2019 Speakers Schedule
Monday, May 20th
Demystifying Dungeons & Dragons: How D&D launches us into a world of imagination research and teamwork
Fred Kluth
2:00-3:00 PM, Mangrove
In this engaging, lighthearted presentation, Dungeon Master Fred shares his practical insights about the game of Dungeons & Dragons, and exactly how it’s a fun and exciting journey in an imaginative world of role playing, with the added bonus of teaching life skills. He will enthusiastically share how fantastic the game is, cover the basics of game play, share heartwarming anecdotes about working with a team to achieve goals, discuss how to play out scenarios and resolve conflicts, and discuss the hidden lessons learned.
Grown Unschoolers Panel
Moderated by Eric Viele
6:30-7:30 PM, Wisteria
How does an unschooler swim from the stream of childhood into the sea of grown human being status? Well, that’s a good question… why not ask it at the Grown Unschoolers Panel? We’ve assembled a whole gaggle of grown, “mature” unschoolers ready to take your questions!
Tuesday, May 21st
Gaming and The Unschooled Child
Jeff Vawter
11:00 AM-12:00 PM, Mangrove
“Kids can’t learn anything from games, it’s a big waste of time.” – this statement couldn’t be farther from the truth. I will be delving into the world of gaming and all of its facets, breaking down myths about gaming, what our children learn from games, and the life skills that can be taught from them. I will also explain the different types of games out there and what they can bring to your unschooling journey. If you don’t know the difference between Ameritrash and Euros, or can’t tell Jayce from Charizard, then this talk is for you.
The Misinformation Superhighway
Jim Woodman
12:30-1:30, Mangrove
The internet can be a great source of information, but misinformation can travel just as quickly. How do you determine what you should trust, and what you should not? In this session, Jim Woodman will offer tips and tricks on how to find what you are looking for, and how to check out anything you hear about to determine how credible it is.
Aligning with the Soul’s Joy: Unschooling Ourselves from the BS (Belief Systems)
Julie Bond Genovese
1:00-2:00 PM, Wisteria
More than any outer adversity, losses, or challenges, our inner BS is the biggest block standing in the way of an awesome and fulfilling lifetime. By consciously questioning our beliefs, we open up to greater possibilities and empowerment. Carl Jung said, “The greatest burden a child must bear is the unlived life of the parents.” The clearer we are on our own path, the more loving we can be as parents. The more devoted we feel to our own passions and soul-blissipline, the brighter example we become for our family and their unique dreams. No matter what difficulties come our way, an open heart and mind align us with our best selves. Join us for an interactive discussion on how to shift our daily focus toward greater peace, presence, and inspiration.
A Village Connected
Heather Schleidt
5:30-6:30 PM, Mangrove
Heather will talk about the social pressure that exists to get your children involved in activities that will teach them lessons and socialize them ‘properly’. Parental peer pressure often makes us unsupportive of our children’s personal passions because we worry they won’t fit in. She will discuss the importance of supporting your children in activities outside of sports leagues, mission trips, and honor society, and how that will allow them to become more connected individuals with family and society. Everyone is asked to bring a few ideas to the table about their children’s or their own passions and how others could get connected to that if interested. As unschoolers, it is important to find our tribe so that we can feel connected and supported. Come help us do that!
Expanding your own creative writing: how to share your works, improve your grammar, and more.
Lillie Forteau
5:30-6:30 PM, Wisteria
Words stuck in your head? This workshop/masterclass will help beginner to advanced creative writers improve their craft. We will cover several writing topics, from advanced worldbuilding to the correct places to put commas. There will be prompts and time for questions.
Teen Entrepreneurs
Moderated by Eric Viele
7:00-8:00 PM Mangrove
Ever wanted to work for yourself? Have a kid that wants to start their own business? Then come on down to the teen entrepreneur panel, where young adults who work for themselves will be on stage to answer your questions.
Wednesday, May 22nd
Shift Happens
Heather Schleidt
10:00-11:00 AM, Mangrove
Come hear the story of a now-experienced unschooling mom who started her journey with no direction and no real understanding of what unschooling meant for her family. Follow the journey of her family as they witnessed the ‘shifts’ that took place along the way, helping to create a family that values love, respect, individual thought, and learning for its own sake. None of Heather’s children have ever been to school, and she will discuss the shifts that occurred in their parenting style as they began to realize that unschooling was the right long-term choice for them. This shift from being parents to guidance counselors has given their children the time, space, and support to become young, well-adjusted adults with goals of their own. If you worry that unschooling may not show results, come learn ways to shift your ideas about what results should look like.
Foundations of Financial Freedom
Don DeSerrano
11:30 AM-12:30 PM, Mangrove
Foundations of Financial Freedom is for kids and parents who want to make their own rules and have fun whenever they want, and don’t like being told what to do. How can you become financially free to be forever in charge of yourself and your life? How young can you get started, and what are the first steps? We will answer these questions and more, as we lay the Foundations of Financial Freedom.
