Meet Your Host and Camp Counselors
Hi! I am your Troop Leader, Kristen RB Peterson!
After listening to my 'fareygawdmather', Lisa Murphy, speak about the importance of play in early childhood, I was hooked. I fully embraced play based learning and never went back to traditional teaching methods. It has been a long and windy road full of shoulds and should nots, but I have broken up with the version of "teacher" we all grew up with and have leaned in to play facilitator. I created this summit specifically for more unconventional aspects of play. The things that make some people uncomfortable implementing in their classrooms. I want you to go in with an open mind and learn, discover, wonder and reflect to give children a place that is truly magical.
Meet Your Speakers and See What Days You Can Catch Them!
Day 1: Creativity! January 31, 2024
Lisa Murphy, M.Ed. (she/her) - Author, Speaker, Early Childhood Specialist, CEO & Founder, Ooey Gooey, Inc.
Becoming Child Centered
Lisa Murphy has been involved in early childhood education for over 35 years. She has written five books, produced numerous training videos, serves on several early childhood advisory boards, lectures both domestically and internationally, is a frequent guest on various early childhood podcasts and is the founder and CEO of Ooey Gooey, Inc.
In 2013 she received a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Champlain College, in 2018 she received the Patricia Monighan Nourot Award for Play Advocacy, in 2020 her book, Lisa Murphy On... Being Child Centered was nominated for “Best in Education” by Midwest Book Awards and in 2022 she was awarded the “Doctor of Play” award by the U.S. affiliate of the International Play Association. She is currently awaiting notice of acceptance from Hollins University to begin her second Masters degree; this time in Children’s Literature.
Lisa presents hundreds of workshops a year and is forever grateful knowing her presentations have been called: humorous, energetic, content-rich and inspiring. She currently resides in Central Florida where she continues to be an outspoken advocate who is committed to protecting a child’s right to play.
Find Lisa Murphy's Website Here!
Lyndsey Hellyn & Stephanie Bennett - Founders of The Curiosity Approach
Creative Childcare
We are Lyndsey Hellyn and Stephanie Bennett, two passionate educators who are revolutionizing Early Childhood Education with our modern day pedagogy known as The Curiosity Approach. Our mission is to transform outdated ‘academic’ practice and overcome challenges in this rapidly changing technological landscape and inspire young children to become future thinkers and doers by fostering curiosity, awe, and wonder in Early Years With a combined experience of over 60 years in the field and as Directors of Early Childhood Centres in Birmingham, U.K., we have gained a deep understanding of the needs and aspirations of children and their families. We have helped implement The Curiosity Approach within our own centers and across 33 countries worldwide, positively impacting the lives of thousands of children. What started as a local initiative has quickly gained global recognition. The Curiosity Approach has become a sensation worldwide, and we are honored to be seen as influential thought leaders in Early Childhood Education. We stand on the shoulders of pioneering Early Childhood giants and look to bring new energy and understanding of philosophies and thinking. Our passion for lifelong learning and children's rights continues to fuel our work. We strive to inspire fellow educators, parents, and policymakers worldwide, encouraging them to prioritize play, curiosity, fun, wonder, and holistic development in Early Childhood. We firmly believe that by nurturing young minds and cultivating a love for learning, the future can be different for the children we serve.
Suzanne Cotton (she/her) - M.S.Ed., M.M., Owner/Director/Teacher, Mulberry House Playschool
A Call for Creativity: How Original Innovation Can Transform Your Early Childhood Program
Suzanne Cotton is the owner and director of Mulberry House Playschool in Brooklyn, New York. Originally from the Midwest, Suzanne moved to New York City nearly 20 years ago to pursue a master's degree at Manhattan School of Music. In the years that followed, Suzanne met her husband and completed another master's degree in early childhood education. Before having three children of her own, Suzanne worked as a lead teacher, curriculum developer, and summer program director for a Manhattan preschool. Prior to opening Mulberry House, Suzanne furthered her studies in the Reggio Emilia Approach in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Suzanne currently teaches alongside her wonderful co-teachers five days a week, and documents the magic of Mulberry House on Instagram @mulberry_house_playschool. Recently, Suzanne’s online professional development courses have inspired early childhood educators from around the globe. She is passionate about nurturing connections, learning with children, and advocating for their right to play.
