Redding Regional Homeschool Mini-Con

Enjoy an opportunity to fellowship with other Northern California homeschoolers. Be refreshed with encouragement and instruction through workshops for both new and “not-so-new” homeschoolers.

Thursday, October 22, 2026 Redding, CA

Date and time

Thursday, October 22

3:30 – 8:45 p.m.
Check-in opens at 3:00 p.m.

Location

Grace Baptist Church

3782 Churn Creek Rd
Redding, CA 96002

Get directions

Registration

$25 individual · $40 couple

Discounts for members, active military, and first responders.

See pricing details

Preserving Liberty

“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 2 Corinthians 3:17b · CHEA's theme for 2026

New this year

Student recitations and displays

In honor of our country's 250th Anniversary, we want to invite students of all ages to participate in this year's Regional Mini-Con with any displays or recitations they may have that pertain to the theme of “Preserving Liberty.”

As many students as would like to may set up a display (each will be allotted half of a 6′ table). Students are encouraged to be present at their table during the dinner break, but it is not required that they be in person at the table during the event. Displays related to the theme completed during any school year and from any class/subject are welcome.

A few will be chosen to give recitations at the Opening and Closing Sessions as well. Please note that they need to be no longer than 2 – 3 minutes. The deadline to nominate your student for a recitation is Friday, October 16.

If your student has something you think might be appropriate, please note it on your registration, and our Student Involvement Coordinator will be in touch with more details. If you’ve already registered and then decide your student would like to participate, simply email the info to our office ([email protected]).

All students will receive a Certificate of Participation!

Speakers

Nathan Pierce

Family Protection Ministries

Nathan began working at Family Protection Ministries (FPM) in 2002 to protect private homeschooling in California. He was homeschooled himself through high school graduation and received a B.A. in Political Studies from The Master’s University. Currently he serves as Executive Director and Legislative Liaison for FPM and on the CHEA Board of Directors. He works behind the scenes at the State Capitol, meeting with legislators to advocate on behalf of homeschoolers. He and his wife, Betsy, homeschool their own eight children.

Dr. Karla Memmott

Acacia Classical Academy

Dr. Karla Memmott homeschooled her two sons, who have each graduated college and established themselves as thriving adults. Graduating her last child in 2014, she continues to have a heart to serve the homeschooling and classically educating communities in Northern California. As co-founder of Acacia Classical Academy she and her husband, Kyle, minister in the greater Sacramento area. She teaches dual credit classes through Kepler and remains active in STOA speech and debate as an assistant coach with a local club.

Angela Lasch

CHEA Executive Director

As CHEA's Executive Director, Angela Lasch gets to work every day toward her vision of families knowing they can absolutely home educate their children. As CHEA was a tremendous help to her while she and her husband, Scott, were homeschooling their three boys, she now gets to encourage others in their own homeschool journeys. Even though she graduated her youngest in 2022, she loves aiding families throughout California, including a PSP in her home church. Above all, she cherishes her role as a grandmother and finds great joy in spending time with her two granddaughters.

Monica Ybarra

CHEA Administrative Assistant

Monica and her husband, David, have been married for 28 years. They have 4 children, whom she has joyfully homeschooled for 24 years, and will be graduating her youngest daughter and final senior this year. Monica loves homeschool families and has a heart for encouraging and supporting them as they follow the journey the Lord has called them to do. She enjoys spending time with her family, cheering others on, and soaking up every moment as a new Nana.

Schedule

3:00 PM

3:00 – 3:30 PM

Check-in and registration open

3:30 PM

Welcome and Opening Session

3:30 – 5:15 PM

Welcome and About CHEA Angela Lasch
Two student recitations
Keynote
Preparing Your Children To Take On A World Gone Wrong & Legislative Update

Nathan Pierce

Do you know about the real-life political skirmishes and shenanigans that go on at our State Capitol, where a fair fight is not valued nearly as much as a win? As we in obedience pray for those who rule over us, do we trust in God or in a political solution? In this day of growing government, are we inadvertently teaching our children to look to government to be the answer to our problems and needs? Hear how home educators can be involved in making a difference in current issues which affect our parental rights that are being debated in our legislature, while depending on God alone.

Do you know about the real-life political skirmishes and shenanigans that go on at our State Capitol, where a fair fight is not valued nearly as much as a win? As we in obedience pray for those who rule over us, do we trust in God or in a political solution? In this day of growing government, are we inadvertently teaching our children to look to government to be the answer to our problems and needs? Hear how home educators can be involved in making a difference in current issues which affect our parental rights that are being debated in our legislature, while depending on God alone.
Keynote
What If Education Has a Higher Calling?

