Call for Presenters!
US Play Coalition: Midwest Play Conference
Saturday, June 25th 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
219 Centennial Student Union
Minnesota State University - Mankato
Reception at the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota
4:30 pm – 7:00pm
224 Lamm St. Mankato, MN 56003
We are excited to announce a call for presenters for the inaugural Midwest Play Conference, in
affiliation with the US Play Coalition. This conference was developed by Dr. Heather Von Bank, an
associate professor of Family Consumer Science at Minnesota State University-Mankato in hopes of
advocating for the importance of play when working children and families.
The Midwest Play Conference is a regional event held on June 25th, 2016, and will connect
professionals, educators, parents and community members and provide opportunities to network and
learn about regional efforts to promote play. We are searching for presenters to share their
expertise on issues related to play (i.e. nature play, play in curriculum) with individuals who work in a
variety of fields, such as early childhood education, in-home and center based childcare settings,
health and wellness services, and outdoor and recreation services.
If you are interested in presenting at the Midwest Play Conference, please complete the Midwest Play
Conference Presenter Form by April 15th at 11:59am to be considered a presenter. Presentation
proposals will be reviewed by the Conference Planning. Presenters will be notified of acceptance by
mid-May. PLEASE NOTE: Website for conference registration is forthcoming.
We thank you for your interest, and please contact Heather Von Bank with any questions, or check
here for FAQ.
Heather Von Bank, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Family Consumer Science
Child Development Family Studies Area
Phone: 507.389.5915
E-mail: [email protected] Or [email protected]
Minnesota State University, Mankato
102 Wiecking Center Rm 121B
Mankato, MN 56001
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why should I present and/or attend at the Midwest Play Conference?
- Because it will be fun! Lisa Muphy, The Ooey Gooey Lady® will be providing the keynote titled
“What if today was their only day”, and will do breakout sessions about the importance of early
learning experiences. Players from across the Midwest will have the opportunity to experience
Lisa’s genuine love of play and can network with other playmakers in the region.
Who will attend the conference?
- Conference attendees will consist of individuals who come from a variety of fields in which they
work closely with children and families: early childhood educators (ie Headstart & ECFE
teachers), in-home and center-based childcare teachers, recreation and parks professionals,
non-profit agency service providers, parents, and community members.
What are the presentation format options?
- Four types of formats will be featured at the conference. Please choose one of the formats that
will best meet your presentations style and presentational outcomes
Single Oral Presentation (lecture style for a large group)
Workshop (Interactive Discussion & hands-on techniques)
Round Table (Opportunity for participants to informally discuss a specific topic and includes an
interactive discussion with attendees).
What are the topic areas that will be featured presentations at the Midwest Play Conference?
- Interest areas include 1) Nature/Outdoor Play, 2) Physical, Health, Wellness, 3) Socialemotional Development,4) Creating Safe Play Spaces, Creative Play (Music & Art), 5)
Sociodramatic & Cultural Play, 6) Early Childhood Education (birth - age 8). If you don’t see
your area, include it as a write in.
When will I know if my presentation has been accepted?
- We hope to let presenters know about their acceptance and time of presentation by the middle
of May.
What did we miss?
- Please email [email protected] to add to our FAQ list.