Yasmeen Kamrani Sallam (she/her) - Early Childhood Administrator
Igniting Creativity, Curiosity and Wonder through Intentional Invitations
Yasmeen has been an Early Childhood Administrator of play-based preschools in the Bay Area for 20+ years. She holds a B.S. in Business and M.ED. in ECE. Providing intentional & inclusive resources that are curated to ignite a child's creativity, curiosity, and wonder in an environment where opportunities are endless is her greatest passion and purpose.
Kayla Souza (she/her) - Owner of Little Lilac Preschool
Nurturing Your Creative Spirit
Kayla Souza, M.Ed. has been in the early childhood education field for over 20 years. After 18 years working in a traditional classroom setting, Kayla started her own home-based program in order to spend more time with her preschool-aged daughter. Now in its 4th year, her program has grown and expanded and she has uncovered the most important truth about what children really need: PLAY. She enjoys gardening, thrift store shopping, and voraciously collects children's books.
Jessica Borowets (she/her) - The Artful Child
Art and Enchantment in Early Childhood Environments
Jessica is deeply passionate about fostering creativity and sensory play in early childhood environments. As the owner of 'The Artful Child,' a cherished family art hub spanning 50 years, she's dedicated herself to creating nurturing environments for young minds to thrive. Her focus is on process art and learning through play. They've now expanded their mission to include workshops and a digital course for fellow educators, where we share insights on transforming classrooms into vibrant creative spaces. Her belief is that children learn best when they engage all their senses, and with a rich array of materials, play becomes a powerful vehicle for growth.
Monica Bolante (she/her) - Early Childhood Educator, Play Advocate
Cultivating Creativity in the Early Childhood Classroom
With a BA in Human Development, specializing in Early Childhood, an MA in Early Childhood Education, and a decade of experience learning alongside young children, Monica is on a mission to ensure that children receive the best start in life. Her superpower lies in creating captivating play environments that ignite wonder, joy, and endless discoveries. But here's the real magic: she harnesses those playful moments to showcase the profound learning experiences that unfold during play. Essentially, she encourages those around her to play wholeheartedly every day and captures "early childhood chronicles." Monica is the ultimate early childhood educator who passionately advocates for quality early childhood education.
Day 2: SEL and Families!
February 1, 2024
Leah McDermott (she/her) - Your Natural Learner; Bridge Academy
Connection as a Pre-Cursor to Academic Success
Leah McDermott is a former Master teacher turned unschooling advocate and mother of three. After over a decade spent in the world of education, two Masters of Education degrees, and multiple teaching certifications, Leah slowly began to realize that the way we were teaching our children in public schools went against everything that we knew to be true about learning acquisition and child development. When she gave birth to her first son, she knew it was time to make a change, and she left the classroom to be home with her child. Her passion for helping other children and families didn’t disappear, however, so as her son got older and closer to “school age,” she was determined to lean into trusting him as a learner and supporting other families in doing the same with their children. Through developing a child-led learning curriculum, creating a supportive space online for parents, and most recently, opening Bridge Academy - a private umbrella school for homeschoolers, Leah continues her life’s work of encouraging adults to unlearn what they’ve always believed to be true as they lean fully into trusting their children as natural, capable learners. Leah currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, Brian, their three boys, and a collection of pets. Outside of work, she and her family are passionate about traveling the world and learning about new things together.
Jessica Milburn (she/her) - Child Development Specialist
Emotional Awareness or Emotional Manipulation?
Jessica Milburn is a mother of 3 who holds a BAA (honours) in Child Development. She also has a Diploma in Early Childhood Education. She mentors and supports parents who choose to parent responsively, through her website, books, social media and workshops. Her family is neurodiverse and Jessica uniquely combines the Principles of Responsive Parenting with the healing journey that many parents find themselves on. Prior to working with families, Jessica was an Early Childhood Educator and researcher at Seneca College’s Lab School; A Reggio Inspired centre with a Forest School.
