight guest, you may bring food into your hotel room.

Sturbridge is a tourist area, mostly due to Old Sturbridge Village and the nearby Brimfield Flea Market. You will find restaurants of all types within walking/short driving distance from the hotel. We are even hoping to find some special deals for our attendees at some local restaurants, so be sure to check with us as time gets closer!

UNO Pizzeria & Grill Dough Raiser Show your support to MassHOPE by grabbing a leaflet at the MassHOPE booth to present to your server when you dine at UNO’s in Sturbridge on Friday, 4/22/22. UNO’s will donate up to 20% of your check to MassHOPE!

HOURS:

Thursday, 4/21/22
6:30PM – three free and open-to-the-public workshops
(No registration required)

Friday, 4/22/22
7:30AM – Doors open
8:15AM – General Session
8:30AM – 5:30PM Exhibit hall hours
9:30AM – 12:15PM – Three sessions of 45 minute workshops
12:15 LUNCH break
1:30PM – 3:15PM – Two sessions of 45 minute workshops
5:30PM – Exhibit hall closes
6:30PM – Ladies’ Dessert Fellowship with Connie Albers (must pre-register, limited space)

Saturday, 4/23/22
7:30AM – Doors open
8:15AM – General Session
8:30AM – 5:00PM Exhibit hall hours
9:30AM – 12:15PM – Three sessions of 45 minute workshops
12:15 LUNCH break
1:30PM – 3:15PM – Two sessions of 45 minute workshops
5:00PM – Exhibit hall closes, convention is over

A more detailed and precise workshop schedule is coming. Please stay tuned to our website.

COVID REGULATIONS/RESTRICTIONS:

As of the writing of this document, there are no regulations/restrictions in place. This can, however, change at a moment’s notice although we are not expecting it to do so. Neither MassHOPE nor the Sturbridge Host are currently requiring masks, but if you are more comfortable wearing one, by all means, please feel free to do so.

VENDORS:

The Sturbridge Host’s vendor hall is smaller than that at the DCU Center, which was massive, but you will still find a terrific assortment of curricula and homeschool resources. You can find a list of our vendors and their corresponding websites on our website at https://masshope.org/vendors/

VOLUNTEERS:

MassHOPE depends on a host of volunteers to make this event happen smoothly. We need YOU!

Please visit https://masshope.org/volunteer. For every hour you volunteer, you earn four (4) MassHOPE bucks to spend like cash in the exhibit hall. Even your children, 12 years old and up, can volunteer!

WORKSHOP HANDOUTS:

To prevent unnecessary waste of resources, MassHOPE does not provide copies of any handouts associated with workshops presented at the convention. Instead, if you see a pdf image following the workshop description, please click on that image to open the handout for that particular workshop. You can then print it and bring it with you, if you’d like. Check back often to see if speakers have submitted handouts since the last time you checked.

CHILDREN:

Although we do not have a formal children’s program this year, we still want this to be a time away for your family, if that’s what you want to do. We are allowing children to attend workshops with their parents as long as they can remain quiet. Even happy noises are picked up by our sensitive recording equipment, so please be mindful of your children.

We will have a Kids’ Korner this year where you will find space and some limited activities for your children to play and do while you’re with them. We also expect to have a limited “lending library” of activities for your children to use while in workshops and then return for another child to use.

A limited number of Busy Bags for younger children will be available for sale at both the MassHOPE booth and at the Kids’ Korner.

The Sturbridge Host is a very family friendly venue with a lovely indoor courtyard, indoor swimming pool (for overnight guests only), large grassy areas outdoors, and a waterfront with a small, sandy beach.

TEENS:

Teens are welcome anywhere, but there will be a leadership-themed track for teens (ages 12-18) with sessions presented by Jonathan Brush and Paul Hastings. Of course, there are always opportunities for your teens to volunteer at the convention as well!

(PRE)REGISTRATION:

Is it necessary to pre-register? No, but it sure helps with our planning if you do! You may register at the door, but it will cost you more!

REASONS TO PRE-REGISTER:

• • • Less expensive to register beforehand
    • Able to purchase MassHOPE bucks to spend in the exhibit hall. Purchase up to $200 of MassHOPE bucks at a 10% discount and spend them at face value, as cash, in the exhibit hall.
    • Educator ID cards with your pre-registration – $10 (Post-convention price will be $12.)
    • Ladies’ Dessert Fellowship with Connie Albers on Friday evening, 6:30 (limited space)
    • LIGHTLAB ETC workshops for children 7-12 years old (limited space)
    • Discounted admission to Old Sturbridge Village for Sunday, 4/24 (must be there at 9:15AM)

EXHIBIT HALL ONLY PASS:

Although we really want you to take advantage of the entire convention, we realize that sometimes that’s all your life will allow you to do. An “Exhibit Hall Only” pass is available only onsite for $20 and can be used Saturday, 4/23, only from 2:00PM until closing (5:00PM).