Harmonizing Our Relationships (with Partners or Kids) using The Work Of Byron Katie
Julie Bond Genovese
1:00-2:00 PM, Wisteria
“The teacher you need is the person you’re living with.” -Byron Katie. A conscious relationship- with ourselves, our partners, our kids, or our friends- is one of the most powerful tools for personal joy and spiritual growth. By recognizing when we project our painful thoughts and feelings about ourselves onto those closest to us, we can begin to free ourselves from conflict. Relationships act as an insightful reflection of the denied aspects within ourselves. What we judge or ignore within ourselves, we’ll notice crawling all over others. By honoring our truth and “loving what is,” we can use adversity as a catalyst for growth and compassion. These wake-up calls from the soul teach us how to champion our true selves while learning to live peacefully with our families. As we change our inner perspective, the healing and peace ripples outward. Join us in an interactive workshop and discussion on how to shift anger, overwhelm, and judgement into mindfulness, freedom, and love.
Bus Build/Bus Life Round Table
Raina Hodgson and Eric Viele
7:00-8:00 PM, Mangrove
Join our experienced bus build panelists at our round table for a lively discussion of all things relating to bus conversion. Share your stories, ask questions, and meet other bus enthusiasts.
Thursday, May 23rd
Revisiting Word of Mouth Marketing for your Local Business
Ed Forteau
10:00-11:00 AM, Mangrove
Word of mouth marketing is probably how you got your very first customer, and how you initially grew your business. Then, it dried up, and you turned to other methods that were not as effective at gaining new customers. The good news is, word of mouth marketing is alive, well, and better than ever when leveraging social media in ways that are overlooked by most businesses. Ed will share three social media word of mouth methods that produce results better than advertising ever could. And the best part? You can implement them right away.
Unschooling Special Needs Round Table
10:00-11:00 AM, Wisteria
An open forum discussion about unschooling a special needs child. Bring your questions, share your experiences, offer support, and find your special needs tribe.
How to: Online selling and how you can actually make money
Lillie Forteau
11:30 AM-12:30 PM, Mangrove
Wanting to start an easy business? Considering Etsy, Ebay, or other similar selling sites? This talk will give you the fundamentals of becoming a successful seller, how to properly plan out your business, smart budgeting, and how to price your items. Please feel free to ask questions.
College Application Tips
Dana Stewart, Maya Serna and Nina Serna
1:00-2:00 PM, Mangrove
Thinking about applying to a college? Join us for this roundtable discussion about college applications, transcripts, and more.
Ask an Unschooled Teen
Moderated by Eric Viele
5:30-6:30 PM, Mangrove
How did you _____? Why did you _____? If I want to help my kid do _____, what should I do? If you have questions like this, then come on down to the Ask an Unschooled Teen panel! There will be talking, teenagers, microphones, and most importantly… answers! Just walk in, sit down, and ask our panel of teen unschoolers your questions.
2019 Speaker bios
Don DeSerrano
Foundations of Financial Freedom
Foundations of Financial Freedom is for kids and the parents of kids who want to make their own rules and have fun whenever they want, and don’t like being told what to do. How can you become financially free to be forever in charge of yourself and your life? How young can you get started, and what are the first steps? We will answer these questions and more as we lay the Foundations of Financial Freedom.
Ed Forteau
Ed had successful corporate careers in engineering and sales and marketing management with two Fortune 500 Companies. He left the corporate world to pursue his passion of being a consultant and advisor to business owners and entrepreneurs. Ed’s always had an affinity for working with local businesses. This has been especially true, as larger regional and national companies are pushing local and family-owned companies out of the marketplace. Find him at EdForteau.com
Revisiting Word of Mouth Marketing for your Local Business
Word of Mouth Marketing is probably how you got your very first customer, and how you initially grew your business. Then, it dried up, and you turned to other methods that were not as effective at gaining new customers. The good news is: word of mouth marketing is alive and well (and better than ever!) when leveraging social media in ways that are overlooked by most businesses. Ed will share three social media word of mouth methods that produce results better than advertising ever could. And the best part is: you can implement them right away.
Lillie Forteau
Lillie, always unschooled, is a writer, entrepreneur, graphic designer, and artist. She is a passionate musician (voice, ukelele, and guitar) and cosplayer, leading workshops in this field. Along with that, she is a master at home business, the founder of two businesses. She’s been to every single UWG.
Expanding your own creative writing: how to share your works, improve your grammar, and more.
Words stuck in your head?
This workshop/masterclass will help beginner to advanced creative writers improve their craft. We will cover several writing topics, from advanced worldbuilding to the correct places to put commas. There will be prompts and time for questions.
How to: Online selling and how you can actually make money
Wanting to start an easy business? Considering Etsy, Ebay, or other similar selling sites? This talk will give you the fundamentals of becoming a successful seller, how to properly plan out your business, smart budgeting, and how to price your items. Please, feel free to ask questions during the Q&A, or after the talk.