Alyssa Blask Campbell (she/her) - CEO of Seed & Sew
Tiny Humans Big Emotions
Alyssa Blask Campbell is the CEO of Seed & Sew, an organization that provides tools for parents, teachers, and caregivers to raise emotionally intelligent humans. Seed & Sew has a community of 300K+ folks, a global podcast, the S.E.E.D. Certification® professional development program with virtual expert coaching from disciplines such as OTs, SLPs, and Psychologists, and online parenting courses. Alyssa has a master’s degree in early childhood education, is a leading expert in emotional development traveling the world speaking on the topic, and is a mom to two. Her first book, Tiny Humans, Big Emotions, is co-authored with Lauren Stauble and published on October 10, 2023 with HarperCollins.
Finn Menzies (he/him) - Family Coach and Consultant
Building Authentic and Connected Relationships with Families
Finn is a trans father, family coach, and writer. With over 15 years of experience as an early educator, Finn helps guide families to build stronger relationships through practices of reciprocity. He works closely with LGBTQIA families, assisting caregivers in advocating for their children. When not working with families, Finn is playing with his toddler, putzing around his garden, or hosting his workshop on writing and embodiment, UNdoing Ego.
Beverly Beck (she/her) - Educator and Founder of "Happy Little Humans"
The Confidence Catalyst
Beverly Beck, Educator and Founder of "Happy Little Humans", holds a 1st Class BA (Honours) in Art & Design, an MA in Applied Arts, and a PGCE in Education. Her journey in education has led her to a passion for early childhood development and social-emotional well-being through the transformative power of art. With a career that spans two decades, Beverly has had the privilege of working with thousands of children, inspiring them to embrace learning through creativity and a personalized approach. Her guiding philosophy is compassion and empathy, firmly believing that every child has something valuable to teach us. What sets Beverly apart in the field of early childhood education is her unique lens of curiosity, creativity, and connection. She fosters self-esteem and confidence from the inside out, allowing each child to grow in their own remarkable way. A lifelong learner herself, Beverly is dedicated to continuous growth and development in her craft. Beyond her role as an educator, Beverly is a mom of three, a podcaster, an entrepreneur, and an award-winning artist. Her multifaceted background enriches her perspective and fuels her mission to make early childhood education a magical adventure. As a neurodivergent individual, Beverly's unique perspective enriches her work. She finds joy in drawing, the feel barefoot on the beach, and the simple pleasure of hot chocolate, while wrapped in a cozy jumper. Beverly invites early childhood educators to join her in the world of "Happy Little Humans." Together, let's nurture young minds, inspire big dreams, and create a brighter future with a sprinkle of creativity and a whole lot of heart. Get ready to embark on a journey where learning, creativity, and compassion are the guiding stars.
Jerica Casper (she/her) - ECE Specialist
The Magic Missing from Play: Intentional Connections
Jerica Casper is a distinguished early childhood educator with over 18 years of dedication to nurturing the unique potential in every child. With a deep-rooted passion for establishing genuine connections, Jerica emphasizes the importance of celebrating daily achievements and the transformative power they hold. A graduate in Human Development, with an emphasis in ECE, from the University of Utah, she spent 7 years teaching young students and guiding future educators at the campus lab school. With comprehensive knowledge encompassing various teaching methodologies, behavior strategies, and an understanding of neurodiversity, Jerica is an esteemed advocate for cultivating environments where children and caregivers flourish. Her relentless commitment to fostering relationships has indelibly touched countless lives. Jerica lives for helping children feel seen, heard, valued and loved as the whole human beings they innately are. It is her life's passion and work.