Dr. Karla Memmott

Ask nearly anyone nowadays about the purpose of education and the answers generally circle around topics of vocational training or college preparation. Neither answer is necessarily wrong, but what if the purpose of education had a higher calling, something more noble, something more virtuous? Would we still be willing to settle for merely vocational training or merely college preparation? This talk considers the higher calling of education with core principles: soul formation, virtue training, and character building.

Ask nearly anyone nowadays about the purpose of education and the answers generally circle around topics of vocational training or college preparation. Neither answer is necessarily wrong, but what if the purpose of education had a higher calling, something more noble, something more virtuous? Would we still be willing to settle for merely vocational training or merely college preparation? This talk considers the higher calling of education with core principles: soul formation, virtue training, and character building.

5:15 PM

3 workshops 5:15 – 6:00 PM

English

One of the questions we get asked most often is how to get started homeschooling or how to leave the charter system and homeschool privately. If you are one of those asking these questions, this is the workshop for you. With much wisdom and encouragement, Angela will walk you through the process (which is basically the same for either of those scenarios) step by step. Come begin your own exciting homeschool journey!

Español

Una de las preguntas que más nos hacen es cómo empezar a educar en casa o cómo salir del sistema de escuelas charter para educar en casa de forma privada. Si usted es una de las personas que se hace estas preguntas, este taller es para usted. Con mucha sabiduría y ánimo, Monica la guiará paso a paso por el proceso (que es básicamente el mismo en cualquiera de esos casos). ¡Venga a comenzar su propia y emocionante jornada de educación en casa!

As homeschooling gains more support, parents are faced with more decisions. At times, the myriad of options causes homeschooling parents of all stages to feel overwhelmed and insufficient. There is the constant pressure to make the "right" decision, and the looming fear of the consequences of "wrong" judgements. Concentrating on core principles, parents can successfully navigate the turbulent waters of too many options to create the right amount of personal opportunities for their family. This talk offers encouragement to homeschooling parents to successfully structure an enriching home school environment while holding at bay the pressures of too many choices.

What is the foremost thing we should be teaching our children? God calls the Gospel “of first importance.” So then, how do we link our every instruction to the importance of the Gospel? In this workshop, Nathan discusses the important concept of developing and teaching an intentionally biblical worldview. Nathan will also share how his work at FPM relies every day on an understanding of the significance of competing worldviews in the work of defending our homeschool freedoms.

6:00 PM

6:00 – 7:30 PM

Dinner break

Option to purchase a box dinner beforehand: Chick-fil-A sandwich, chips, water and a cookie. Student displays and sponsor tables are open during the break.

7:30 PM

Closing Session and Wrap-Up

7:30 – 8:45 PM

Two more student recitations
About CHEA: resources and member benefits Angela Lasch
Keynote
Homeschooling: Giving Yourself the Education You Did Not Receive

Dr. Karla Memmott

What if you ditched most of your high school classes? Failed chemistry? Never took Latin? Still struggling with grammar and spelling? Can you effectively homeschool your children! Of course you can. Self-doubt frequently hovers over most of us during our homeschooling days. However, you can teach your children and give yourself the education you did not receive-whatever the reasons. This talk gives practical guidelines to learn and teach subjects such as Latin, Poetry, History, and Grammar. We may develop enough courage to challenge ourselves with subjects like math and chemistry!

What if you ditched most of your high school classes? Failed chemistry? Never took Latin? Still struggling with grammar and spelling? Can you effectively homeschool your children! Of course you can. Self-doubt frequently hovers over most of us during our homeschooling days. However, you can teach your children and give yourself the education you did not receive-whatever the reasons. This talk gives practical guidelines to learn and teach subjects such as Latin, Poetry, History, and Grammar. We may develop enough courage to challenge ourselves with subjects like math and chemistry!
Closing Thoughts Angela Lasch

Session times are subject to change.

Registration

$25 per individual

$40 per couple

Discounts are available for CHEA members. Active military and first responders receive a 10% discount on registration. Call (562) 864-2432 or email [email protected] for your coupon code.

Additional details

Free parking is available at Grace Baptist Church.
There will be an option to prepurchase dinner when you register: a Chick-fil-A sandwich, chips, a water bottle, and a cookie. Dinner orders close Monday, October 19.
Childcare is not available, so we ask children sit respectfully with their parents.
Questions? Call (562) 864-2432 or email [email protected].

Thank you to our sponsor

This Mini-Con is made possible by the generous support of our sponsor.

Classical Conversations

Sponsor Visit Website

Also this fall: Central California Mini-Con

Saturday, October 24, 2026 · Campus Bible Church, Fresno · 8:00 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.

See details

Thank you to HSLDA for their America 250 Grant!

Save your seat in Redding

Thursday, October 22, 2026 at Grace Baptist Church. $25 per individual, $40 per couple.

Redding Regional Homeschool Mini-Con

Student recitations and displays

Speakers

Schedule

Registration

Additional details

Thank you to our sponsor

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