The Schedule

Pre-registered ONLY — Early Morning Gentle Yoga Session

• Organized by co-host, Urban Sprouts

• 6:20 a.m. yoga group meets in lobby to walk to the yoga location

• Location:  Arch Grounds, 11 North 4th Street, St. Louis,  MO 63102 (10-minute walk from the Magnolia Hotel)

ALL — Registration & Breakfast 2nd Floor Meeting Lobby (Hotel)

• Buffet-style breakfast

• All attendees should check in at the second-floor check-in table to collect their badges, folders, and other convening materials from Nina

ILR & ILHSN — Working morning sessions at hotel

Parallel ILR and ILHSN meetings

• • ILHSN is in Ballroom B

  • ILR is in Ballroom D

ILR & ILHSN — Working afternoon sessions at hotel

Parallel ILR and ILHSN meetings continue

• • ILHSN is in Ballroom B

  • ILR is in Ballroom D

ALL — Group reception at Urban Sprouts

• Cocktails and light food will be served

• Open-house tours of Urban Sprouts’ school and expansion

• Educators available for conversation

ALL - Site Visits

• Site A – Urban Sprouts

  • Travel from hotel (~20 minutes  | 8:30 AM Departure)

  • Classroom visits while children are in action, small groups moving through environments; emphasis on child-driven learning alongside robust adult professional development, Reggio practice, and family partnerships

• Site B – The Green Center (Nature Classroom)

  • Travel from hotel (~25 minutes | 9 AM Departure)

  • Outdoor learning focus; nature-based experiences, ecological stewardship, and community use of green space

• Site C – Rustic Roots Sanctuary (Farm-to-Table)

  • Travel from hotel (~25 minutes)  | 9:15 AM Departure)

  • Farm-to-table emphasis; food systems, gardening, hydroponics/soil, composting, and connections to children’s nutrition and curriculum

• Site D – City Garden Montessori

  • Travel from hotel (~10 minutes | 8:30 AM Departure)

  • Montessori-based public charter program; focus on equity, community, and nature-based learning

ALL — Cross-Network Site Visit Debrief (Hotel)

• Small-group reflection by site

• Large-group harvest of key patterns and insights

ALL — St. Louis Local Advocacy Panel (Hotel)

• Panel: “How St. Louis Builds Ideal Learning Ecosystems”

• Panelists: Casey Hanson, Charli Cooksey, Lisa Scheer, and Stephanie Andersen 

  • Moderated by Joey Saunders

• Focus: Practical advocacy, policy wins, community organizing

Board/Funders — Dinner & Meeting

All — Morning Framing

• Brief synthesis: “What we’re taking home from St. Louis”

• Connecting Wednesday’s site visits and local advocacy insights to the national landscape

All— National Conversation

Speakers: Mario Cardona, Katie Hamm, and Ellicia Lanier | Moderated by Chrisanne Gayl

• Focus: A fireside chat about national policy and its implications for local ideal learning programs

All — Cross-pollination Garden

Translate our learnings into:

• • Specific commitments for programs and communities

  • Ideas for cross-site collaboration

  • Next steps for policy, advocacy, and philanthropy

Closing & Send-Off

Lunch & Departures

• Preordered lunch at hotel (RSVP ONLY)

• Lunch Tickets given at registration