“[Edcamps are] soul-refilling, a booster shot, a way to realize you’re not alone.” —Robert Dillon, Edcamp STL
Every $250 launches one new Edcamp, gifting an inspiring day of free learning, support, and community to 100+ passionate teachers.
Donations start at just $10. Any donation, no matter how big or small, helps teachers! Don’t know Edcamp? Read about us in The New York Times.
__________
Help us spread a movement
Today, more than 150,000 educators in all 50 states and 40+ countries have attended an Edcamp.
I helped organize the very first Edcamp in Philadelphia eight years ago. Over 100 K-12 teachers from different schools showed up on a Saturday to help each other become better teachers.
That day, teachers left buzzing from how much they’d learned. One told me, “this was the best day of training I’ve had in 20 years.”
The Edcamp movement has grown organically from that first event. We’ve come a long way in eight years, but there are still so many more teachers who need this. To reach them, we need your help.
Help us launch 200 new Edcamps. That’s 200 days of empowering professional development for thousands of teachers next year.
Let’s invest in developing our teachers
Every parent wants to see their kid in a class with a passionate teacher. So why don’t we invest in developing those teachers?
If you’ve been an educator, you’re familiar with Professional Development (PD). It’s the ongoing training teachers get from schools so we can do our jobs better.
The problem is: PD often falls flat.
At its worst, teachers are required to listen to a generic Powerpoint from someone who doesn’t grasp the actual challenges teachers face. No teacher participation. No nuanced-understanding of our kids. Just “sit-and-get.”
Edcamp is different.
Edcamp empowers educators
At Edcamp, teachers take ownership over what they need to learn and make lifelong friends in the process. Edcamps are different than standard PD:
- Teacher voice: Anyone can suggest a session on what they want to learn
- Teacher choice: Session not meeting your needs? Vote with your feet. Stand up and find another.
- Experience, not experts: More conversations, less planned presentations.
- Community: Connect with a supportive group of passionate educators.
How you can help #SpreadEdcamp
Edcamps are free and open to all. They’re organized by educators volunteering their time. And the first-time/early Edcamps need your help to get off the ground.
- Donate — With a $250 donation, you fund one of these weekend events for 100+ teachers.
- Share your Edcamp story — If Edcamp has left an impact on you and your profession, tell the world. Share this campaign. Help us help more teachers. #SpreadEdcamp
- Organize an Edcamp — Find resources to host your own Edcamp here!
Thank you for your time and support. And thank you to the hundreds of Edcamp organizers worldwide who push forward this important work.
Sincerely,
Hadley Ferguson, Executive Director
And board members of the Edcamp Foundation: Adam Bellow, Anthony Veneziale, Betsy Longstreth, Dr. Kari Stubbs, Kevin Huynh, Meenoo Rami, Michael Klein, Philip Fisher
Want to get in touch? Email us at info@edcamp.org.
___________
Your tax-deductible donation goes to the Edcamp Foundation, a 501(c) 3 Non-Profit dedicated to spreading the Edcamp movement. Our mission is to build and support communities that empower educators.
Money raised from this campaign will go towards programs like Edcamp-in-a-box which provide money and supplies to help Edcamp organizers host their first events.
Learn more about the foundation’s work at edcamp.org.
Special thanks to Wild Combination for creating the Edcamp film and to People & Company for their ongoing support!