Julie Bond Genovese
Aligning with the Soul’s Joy: Unschooling Ourselves from the BS (Belief Systems)
More than any outer adversity, losses or challenges, our inner BS is the biggest block standing in the way of an awesome and fulfilling lifetime. By consciously questioning our beliefs, we open up to greater possibilities and empowerment. Carl Jung said, “The greatest burden a child must bear is the unlived life of the parents.” The clearer we are on our own path, the more loving we can be as parents. The more devoted we feel to our own passions and soul-blissipline, the brighter example we become for our family and their unique dreams. No matter what dificulities come our way, an open heart and mind align us with our best selves. Join us for an interactive discussion on how to shift our daily focus toward greater peace, presence and inspiration.
Harmonizing Our Relationships (with Partners or Kids) using The Work Of Byron Katie
“The teacher you need is the person you’re living with.” -Byron Katie. A conscious relationship (with ourselves, partners, kids or friends) is one of the most powerful tools for personal joy and spiritual growth. By recognizing when we project our painful thoughts and feelings about ourselves, onto those closest to us, we can begin to free ourselves from confilict. Relationships act as an insightful mirror of the denied aspects within ourselves. What we judge or ignore within ourselves, we’ll notice crawling all over others. By honoring our truth and “Loving What Is,” we can use any adversity as a catalyst for growth and compassion. These wake-up calls from the soul teach us how to champion our true selves while learning to live peacefully with our families. As we change our inner perspective, the healing and peace ripples outward. join us in an interactive workshop and discussion on how to shift anger, overwhlem and judgement into mindfulness, freedom and love.
Raina Hodgson
Bus Build/Bus Life Round Table
Join or experienced bus build panelists at our Bus Build Round Table for a lively discussion of all things relating to bus conversion. Share your stories, ask questions and meet other bus enthusiasts.
Fred Kluth
Demystifying Dungeons and Dragons: How D&D launches us into a world of imagination research and teamwork
In this engaging, light-hearted presentation, Dungeon Master Fred shares his practical insights about the game and exactly how it’s a fun and exciting journey in an imaginative world of role playing where the by-products are the life skills learned. He will enthusiastically share how fantastic the game is; cover the basics of game play; share heart-warming anecdotes about working with a team to achieve goals; discuss how to play out scenarios to resolve conflicts ; and discuss the hidden lessons learned.
Heather Schleidt
Shift Happens
Dana Stewart/Maya Serna
College Transcripts Tips
Thinking about applying to a college? Join us for this roundtable discussion about college applications, transcripts, and more.
Jeff Vawter
Jeff is a 16 year old living in a 45 year old body. A lifelong Michigander, He lives in Walled Lake with his wife of 20 years Joie, his son Marco, daughter Liliana and the “Zoo”, the family’s two dogs, 3 guinea pigs, Russian tortoise, and about a “bazillion” fish. He currently works as a System Administrator at an automotive manufacture (who doesn’t in Michigan), and enjoys camping, gaming, and running his kitchen like a small-town diner.
Gaming and The Unschooled Child
“Kids can’t learn anything from games, it’s a big waste of time” This statement couldn’t be farther from the truth. I will be delving into the world of gaming and all of its facets by breaking down myths about gaming, what our children learn from games, and the life skills that can be taught from them. I will also explain the different types of games out there and what they can bring to your unschooling journey. If you don’t know the difference between Ameritrash and Euros, or can’t tell Jayce from Charizard then this talk is for you.
Eric Viele
Panels – Moderated by Eric Viele
Ask an Unschooled Teen
How did you____? Why did you_____? If I want to help my kid do____, what should I do? If you have questions like this, then come on down to the Ask an Unschooled Teen panel! There will Talking! Teenagers! Microphones! And most importantly… ANSWERS!! How it works: walk in, sit down aska panel of teen unschoolers your questions!
Teen Entrepreneurs
Ever wanted to work for yourself? Have a kid that wants to start their own business? Then come on down to the teen entrepreneur panel! Young adults who work for themselves will be on stage and ready to answer your questions!
Grown Unschoolers
Now, how does an unschooler swim from the sea of childhood into the ocean of grown human being status? Well, good question… why not ask it at the Grown Unschoolers Panel!! We’ve assembled a whole gaggle of grown, “mature” unschoolers ready to take your questions!
Jim Woodman
The Misinformation Superhighway
The internet can be a great source of information, but misinformation can travel just as quickly. How do you determine which items you should trust, and which items you should not? In this session, Jim Woodman will offer tips and tricks on how to find what you are looking for, and how to check out anything you hear about, to determine how credible it is.
Jim Woodman is an unschooling dad, who with his wife Sylvia, raises two awesome kids, Gabriella and Harry. He has worked for Prudential for over 25 years, crunching numbers and developing life insurance products. Don’t worry, he won’t sell you anything, because he’s not licensed! He is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, enjoys music, and makes his own beer.
Host TBA
Unschooling Special Needs Round Table
An open forum discussion about unschooling a special needs child. Bring your questions, share your experiences, offer support and find your special needs tribe.