SEE YOU AGAIN IN 2026!
2025 Louisiana Homeschool Conference
Friday, March 28th, 2025 &
Saturday, March 29th, 2025
First Baptist Church
401 W Morris Ave
Hammond, LA 70403
Conference Schedule
Friday, March 28th:
5:00 pm – Doors open to Vendor Hall
6:00-7:00 pm– “The Heart of Homeschooling” Dr. and Mrs. Jan Smith in Meeting Room 1
7:30 pm – Doors Close
Saturday, March 29th:
8:15 am – Registration
8:45 am – Announcements & “However Imperfectly: Lessons Learned from Thirty Years of Teaching” Andrew Pudewa in the Sanctuary
10:00 am – Vendor Time
11:00-11:45 am – Workshops
- “Four Deadly Errors of Teaching Writing” Andrew Pudewa in the Sanctuary
- “Getting Started Homeschooling” Karla Curtis in the Vendor Hall
- “Understanding Apologetics with Creation Science” Joseph McDonald in Meeting Room 1
- “The Power of Presence and Connection: Making Memories That Last a Lifetime” Kathy Eggers in Meeting Room 2
12:00-12:30 pm – Lunch
12:30-1:00 pm – Vendor Time
1:00-1:45 pm – Workshops
- “Principles of Motivation” Andrew Pudewa in the Sanctuary
- “Being a Strong and Loving Parent: The Foundation of Success” Dr. Roger and Mrs. Jan Smith in the Vendor Hall
- “Nature Study” with Ranger Becky in the Meeting Room 1
- “The Early Years – Building a Solid Foundation Through Play” Kathy Eggers in Meeting Room 2
1:45-2:45 pm – Vendor Time
2:45-3:30 pm – “Nurturing Competent Communicators” Andrew Pudewa in the Sanctuary
3:30 pm – Pick up youth from the Youth Program 3:45-4:00pm – Closing Session and Door Prizes
If you are homeschooling or considering homeschooling, our conference offers:
- Encouragement in your homeschooling journey.
- Vision for your children and your homeschool.
- Vendor Hall with educational resources and conference-only deals.
- Youth program while the parents are in sessions.
- Fellowship with homeschoolers from across the state. Meet and make connections.
- Catered, hot, lunch (included in registration.)
This is the homeschooling event of the year!
Keynote Speaker:
Andrew Pudewa is the founder and director of the Institute for Excellence in Writing and a father of seven. Traveling and speaking around the world, he addresses issues related to teaching, writing, thinking, spelling, and music with clarity, insight, practical experience, and humor.
Location:
First Baptist Church
401 W Morris Ave
Hammond, LA 70403
Registration for Saturday:
Parent Registration Fee:
$65 ($55 for members and affiliated groups)
No refunds after March 14th.
Spouses and grandparents attend for free! Registration includes a hot, catered lunch for mom, dad and children under 5.
Homeschool Louisiana Affiliated Groups:
CCHSA
CHEF of Baton Rouge
CHEF of GNO
CHEF of Lafayette
Homeschool Southwest Louisiana
Homeschool St. Charles
Homeschool Tangipahoa
NELCHA
Lunch:
Lunch is included for husband, wife, children under 5 and children in the Youth Program. Additional lunches can be purchased: $8 for grandparents and $5 for children 5 and older.
Vendor Hall
The Vendor Hall will be open on Friday from 5:00pm until 7:30pm and during the Conference on Saturday. There will be Vendor times between sessions and workshops.
Classical Conversations (Gold Level Sponsor)
United States Army Recruiting (Gold Level Sponsor)
Demme Learning (Bronze Level Sponsor)
Ballet Studio of Louisiana
Big Branch Marsh (U.S. Fish & Wildlife)
BJU Press – Bob Jones University
CHEF of GNO
Creation Science Books
Distinctive Music Studios
Homeschool Louisiana
Homeschool Tangipahoa
Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW)
Louisiana Right to Life
Louisiana Youth Challenge (National Guard)
Lamplighter Books
McNeese State University
Miller Foto Photography
Playing Skillfully / Kathy Eggers
Teaching Textbooks
Teen Pact Louisiana
The Tuttle Twins Books
Trey Williams Books
Y&T Jewelry
Hotels in Hammond
- Red Roof Inn Plus
- Courtyard
- Home2Home
- Holiday Inn
Session and Workshop Descriptions:
The Heart of Homeschooling
What does homeschooling look like in real life? We will share with you some of the basic principles to keep you on track in teaching your children and major issues that often cause discouragement for moms in the trenches.
There are major areas that you as a family can prioritize to protect your heart and mind as you press towards your mission as a family.
Come and be encouraged.
However Imperfectly: Lessons Learned from Thirty Years of Teaching
In this talk Andrew Pudewa shares many humorous experiences (and painful lessons) he has learned over thirty years of teaching and homeschooling. You will be challenged, reassured, and sure to leave with an expanded vision of your calling as a home educator.
Four Deadly Errors of Teaching Writing
After years of teaching Andrew Pudewa realized that students’ frustrations were often caused by teaching mistakes. Have you committed one of these errors in your teaching? Overcorrecting, holding back help, unclear assignments, and over-expectation can frustrate your students and hamper your best efforts. Join Andrew Pudewa to learn how to overcome and avoid these four deadly errors of teaching writing.
