Summer is my favorite time of year and I find that it’s hard to accomplish everything I hope to achieve before the season ends. Recently, I started to brainstorm my summer “to-do” list to help me prioritize and plan my summer adventures. I’m not sure what you usually set your sights on, but typically on my list are activities such as reading a best seller, taking a beach trip, and visiting family. This year, at the top of my list is crossing America’s longest swinging bridge. The Swinging Bridge to Prosperity stretches 335 feet (which is longer than a football field) and 70 feet above the east prong of the Little Pigeon River in Tennessee. Can you imagine?! This will take me outside of my comfort zone and challenge me more than some of the other items on my list, for sure!
Planning my summer to-do list also has me thinking about what special events are happening professionally and how I might seek out opportunities that will inspire and motivate me as the year progresses. Rising to the top are experiences where I can connect with peers and early childhood leaders while building my knowledge, such as upcoming conferences. In our ever-evolving field, is critical to build in opportunities for learning from each other and expanding our professional networks. Similar to the way in which a bridge provides passage through (or over) an obstacle, conferences provide an opportunity to build professional bridges that connect us together, inspire us, and help us carry on. While our circumstances may vary, we are often aligned in our desire to support children, families, and early educators. So as you are thinking about what the months ahead might hold for you, we encourage you to consider adding us to your summer “to-do” list!
This year, our Partner Success Team will be hosting Member Meet Ups at both the 2019 Professional Learning Institute June 1st-5th and the 2019 QRIS National Meeting June 25th-27th. To learn more about how you can connect with us, please RSVP to learnmore@usa.childcareaware.org with your name, email, and which event you are interested in. Child Care Aware® of America will also be present the National Association for Family Child Care and ZERO TO THREE Conferences so plan to stop by our booth and say hello!