2026 West Regional Convergence

Join us for an engaging experiential professional development and networking opportunity with local educators, practitioners, therapists, youth, staff and volunteers from local and regional nonprofits serving youth, families and underserved communities. Add experiential learning activities and resources to your professional development toolbox, meet new friends and have fun! 

Activities include:

• Learn about Experiential Learning/Education
• Networking opportunities 
• Themed workshops focused on experiential community building activities including resilience, positive/integrative youth development and social justice 
• BBQ dinner, snacks and breakfast for Friday morning 
• Overnight camping limited to 15 participants 4/30 to 5/1 special registration for overnight camping 

Dates:  Thursday, April 30th from 2:00–7:30 pm (with optional BBQ after 5:30)

Cost: Sliding Scale $15-$25 Adult chaperoned youth attend for free.

Location: Sunset State Park Beach Upper Shade Ramada

Hosted by and in partnership with: The Children Are Our Future, Growing Greatness and the West Region of the Association for Experiential Education, CA State Parks Family Camp

2:00–2:30 pm — Arrival + grounding

• Light snacks, coffee/tea
• Soft arrival, informal connection

2:30–3:45 pm — Networking/Community Building Activities

3:45–4:00 pm — Break

4:00–5:30 pm — Workshops (TBA)

5:30–7:30 pm — BBQ + informal networking

For questions or more information on how to register please contact Terry Williams at terrywilliamsphd@gmail.com or 831-601-6952.

WRAEE Convergence Schedule 2026

May 1–3, 2026

A weekend of connection, learning, and outdoor adventure for environmental and outdoor educators

2:00 – 4:00 PM
Registration & Lodging Check-In

4:00 – 4:30 PM
Welcome & Orientation

4:30 – 6:00 PM
Connection & Team-Building Activity

6:00 – 7:00 PM
Dinner

7:00 – 10:00 PM
Playnote Evening
Games, Small Group Activities & Free Time

Saturday – May 2

7:30 – 9:00 AM
Registration Check-In & Breakfast

9:00 – 9:30 AM
Opening Announcements & Activities

9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Open Space & Learning Sessions

12:30 – 1:30 PM
Lunch

1:30 – 2:30 PM
Keynote

2:30 – 2:45 PM
Break & Networking

2:45 – 6:00 PM
Open Space & Learning Sessions

6:00 – 7:00 PM
Dinner

7:00 – 10:00 PM
Evening Program
Fireside Stories, Star Walk, Games & Free Time

Sunday – May 3

7:30 – 9:00 AM
Breakfast, Pack-a-Lunch & Networking

9:30 AM – 12:15 PM
Choose Your Own Adventure
(Weather permitting: hiking, kayaking, climbing, and other outdoor activities)

12:15 – 1:00 PM
Group Closing, Clean-Up & Check-Out

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

The Ripple Effect: A Journey of You and Me and the Space In Between

Known as 'your best kept secret', sought after speaker, teacher, therapist, social scientist, and storyteller, Dr. Maria Georgo (Dr. G.), is our featured keynote for the 2026 Conference. Dr. G. shares her stories and helps others do the same, about culture, family, friends, community, healing, love, joy, adventure, grief, resilience and more. Bring an open mind and heart to this interactive and engaging keynote that promises to be nothing less than interesting, fun, introspective, and stimulating experience. Participants will find themselves listening, turning to wonder, and learning from one another. Dr. G. sees no obstacles, only opportunities and helping others imagine possibilities for themselves. You can be sure to be both entertained and inspired.

Dr. Maria Georgo

Dr. Georgo grew up in New York City, but also spent time in rural Maryland, beach-side Delaware, Connecticut, Chicago, and Florida. She is Greek-American and grew up in a family restaurant, where many of the customers ate three meals a day, seven days a week- so she loves to cook and feed people (and eat). She has three children (2 sons and a daughter) and one granddaughter - her daughter and husband and granddaughter live in California, and one son lives in Colorado, the other in Maine (all good (cold) places to visit). She loves all kinds of art, music, story-telling, traveling, and the outdoors.

Dr. Georgo brings 15+ years experience as a catalyst, impacting positive change in the lives of many with an eclectic and inclusive style and passion for cross-cultural understanding - creating safe spaces for conflict, open communication, listening, diversity, inclusion, and equity. She is presently enjoying a myriad of eclectic work, she is the founder and facilitator of Talking Hearts Project: Making Work Meaningful, a full service coaching and consulting practice; and the facilitator and founder of AutisticallyCrafted, a collective of entrepreneurs on the autism spectrum. In addition to these roles, Dr. G. is also in private practice as a licensed mental health counselor, part-time faculty member at Southern New Hampshire University and Valencia College, part-time facilitator for the Peace and Justice Center, and a counselor for the Orlando Diocese. Past work includes classroom teaching and college director of new student orientation, student life, counseling, outdoor education, residential life and accessibility services.

Dr. Georgo has a PhD from Nova Southeastern University in Humanities and Social Sciences: Specializing in conflict analysis and transformation. Her dissertation topic focused on workplace bullying, her research noted for exploring media effect and workplace bullying. She also holds a BA degree from Salisbury State University in Communications with a minor in Business and Education, and a MS degree in Counseling from Central Connecticut State University.