Principles of Motivation
A life-long student of motivation, Andrew Pudewa has organized fundamental ideas of motivation into categories: four forms of relevancy, three laws of motivation, and two secret weapons. This expansion of Andrew’s previous talk Teaching Boys & Other Children Who Would Rather Be Making Forts All Day includes new and updated stories, tips, and information.
Being a Strong and Loving Parent: the Foundation of Success
Learn principles of building quality relationships with your children from veteran home educators who have strong relationships with their grown children. Transitioning from authority to influence as your child grows is key to maintaining a relationship. We will overview this transition from 0-18 and give insights into different age groups.
Relationship with your child is the key to academic and life success.
Nurturing Competent Communicators
Many teachers and parents assume that good readers will naturally become good writers. Others think that writing talent is a natural ability. Some have it. Others don’t. Both are myths. History and modern research demonstrate how good writers develop the two most critical skills needed for a high level of aptitude in writing. With humor and insight, Andrew Pudewa explains these two easy but powerful skills, which build language patterns and nurture competent communicators.
The Power of Presence and Connection: Making Memories That Last a Lifetime
Capture the magic of childhood and create lasting bonds with your homeschool family! Join Kathy for a workshop designed to help homeschooling parents intentionally cultivate meaningful moments and strengthen family relationships. In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in schedules and to-do lists. This workshop will guide you in slowing down, being truly present, and creating experiences that your children (and you!) will cherish for years to come. Discover practical strategies for fostering connection through shared activities, storytelling, nature exploration, and simple acts of kindness. Learn how to create a homeschool environment where genuine connection thrives and memories are made with intention. Leave this workshop inspired and equipped to build a legacy of love and lasting memories with your family.
The Early Years – Building a Solid Foundation Through Play
Unlock the power of play to ignite learning in the early years and beyond! Join Kathy for a powerful workshop that is designed to empower homeschooling parents to create rich and engaging learning experiences for their young children (preschool & early elementary). Discover how play is not just fun, but a critical tool for developing essential skills in literacy, math, social-emotional development, and more. We’ll explore practical strategies for creating a play-based learning environment at home, including hands-on activities, simple material suggestions, and tips for fostering curiosity and exploration. Learn how to observe and support your child’s natural learning process, and how to seamlessly integrate play into your daily homeschool routine. Leave this workshop with a toolkit of ideas and the confidence to nurture a lifelong love of learning in your young child.
Youth program
By Joseph McDonald
Creation evangelism is not just another debate about science and religion. It’s about having answers to the skeptical questions of the age while standing on the authority of God’s Word. When people ask so many questions about the days of creation, the age of the earth, dinosaurs, the Flood of Noah’s Day, or why there is so much death and suffering in the world, we can explain what we believe, why we believe it, and why it really matters as we proclaim the hope of the gospel.
Creating Your Own Board or Card game with Kelly Washington, program Specialist, Tangipahoa Parish Library. Students will work in groups to create new games.
Introduction into Nature Journaling with Ranger Becky
Join Ranger Becky Larkins, Refuge Ranger for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at the Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges and begin your nature journaling adventure. We will have several nature discovery activities where youth will learn how to observe and record their nature discoveries in their very own nature journal. Nature journals are provided by generous donation by the Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges, Inc. Ranger Becky will also showcase digital ways to enhance one’s nature observation tool set by showcasing the Merlin Bird ID, iNaturalist and Nature’s Notebook apps.
**An outdoor area for the youth program would be amazing!
Nature Study with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Join Ranger Becky Larkins, Refuge Ranger for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at the Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges to learn more about how homeschool families can benefit from the use of natural resources at the nation’s National Wildlife Refuges. Ranger Becky will outline ways for citizen science activities, showcasing BioBlitz, geocache and other digital nature learning techniques available. Nature study kits will be showcased that are available for loan at the Bayou Lacombe Visitor Center.
Youth Program (Ages 10 & up) **REGISTRATION IS FULL**
Students ages 10-18 can participate in fun activities and programs while their parents attend the conference. Fee is $25 per student, Lunch is included. Students can be dropped off at 8:30am and will be picked up at 3:30pm.
Schedule:
8:30 am – Minute-to-Win-It Games
9:30 am – Making your own board games by Kelly Washington, Tangipahoa Library Teen Program Coordinator
10:30 am – Cookie decorating and gift making
11:30 am – Paint a canvas with Stephanie Head, Free-Range Hippie
12:30 pm – Lunch (included)
1:00 pm – Creation Science with Joseph McDonald
2:00-3:30 pm – Introduction into Nature Journaling with Ranger Becky, Refuge Ranger for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at the Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge
3:30 pm – Parents pick up their youth.
Children at the Conference
Your children may attend the conference with you. They must stay with a parent at all times unless they are enrolled in the Youth Program. Please bring quiet toys (art supplies, books etc.) to entertain them during the sessions. Lunch for children ages 5 and up is $5 per child.
Gold Level Sponsor ($1000 or more):
Bronze Level Sponsor:
