2026 February Conference
The Teachability and Learnability of Social and Emotional Competences
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Become a Trained Waldorf Teacher! Open House - March 3, 2026
Join us for a special professional development conference with renowned Waldorf educator Martyn Rawson. Drawing on decades of international teaching experience, Martyn will guide our exploration of "The Teachability and Learnability of Social and Emotional Competences," through the lenses of Communities of Practice, Learning, and Inquiry.
Martyn Rawson was born in Glasgow in 1954 and has been a Waldorf teacher since 1979, teaching in the UK and Germany, as is still teaching part time in a high school in Hamburg. He has published widely on Waldorf education, both in mainstream and Waldorf publishers. He served for 15 years in the College of the Pedagogical Section at the Goetheanum. He is currently Professor of Waldorf education in international contexts at Alanus University in Germany and has worked in teacher education.
Northwest/Pacific Regional AWSNA Conference and Delegates Meeting
February 19-21, 2026
This event brings together two key gatherings: the Professional Development Conference and the AWSNA Delegates Meeting.
The Professional Development Conference begins Thursday evening and continues through Friday afternoon, featuring several keynote addresses by Martyn Rawson, interactive workshops, and community dialogue. A detailed list of workshops exploring the conference theme will be announced soon. The Delegates Meeting begins Friday afternoon and continues through Saturday, providing a dedicated space for administrative collaboration. While the inspiring Professional Development Conference is open to all, the Delegates Meeting is specifically for school delegates of the Northwest/Pacific Regional AWSNA schools.
Whether you are attending the Professional Development Conference, the Delegates Meeting, or both, please register starting November 14, 2025.
Regular Price - $115.00 (starting January 10, 2026)
Workshops Announced!
Workshops Announced!
Community in Play: Connection through Clowning with Heather Pearl and Sarah Liane Foster
“We are fully human when we are at play.” — Eric Bentley
Through a series of games and movement exercises, we will explore social and emotional competences through the lens of play. Much learning can happen quite quickly in a state of play. Clown play offers a pathway toward deeper connection with one’s own movement dynamics; connection with one’s partners in play; and connection with an audience.
Sarah Liane Foster has been teaching circus, movement, and theatre to folks of all ages since 2004 and has been teaching at Bright Water Waldorf School in Seattle, WA since November of 2017. She has her BA from Brown University, trained in movement theatre and clowning at the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre, and studied and practiced movement theatre pedagogy at the Helikos International School of Theatre Creation. Based in Portland, Oregon for many years, Sarah taught Circus Arts classes and camps at Portland Waldorf School and Cedarwood Waldorf School.
Heather Pearl taught Movement education at Cedarwood Waldorf School for 16+ years — and is ALSO a professional clown and circus performer! Heather's approach to teaching involves seeing who is in front of her, building relationships, providing opportunities, modeling what she teaches through all her actions, getting out of the way when necessary, and love, love, love!
Exploration through Spacial Dynamics with Graham Oslund
We will explore playfully through games and Spacial Dynamic exercises. Through movement children learn about themselves, connect with others and with the world. There is a progression in how they connect through their developmental ages.
Graham is a certified Spacial Dynamics© trainer and therapist and a Camphill/Waldorf holistic educator. He lives and works with Camphill affiliated organizations, HeliosLPS and Cascadia in North Vancouver. He has found that it is often the people with diverse abilities who are the guides, both for individuals and communities on a path to well being.
We may offer additional workshops, depending on registrations. Sign-ups for workshops will begin February 2, 2026
Lodging Options
Lodging Options
There are several hotels in the vicinity of Vancouver Waldorf School. You have several options if you have access to a vehicle. If you are planning to use transit, the following are on main bus routes:
Sharing Logistical Information
Sharing Logistical Information
We have created a GroupMe account for sharing logistics with other conference participants. As you register, we will send you an invite using the number you listed in your registration. We will continue to communicate about conference details via email and this is just one additional avenue to facilitate with sharing lodging and transportation details.
Additional Details & Registration Information
Additional Details & Registration Information
Registration is currently open
Canadian colleagues, use coupon code CAN27 at checkout to receive a special exchange rate-adjusted price.
Logistics & Offers:
Location: Vancouver Waldorf School, British Columbia, Canada - Map.
Times: The conference will begin at 7:00pm on February 19. The Delegates Meeting will take place Friday afternoon and conclude at 2:30pm on Saturday, February 21. Exact times will be announce with details on the workshops.
Oregon Residents: A complimentary shuttle service between Seattle and Vancouver will be offered, courtesy of Seattle Waldorf School. Sign-up to receive details at registration.
Meals: Friday lunch is available for pre-order only. Snacks throughout the conference and Saturday lunch during the Delegates Meeting are included at no extra charge.
Group Rates: Inquire at information@soundcirclecenter.org for discounts on four or more participants from your school.
Workshops: A full list of breakout workshops will be announced soon! We will expand our workshop offerings as registration grows, providing more specialized paths to explore the conference theme.
Delegates Meeting: As always, there is no fee to attend the Delegates Meeting. To assist with planning, we ask that those attending only the Delegates Meeting also register.
Vancouver Waldorf School's beautiful campus is just a twenty minute drive from the downtown area. Vancouver is a stunning coastal city nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the North Shore Mountains. Renowned for its natural beauty, vibrant cultural mosaic, and thriving urban energy, it provides a truly inspiring setting for our gathering.
Email information@soundcirclecenter.org for questions.
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