Upcoming Events
Our events are informative, engaging and provide valuable information and engagement opportunities on topics and trends in early care and education. Bookmark this page for easy access to information about our upcoming events.
Worthy Wage Day and Provider Appreciation Day | May 1 and May 10
We want to help people across Wisconsin understand the value and importance of early childhood educators and early care and education as Worthy Wage Day and Provider Appreciation Day draw closer. To help raise awareness, we have developed a limited supply of yard signs for pickup at locations in regions across the state to share with early childhood staff, parents, and in the community. Starting April 29, signs are available at all YoungStar offices. We also will share stories on social media!
Advocacy Events
WECA and Raising Wisconsin have developed resources to help providers and the families they serve tell stories of child care challenges to employers, state Legislators, and in local communities. Toolkit resources include:
- Poster for Providers
- Email Template for Providers
- Poster Encouraging Letters to the Editor
- Sign for Photo Ops
If you have photos to submit, please email them to marketing@wisconsinearlychildhood.org. WECA welcomes any provider, parent, or community quotes to accompany their use on social media!
Virtual Engagement Forums – English
These virtual English-language sessions are tailored for early educators working directly with young children to provide a welcoming space for open discussion and conversation about concerns, challenges, questions, and more surrounding advocacy. The events also allow for open dialogue so providers can be resources for each other, as well as welcoming guest speakers to expand the conversation around advocating for early childhood.
Held the third Thursday of every month at 1 p.m., January through June 2024.
Virtual Engagement Forums – Spanish
Join WECA and Raising Wisconsin for virtual sessions tailored for early educators working directly with young children to provide a welcoming space for open discussion and conversation about concerns, challenges, questions, and more. The events also allow for open dialogue so providers can be resources for each other. Information also will be shared on WECA programs, resources, and services.
These Spanish-language sessions will be held on the first Wednesday of each month from January through May.
Conscious Discipline®
Are you challenged by challenging behaviors in your child care program? WECA is offering seven free in-person Conscious Discipline® trainings (English and Spanish). Sign up for the nearest training; if your program isn’t in Wisconsin Early Education Shared Services Network (WEESSN) yet, it will be enrolled at no cost so you can take advantage of this great training – and many other benefits. Learn more here!
On-Demand Training Opportunities
Visit our Training Opportunities page for a variety of educational opportunities on relevant topics for early childhood professionals, some of which offer Wisconsin Registry credit.
Advocacy Events
Raising Wisconsin, a WECA-led advocacy and policy initiative, hosts webinars, seminars, and other advocacy training opportunities for those interested in stay informed and engaged on early care and education and health and well-being policy and advocacy efforts.
Past Events
Week of the Young Child
April 6-12, 2024
An annual event, sponsored by National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), celebrating early learning, young children, their teachers, and families. WECA celebrates all week with a host of engaging and inspiring activities.
Monday, April 8: Music Monday
Music with MiSTER B: Get excited to connect with “MiSTER B,” who brings passion for transformational learning, artistic talents, a love for music, energy, and a commitment for culturally relevant teaching. Dr. Anthony Broughton will provide a live virtual concert at 9:30 a.m. that explores literacy, math, science, and social emotional learning! Grab your coolest shades and get ready for this awesome event – prizes will be given away, including a free registration to see MiSTER B LIVE at the 2024 WECA Conference where he is scheduled to be a keynote speaker.
If you attend this session and take a photo of you participating in the activities, you will be entered to win prizes. More information about giveaways will be shared at the beginning of the event!
MiSTER B
Tuesday, April 9: Tasty Tuesday
Fun with Food: Join staff from WECA’s Wisconsin Early Education Shared Services Network (WEESSN) for a virtual session covering strategies and activities to make healthy food fun to enjoy with children and readings from great children’s books about food. This session, in English with live Spanish interpretation, is open to all early educators. Copies of the children’s books featured also will be given away!
WECA Cookbook: Take the opportunity to showcase your culinary creativity in our upcoming WECA Cookbook! We are seeking submissions for kid-approved recipes that prioritize health and nutrition, while also delighting young taste buds. Each recipe must include at least one fruit or vegetable as a key ingredient. Submission deadline is May 1 – the submission link will be available very soon!
Wednesday, April 10: Work Together Wednesday
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Kits Unveiled: Co-author of the children’s book, “Our Skin,” Megan Madison, and WECA DEIB Co-Coordinator Dr. Tanya Johnson will unbox new DEIB kits for group centers and family childcare programs at a virtual session on Wednesday, April 10th from 5-6 p.m.! Spanish interpretation will be available.
These kits will provide resources and tools to foster, build, and offer a valuable opportunity to bring our children’s and families’ languages, cultures, histories, and voices into our classrooms. They also will provide the opportunity to introduce children to a wide range of diverse stories that reflect different perspectives and experiences — both theirs and others.
One free kit per program. Please register to attend this session.
Megan Madison
Special Edition Advocacy Engagement Sessions: WECA will host three in-person (in Eau Claire, Racine, and Milwaukee) and one virtual ECE engagement session focused on advocacy strategies and efforts. Registration links below:
PBS EdCamp in Sheboygan: Join PBS Wisconsin Education at the Early Learning Center in Sheboygan from 3-6 p.m. for a fun-filled evening of sharing, collaborating, and learning. Connect with others facing similar challenges, learn new tips, and discover PBS KIDS resources that integrate playful learning into all aspects of your learning environment. Early childhood providers will receive 3 hours of FREE Registry credit!
Thursday, April 11: Artsy Thursday
Art is Everywhere and Every Thing: Watch this one-hour pre-recorded video training on community art projects presented by early childhood educator and national speaker Diann Gano! All attendees will get a Discount School Supply coupon and a chance to win one of four $50 gift cards to Discount School Supply. Those who submit photos of art projects they create with information from the training will be eligible for prize drawings.
Friday, April 12: Family Friday
PBS Resources: PBS is partnering with WECA to provide a family resource guide with activities, games, and videos inspired by your favorite PBS KIDS characters. It is a perfect way to encourage families to learn together and make new memories.
Download Digital Activity Guide
Download Printable Activity Guide
Parent Engagement in Child Care Advocacy Efforts: Join WECA and Raising Wisconsin for a session dedicated to highlighting the recent efforts of parent advocates in the state budget session and how to engage families in conversations around advocacy.
The Big Share®
Wow! The Big Share raised a grand total of $684,148 – of which, $6,523 will support WECA’s work on behalf of early care and education in Wisconsin. We extend our deepest appreciation to donors, peer-to-peer champions, and all who support the early childhood community – during The Big Share and all year round. The gifts we received during this year’s campaign will help WECA continue to be nimble and responsive in addressing child care challenges and advancing progress and opportunities across the state. And community generosity continues! People are still making their donations to the 67 organizations participating in The Big Share.
Recap: A Day Without Child Care
Providers, families, and community leaders throughout Wisconsin marked A Day Without Child Care on Monday, May 8, 2023, to raise awareness about the importance of the early childhood workforce in supporting working families, young children, and the economy. Local events in conjunction with this national day of action prompted significant news coverage from media in all corners of the state.
WECA and Raising Wisconsin partnered to share dozens of testimonial videos from parents who provided perspective on what a day without child care would look like for them and how it would impact their lives and livelihood. The effort also included tagging and engaging JFC members to increase legislative awareness of the day and its impact.
