SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, September 26th, 2026
Do you yearn to feel confident and equipped to home educate while also desiring to achieve a much deeper and broader goal in mind – creating lasting memories as a family and not losing sight of discipling your child’s heart at each growing season?
We invite you to attend the 4 th annual Mahaffey Camp and Conference Center’s Home Educators’ Conference – “Treasuring Memories – Training for the Future” – to be encouraged and challenged to accomplish all of the above and more through applying Deuteronomy 6:6-7 – “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road when you lie down and when you get up.”
Glean from veteran home educators, who have walked in the same footsteps as you are walking now, as they share heartfelt, meaningfully crafted sessions on relatable, applicable topics to help you balance between the emotional and spiritual joys homeschooling can afford you with the much-needed forward-looking preparation of relationship building and character training.
This day is a perfect opportunity to retreat, slow down, discover new resources, and most importantly, connect with others in our amazing homeschool community through gaining and giving support and encouragement to one another.
Leave this year’s conference with renewed hope and a new (or added) mission focusing not solely on academics but more so on creating a lasting, loving legacy along with building a firm, equipped foundation for your child’s ongoing character development and God-given path in their adult life.
Conference includes:
Inspirational and practical presentations
Whole group and collaborative small group sessions
Literature and America 250 focused giveaways
Literature swap (give and take) table
Small vendor area
Childcare is provided for kids ages 1-12 with an art class by Corie Hartsock!
Register Today!
Date: September 26, 2026
Time: 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Location: Mahaffey Camp & Conference Center • Dining Hall. Childcare provided in our Children’s Ministry Building.
Registration Deadline: Monday, September 21st – Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate walk-ins on the day of.
Schedule
8:30 – 9:00 Registration (morning refreshments available)
9:00 – 9:30 Welcome Message – Imprints
Presented by Melissa Neff
9:30 – 10:15 Session #1 – Who Do You Think You Are?
Presented by Bethany Livergood
10:15 – 10:20 Break
10:20 – 11:05 Session #2 – Purposeful Training for a Meaningful & Memorable Life
Presented by Hope Cecere & Amy Wagner
11:05 – 11:10 Break
11:10 – 11:40 Session #3 – To Read or Not to Read – ‘Aloud’ – Is that the Question?
Presented by Melissa Neff
11:40 – 12:00 Video – CHAP Intro & Reflections on Memories/Training for the Future
Presented by Ginger Wayde & Sara Madden
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch & Fellowship (afternoon refreshments available)
1:00 – 1:05 Introduction to Mini- Workshops Format
1:05 – 1:20 Session #4 – Let Freedom Ring!
Presented by Susan Catherman
1:20 – 1:40 Small Group Discussion on Session #4 Topic
1:40 – 1:50 Small Groups Share
1:50 – 1:55 Break
1:55 – 2:10 Session #5 – Learn It and Live It: Follow Me as I Follow Christ (1 Cor. 11:1)
Presented by Hope Cecere & Amy Wagner
2:10 – 2:30 Small Group Discussion on Session #5 Topic
2:30 – 2:40 Small Groups Share
2:40 – 2:45 Break
2:45 – 3:20 Q and A Panel Discussion
3:20 – 3:30 Closing Remarks/Giveaways Announced/Closing Prayer
Speakers!
Session Topics
Welcome Message: Imprints
Melissa Neff
Imprints are characterized as lasting effects or distinctive marks. When pondering the depth of imprints on our lives, whether societal or personal, our minds may drift to the lasting effects of history on our nation; the lasting effects of a harsh word said during a disagreement; or the lasting effects of a kind act graciously given to us by a stranger or loved one. Do you think about the imprints you are leaving on your children while you home educate? This message will encourage you to think beyond academics by sharing the most significant and valuable imprints your child(ren) will ever receive through the lifestyle of home education.
Session #1: Who Do You Think You Are?
Bethany Livergood
Choosing to homeschool can trigger all kinds of questions and doubts, both from other people and from within.
Are you sure you should homeschool?
What kind of curriculum should you use?
What about socialization?
What about prom?
Can you really teach your children to read?
What about high school math?
How are your kids going to find friends?
Are you ruining their lives?
Wouldn’t it just be easier to send them to school?
Are you disciplined enough to do this? Are you organized enough? Are you patient enough?
Really, who do you think you are?!
I will tell you who you are. You are capable. You are equipped. You are just the right person to do this.
Session #2: Purposeful Training for a Meaningful & Memorable Life
Hope Cecere & Amy Wagner
To reach the final destination, you need to know where you are going, map a course, and be willing to make midflight course corrections. Homeschooling is more than reading, writing, and arithmetic. It is the opportunity to “raise godly children to reach the world for Jesus Christ” (Ken Ham). In our family, the desire was to be moldable clay in God’s hands. This session is full of practical tips on how we made the most of our moments and enjoyed the adventure of a lifetime both here and abroad.
Prepare your kids for the here and now as well as the there and then. College? Trade school? Entrepreneurship? Homemaker? Pastor? Missionary? Valued team member or employee? Only the Lord knows, so be sure He is in the lead. If you love to learn, chances are your enthusiasm will spill over onto your children, and they will love to learn too.
Be excited to bloom where you are planted and ready to go wherever God calls.
- Purposeful training and memorable moments that flow from your family culture
- Setting a tone for your homeschool by developing a name and a mission statement for your family school. Even a logo!
- Effects these everyday strategies had on a grown-up homeschooler
Session #3: To Read or Not to Read ‘Aloud’ – Is that the Question?
Melissa Neff
Memories hold stories. Stories hold memories. We all have them. We all make them. Good, bad, and ugly ones (if we are honest). Have you considered reading aloud to be an integral part of creating meaningful memories as a family? Reading aloud as a family not only can provide opportunities for all kinds of learning but can also be the catalyst to curate all kinds of memories too. Should the question be whether to read aloud or not, or should it be what to read aloud? Or both? This session will briefly explore how reading aloud cannot only create a springboard for learning but may just be the key you are searching for to unlock needed time to build lifelong relationships with your children while in turn creating cherished memories during every season of your homeschool journey.
Session #4: Let Freedom Ring!
Susan Catherman
We as home educators have a lot of freedom, even within the “strict” PA homeschool law. We have the freedom to teach our children God’s word. We have the freedom to cover academic material any way we choose. We have the freedom to decide what constitutes a “day”. But are we truly taking advantage of these freedoms? At this workshop, Susan will discuss a variety of ways to live out your freedoms as PA homeschoolers.
Session #5: Learn It and Live It: Follow Me as I Follow Christ (1 Cor. 11:1)
Hope Cecere & Amy Wagner
More is caught than is taught, whether that is your values or your enthusiasm. How do we take the important things we want our kids to learn and make them come to life, give them feet to put them into action? In this session, we will share practical steps you can take to get both book learning and crucial discipleship into everyday life. Hear some examples; brainstorm ideas; share and glean with others through small group discussion.
Thank you to our Sponsors!
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