Day 3: Infants and Toddlers! February 2, 2024
Simone Akasha Nofel - Applied Epigeneticist & Author
Embracing Nature Play
Simone Akasha, CEO of Hearty & Free, LLC is an Applied Epigeneticist and Published Children’s Book Author who specializes in Ecopsychology, Ancestral Trauma Healing and Frequency Therapy. She holds a Master's of Education in Applied Behavior Analysis and is a Certified Holistic Health & Life Coach. Most importantly, Simone is a wife and mother who is passionate about homeschooling and personal alchemy. Simone aims to empower people to take control over their health and happiness by using holistic practices along with applied behavior analysis techniques. As a health revolutionary she emphasizes the importance of nature exposure, emotional intelligence, creative expression and toxic-free living. One key to doing this work is what Simone emphasizes as healing the inner child. Noticing how we many resist playfulness, being silly, and using our imagination. Healing the inner child means reclaiming the childhood we wish we had and embracing play at the core. Playing in nature through exploration and curiosity is how Simone walks her clients through embracing their inner child. Nature play promotes emotional regulation, a sense of belonging, and enriching movement that we as humans need at every stage in life! As an embodied conscious parent Simone loves giving support to whole families, introducing epigenetics to the children of her clients. As a published children’s books author her goal is to teach our youth about natural world principles, consciousness themes, and other holistic perspectives.
Kisa Marx (she/her) - Practitioner
Finding the Baby in Play
Kisa Marx is the Neurodivergent founder of The Play Lab NFP, formerly known as Kid Crew Adventures Early Childhood Program, located in Oak Park, Illinois. Kisa's commitment to equity, access, and joy for every child compelled her to shift her program's model to provide the necessary quality affirming care necessary for healthy development. She now advocates for the rights of children and childhood while collaborating with other educators to incorporate liberated learning into their educational settings. When she is not fighting for the rights of children, you can find Kisa hanging with her partner and tending to her garden of adult children, pets, and plants.
Lizzie Assa MSEd. (she/her) - Founder of The Workspace for Children / Parenting Strategist and Play Expert
Embracing Risk: The Role of Risky Play in Early Childhood
Lizzie Assa is the founder of The Workspace for Children, a parenting strategist, play expert, and mother of three. With a background in early childhood education and experience working with families and children, Assa helps parents and caregivers avoid burnout by teaching their children independent play. She is a firm believer in the power of simplicity and consistency in play, and is dedicated to promoting these values. Prior to starting The Workspace for Children, Assa received an MsED from the Bank Street College of Education in New York City and taught nursery school in Manhattan. She has been featured in various publications such as Parent's Magazine, NY Times Parenting, Time, and The WSJ.
Tonia Omolopo (she/her) - Early Childhood Educator, Author, and Play Advocate
Infant and Toddler Play: The What and How
Mrs Tonia Omolopo is an Early Childhood Educator, author, and play advocate from Nigeria. 10 years ago, she stepped into a classroom and hasn't looked back since. Her mission is to change the world one teeny tiny heart at a time and also reform the early childhood education system one school at a time. When she is not in the classroom, she is either creating physical and digital resources on her website 'bloomncuddles.com' or sharing educational content on Instagram (@msthonia) and YouTube (bloomncuddles).
Cindy Hovington (she/her) - Founder of Curious Neuron, Co-Founder of Wondergrade
How to Support Your Child's Emotional Development Through Play
Dr. Cindy Hovington is the founder of Curious Neuron and Co-Founder of Wondergrade. She is a mom of 3 from Canada with a doctorate degree in neuroscience. Through Curious Neuron, she helps parents prioritize their emotional well-being in order to safeguard their child’s emotional health. She is also the host of the Curious Neuron podcast, which is a top parenting podcast in Canada, the US and the UK. Curious Neuron has grown a community of 154,00 parents on Instagram. Through her app Wondergrade, she helps parents teach their children how to cope with their emotions. Dr. Hovington has worked with brands such as Pampers, Airbnb and Dialogue and her work has been highlighted in media around the globe.
Find Cindy's Website Here!
