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2025 PAACH Homeschool Convention

2025 Homeschool Convention

April 10-12, 2025

Cornerstone Baptist Church | Groveland, IL

Convention pricing is listed below. Non-subscribers can subscribe to PAACH (for $25) if they want to register early or at the lower subscriber price. As always, pastors and widows/widowers can attend convention for FREE. Working scholarships are also available to cover your cost of registration (see details below).

Early Registration

January 13 - February 21, 2025

  • PAACH Subscriber - $60
  • New Subscriber - $85

Online Registration

February 22 - March 21, 2025

  • PAACH Subscriber - $70
  • New Subscriber - $95
  • Non-Subscriber - $120

Walk-In Registration

During Convention

  • PAACH Subscriber - $80
  • New Subscriber - $105
  • Non-Subscriber - $120

 



Featured Keynote Speakers

Andrew Pudewa

Andrew Pudewa

IEW - Institute for Excellence in Writing | website

Andrew is the founder and director of the Institute for Excellence in Writing and a father of seven. Traveling and speaking around the world, he addresses issues related to teaching, writing, thinking, spelling, and music with clarity, insight, practical experience, and humor. His seminars for parents, students, and teachers have helped transform many a reluctant writer and have equipped educators with powerful tools to dramatically improve students’ skills.


Steve Demme

Steve Demme

Building Faith and Family | website

Steve and his wife Sandra have been married since 1979. They have been blessed with four sons, three lovely daughters-in-law, and three grandchildren. Steve encourages parents as they seek to build families of faith. His messages are rooted in scripture, illustrated from personal experience, and filled with practical application. He has served in full or part time pastoral ministry for many years after graduating from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. A former math teacher who has taught at all levels of math in public, private, and Christian schools, Steve is also the founder of Math-U-See.

Will Estrada

Will Estrada, Esq.

HSLDA - Home School Legal Defense Association | website

Will is senior counsel and contact attorney for HSLDA members in the states of CA, WY, IL, AL, GA, SC, MD, PA, and NH. He works to make homeschooling possible for thousands of member families and hundreds of thousands of homeschool students by advocating in state legislatures for homeschool freedom, working to ensure that homeschool graduates are treated equally, and that the laws protecting the rights of homeschool families are followed by government officials. Will is a homeschool graduate from Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Rachel (a homeschool graduate from Virginia), have two sons, Dominic and Merrick, and live in Northern Virginia.

 


New to Homeschool Night

Thursday, April 10 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Considering homeschooling, but not sure where to start? Join us for this special informal event, which is FREE to new and first year homeschoolers. Hear from Kirk Smith, Executive Director of ICHE (Illinois Christian Home Educators) and homeschooling dad of 11, find answers to any questions you may have, and shop our vendor hall.

 


Family Movie Night!

Family Camp

Friday, April 11 - 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary

In this faith-based comedy, when two polar-opposite families are forced to camp together, the dads struggle to hold onto their families and marriages as they compete for the coveted camp trophy.

2022 | PG | 1h 51m

 



Convention Vendors

  • Allen Brokken
  • BJU Press
  • Building Faith Families
  • Chris Solas
  • CIBAD
  • Classical Conversations
  • Demme Learning
  • Diane Craft
  • Flip Flop Spanish
  • Heppner's Legacy
  • Homeschool Builders
  • HSLDA
  • ICHE
  • Institute for Excellence in Writing
  • Lamplighter
  • Leann Lucas
  • Learning RX Peoria
  • Paper Pie
  • Paul Maitland
  • Play N Talk
  • Revelator Games
  • Rod and Staff
  • Stones’ True Story
  • Teaching Textbooks
  • The Bookshelf
  • The Character Corner
  • The Tuttle Twins
  • The Way You Should Go

Convention Information

Name Badges

Please wear your name badge at all times during the convention. They are your proof of registration. On your final exit from the convention, please return lanyards and badges to the baskets at Registration as you leave convention.

Youth

Children ages 12+ may attend any workshop. Children under the age of 12 must be with an adult at all times if they're not attending a specific youth session. All children of all ages need to be in the sanctuary during both morning keynotes if they're not attending a special 9 a.m. session. Thank you for your cooperation.

NO SKATEBOARDING allowed on church property. Please do not go down by the pond.

Parents

During workshops if your infants or young children make distracting noises, even happy ones, we ask that you immediately leave the room out of consideration for the speaker, fellow attendees, and the quality of the MP3 recording. The infant care room is available for you to use. An adult must remain with their infant at all times.

Food

Food is only allowed in the eating areas (or outside, weather permitting). While water bottles with lids are allowed in classrooms, no liquid of any kind is allowed in the sanctuary. Thank you for showing your appreciation for the wonderful facilities by respecting these requests. The main dining area is located in the 924 building across the parking lot out the back doors of the vendor hall.

Food will be available for purchase in the 924 Building during lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. both days.

Coffee & Snacks

Need a little refreshment? CIBAD Speech & Debate Club is selling coffee and snacks at the kitchen window in the vendor hall. They thank you for your support!

Volunteers & Working Scholarships

If you would like a working scholarship, please email our volunteer coordinator at mumum83110@yahoo.com. Six hours of volunteer time is required to cover your convention registration. The volunteer sign up link will be posted closer to convention. Please check in at the PAACH info booth (in the foyer) 5 minutes prior to your shift. Thank you for serving!

Need Assistance?

PAACH board and convention committee members will be wearing navy blue PAACH t-shirts. We're happy to help you!

A Note from the Board

PAACH does not necessarily endorse every product or idea presented at the convention. We recognize the diversity which is prevalent in the home education community and trust you will exercise discernment in making the proper choices for your family.

Notice of Event Photography & Recording

PAACH intends to capture images during convention for use in publications and all media forms. Your entry constitutes your consent to such photography/recording by PAACH. If you have questions or concerns, please see an PAACH board member.

Refund Policy

If you cannot attend convention after registering, you have two options. You may:

  1. Transfer your registration to another family
  2. Email a refund request to info@apachecentralillinois.org

Refund requests sent before March 1, 2025 will receive a full refund. Requests sent after March 1, 2025 will receive a 50% refund. No refunds will be given after April 1, 2025.

 

 



Peoria Area Association of Christian Homeschoolers


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Connect with Us

For questions regarding newsletter submissions, the Homeschool Convention or home education in general, please send an email to info@apachecentralillinois.org. A Board member will respond as soon as possible.

 

Mailing Address: PAACH | P.O. Box 5203 | Peoria, IL 61601

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