Homeschooling is more than just a choice; it's a profound commitment to nurture our children's minds and hearts! But for many you, the decision to educate at home comes with sacrifices, including the potential loss of a second income and a feeling of untapped career potential. However, it’s vital to recognize that this journey isn’t merely another stay-at-home-parenting task — it’s a unique opportunity to shape critical thinkers, lifelong learners, and engaged citizens.

By attending homeschool conferences, you can elevate your role as an educator, and tap into expertise that fuels effective teaching and inspiring learning environments. These events provide valuable resources, updates on trending issues, and a supportive community of fellow educators. Homeschooling is an important job worthy of professional development!

If you’re in a slump and need some fresh ideas, consider penciling in a conference into your 2025-26 academic calendar. Unfortunately, opportunities within Wisconsin are slim but here are seven midwest-ish options in chronological order (March through June).

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IAHE Parenting and Homeschool Conference

March 13-14, 2026 (Indiana)

Hosted by the Indiana Association of Home Educators, this faith-based conference is tailored for families who want to blend parenting with effective homeschooling. With workshops on practical strategies and spiritual encouragement, it's a great place for parents to connect and share experiences.

Great Homeschool Conventions

March 26-28, 2026 (Missouri) | April 9-11, 2026 (Ohio)

With multiple events across the country, this prominent conference offers a buffet of workshops and exhibitors. With regard to worldview, the Christian faith helps guide how GHC structures their events but does not require that speakers and exhibitors be in total agreement with their Statement of Faith, “Our conventions are designed to help a broad spectrum of homeschoolers and people considering homeschooling. They are not, however, denominational meetings to formulate uniformity of belief and practice.” Review their About Page for more info.

“Training for Eternity” Homeschool Experience at the Ark Encounter

May 14-16, 2026 (Kentucky)

Located just outside the Midwest, this Kentucky conference invites families to experience a biblical worldview inside a massive 300-cubit Ark. Highlights include guided tours and sessions that emphasize both education and faith. This could be an especially relevant conference if your learning goals for the year include biology, geology, and astronomy. Our family attended the Raising Daniels conference in 2025 and while there are workshop experiences for younger guests, I’d recommend this event for your middle and high school students due to the overwhelming amount of reading in the exhibits.

INCH Homeschool Conference

(!) May 2026 Dates TBD (Michigan)

The 2025 faith-based INCH Homeschool Conference was held May 15-17, 2025 in Lansing, Michigan and describes the conference as one of “longest-running, most vibrant homeschool conventions in the nation”. For $70 you can preview what this conference is like by downloading the 2025 recordings or pick and choose sessions that are most relevant to you. With more than 20 speakers at this year’s event, you’re sure to be “in the know” for all things homeschooling!

ICHE Homeschool Conference

(!) June 2026 Dates TBD (Illinois)

The Illinois Christian Home Educators organization hosts this annual event, bringing together a large community of regional homeschoolers. The four-day conference was held at Olivet Nazarene University on June 5-8, 2025, hosted 21 speakers and featured a variety of sessions and experiences for all ages. Take a look at the 2025 schedule to get a sense for what’s offered and evaluate if it would be a good fit for your family.

Homeschool Iowa Conference

(!) June 2026 Dates TBD (Iowa)

Nearly 1000 homeschoolers gathered on June 6-7, 2025 for the faith-based Homeschool Iowa Conference. Features of the conference included nearly 20 speakers, child and teen programs, workshops, special tracks, an exhibit hall, and used curriculum sale. Here is the final 2025 conference program if you’d like to preview this event for 2026.

Midwest Homeschool EXPO

(!) June 2026 Dates TBD (Indiana)

The two-day 2025 Midwest Homeschool EXPO hosted a wide variety of speakers and homeschoolers on June 27-28 at the Crown Plaza Indianapolis-Airport. With regard to worldview, the workshops and exhibitors represented diverse perspectives and sessions were available for both parents and students. The Academy of Chaos is self-described as, “Inclusive of families from all backgrounds and learning styles”. Scroll to the bottom of the event page and you’ll find a huge list of participants and resources that might be helpful for your homeschooling journey.

Tips for New Homeschoolers

Starting your homeschooling journey can be overwhelming and if you’re thinking of attending a conference, be prepared to take that overwhelm to the next level! Here are some tips to help you dial it back:

Set Clear Goals: Define and jot down what you want to achieve at the conference. Are you looking for all-subjects packages as a starting point for your journey or are you there to listen to the speakers and soak in it all in? It’s kind of like going to the grocery store with or without a list. Go with a manageable list!
Attend Alone or with a Friend: Attend the first conference with your spouse and/or a friend but consider leaving the kids at home if you can. This will give you the headspace to process the experience without distraction and evaluate whether or not you want to bring the whole family to future events.
Prioritize Learning Styles: If you already know your children's learning styles, lead with that as you talk to exhibitors so that you can quickly rule out the resources that aren’t likely to work for your student(s).
Network for Support: Is one of your conference goals to build community? Be on the lookout for other Wisconsin homeschoolers and ask if they’re part of a local co-op or group. This will help you feel less isolated and give you something to look forward to when you get back home! You can also find co-ops under the Counties section in the top navigation of this site.

By embracing the ideas and resources from these conferences while following these tips, you'll be better equipped to enjoy the adventure of homeschooling. Happy learning!

Wisconsin Homeschool Planning Printables