Mariah Burnley (she/her) - Early Childhood Specialist
Intentional Play with Lights for Infants & Toddlers
She has been working in the childcare field for over ten years. Mariah's education is in Early Childhood Studies and Family Human development. Mariah plays the role as an active member in the early childhood community with, the National Association of Education for Young Children (NAEYC) along with Southern Early Childhood Association (SECA). Mariah is an active board member representing West Virginia Association of Young Children (WVAYC), advocating for quality childcare in West Virginia where she is a Tier II childcare Owner/Director.
Lindsey Nickoles (she/her) - Newborn Care Specialist and Parent Educator
Sleep Science and Play Magic: A Holistic Approach to Child Development
With nearly a decade devoted to Early Childhood Education, Lindsey's passion lies in supporting parents through the journey of nurturing infants and young children. As a certified Newborn Care Specialist (NCS) and Parent Educator, she specializes in infant development, emphasizing the significance of sensory play for both growth and fostering strong parent-child bonds.
Understanding the profound connection between sleep and play, she's actively pursuing additional studies in Holistic Pregnancy and Child Sleep Consulting. Quality sleep is fundamental for children to actively engage, learn, and relish sensory play experiences.
Her goal is to equip families with holistic sleep strategies that complement and enhance
the joy of playful moments.
Day 4: Neurodivergent Play! February 3rd, 2024
Emily Mann (she/her) - DIRFloortime Advocate
Connecting With Neurodiverse Children Through Play
With a Bachelors in Special Education almost complete (Graduating May 2024!), a diploma in Educational Neuroscience, and several ICDL training certificates in DIRFloortime principals, (not to mention over 10 years experience working with children as a special needs caregiver, tutor and nanny) Emily is passionate about empowering and equipping parents, professionals, and educators in DIRFloortime practices. She believes as the tide is turning towards more neurodiverse-affirming practices, DIRFloortime can bridge the divide between the clinical and the practical.
Kerry Murphy (she/her) - Early Childhood Specialist
Embracing Neurodivergent Play Patterns
Kerry is an early childhood specialist with a background in neurodiversity and disability. She is a lecturer in early years & SEND at Goldsmiths University, an author & student completing my EdD at Sheffield University.
Her aim in working in the early years is to challenge the deficit narrative around development differences and to improve the quality of play-based intervention so that there is a move away from teaching neurodivergent children to mimic neurotypical skills, also referred to as masking.
Find Kerry's Website Here!
Jess Teixeira M.S. (she/her) - CCC-Speech and Language Pathologist
Gestalt Language Development & Neurodivergent Play
Jessica is a certified speech-language pathologist in Massachusetts and international speaker with a passion for collaborating with and supporting professionals and parents on their journey in learning about gestalt language development and neurodiversity-affirming practices.
She owns Play Haven Pediatric Therapy LLC where she specializes in supporting gestalt language processors and their families through direct services and parent and professional consultations and coaching. Jessica is also a member of the Meaningful Speech team.
Ericka Rivera - Educational and Child Psychologist
The Transformative Power of Play: Impact on Neurodiverse Brains
Ericka is an Educational and Child Psychologist originally from Costa Rica currently living in Orlando, Florida with 8+ years of experience in the educational work environment. She is passionate about child development, especially when combined with neurosciences and how by understanding these two areas one can make a difference in a child's life. She believes children don’t have learning disabilities but rather different learning abilities and our job is to help them discover them.
Find Ericka's Instagram Here!
Laura Shea (she/her) - Founder of Little Stories That Stick and Host of Stories That Stick podcast
Inclusivity Through Storytelling and Storyacting
Laura is a storyteller, anti-bias anti-racist educator in progress, and play advocate. Former public school Kindergarten and PreK teacher, she has left the classroom to found Little Stories That Stick and unschool her children.
She now uses over 15 years of experience in the ECE field and her M.S. in Teaching Reading to help more adults find the power of storytelling. Through her online presence, digital courses, podcast, and trainings, she hopes to instill a love of oral storytelling in young and old.
Along with being a life long learner, she has a husband, 2 children, and 1 huge puppy. She loves the ocean, traveling, and popcorn.