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11359 W Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA, 90066

Branches Atelier is committed to creating high-quality, creative, dynamic, educational programs for children, families and educators. We are a social constructivist program, inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education.

Based on our fundamental belief that children learn best when their work is meaningful and in a social context, we integrate all areas of curriculum though short-term explorations and long-term project . Children are viewed as protagonists in their learning and are encouraged to work in collaboration with their peers to co-construct new theories and ideas.

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Parent / Teacher Education

-~- PARENT / TEACHER EDUCATION -~-

Educators from around the world look at Branches Atelier as a model of the highest level of early childhood education available. They travel from all corners of the globe to attend the lectures and workshops by Patricia Hunter McGrath in which she shares her 20 years of experience working in Reggio inspired environments.

The workshops are designed to support the learning of all educators, from novices to master teachers. Topics include “Intro to Reggio”, material explorations, environment as a third teacher,  documentation, and community interactions.

Patricia Hunter McGrath consults locally, nationally and internationally with other schools and educators.  The teachers give workshops, mentor other teachers and consult with other schools.

Evening meetings offer parents an opportunity to explore a wide range of topics from parenting issues to current research on human development.

Have you been to our sister site www.ReggioInspirations.com? 

We post all of our workshops there first. You can register your email at www.ReggioInspirations.com and you will be notified whenever a new series of workshops is posted.

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Branches Atelier is excited to announce our first ever weekend retreat!

 

Inspire Create Renew Retreat

Friday April 19th, 2pm to Sunday, April 21st,1pm 

Spend the weekend immersed in nature, surrounded by trees and mountains. Take time to reconnect--to become re-inspired, explore and deepen your creativity, and renew through hands-on materials sessions, inspirational talks, mindfulness sessions, nature walks, live music, and so much more. From morning to night, you will be immersed in nature, inspired by your experiences, and supported in finding your own new and creative pathways that you can bring home to your family or school environment.

Come for the weekend and stay overnight! 

The retreat is limited to 200 participants 

Take advantage of our Early Bird Discounts until March 8th

  • Meals included: Two Breakfasts, Two Lunches, and Two Dinners.

  • Conference commuter ticket: - Early Bird $495 (Early Bird expires 3/8) ($575.00 after 3/8). Includes all meals and activities. Does not include accommodation or the daily vehicle parking fee.

  • Overnight ticket: - Early Bird $645.00 (Early Bird expires 3/8) ($725.00 after 3/8) Includes all meals and activities. Affordable dorm and cabin accommodations are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Ticket price includes two nights of dorm or shared cabin accommodation and three days of parking. 

Branches Atelier Parents, contact Jim@BranchesAtelier.com to receive your discount code to unlock your special ticket price.

  • Branches Parent Commuter ticket:  - Early Bird $425.00 (Early Bird expires 3/8) ($495.00 after 3/8)  Includes all meals and activities. Does not include accommodation or the daily vehicle parking fee. 

  • Branches Parent Overnight Ticket:  -  Early Bird $575.00 (Early Bird expires 3/8) ($645.00 after 3/8) Includes all meals and activities. Affordable dorm and cabin accommodations are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Ticket price includes two nights of dorm or shared cabin accommodation and three days of parking. 

We will do our best to accommodate your group in the same dorm or cabin. If you'd like to book a separate group cabin for your school, please email Kaylen@branchesatelier.com. 

We do our best to make arrangements for vegetarian meals. 

Please be sure to check the vegetarian option when registering for the conference. We are not able to provide for all meal preferences. However, if you have life-threatening food allergies, please contact Kaylen@branchesatelier.com to discuss meal alternatives. If you have other dietary restrictions, please plan accordingly.

We can offer a 10% discount to educators who are sending a group of 10 or more. Please contact Jim@BranchesAtelier.com.

Our retreat will take place at the beautiful Temescal Canyon Gateway Park in Pacific Palisades, California. 

Spend the weekend immersed in nature, surrounded by trees and mountains. Take time to reconnect--to become re-inspired, explore and deepen your creativity, and renew through hands-on materials sessions, inspirational talks, mindfulness sessions, nature walks, live music, and so much more. From morning to night, you will be immersed in nature, inspired by your experiences, and supported in finding your own new and creative path ways.

Inspire 

Attend break-out sessions that inspire and open your mind to new possibilities. Learn how you can spark creativity in your day-to-day life. Come together as a community as we gather around the campfire for smores, drinks, and a sing-along or dance the night away with our live music bands.

Create

Join our hands-on materials workshop explorations, from mixed media, fiber and fabric, natural materials, poetry, textiles, and photography to printing, painting, natural dyes, eco printing, collage, drumming, and percussion.

Renew

Start your day at 7am renewed and energized! Join us for gentle or energetic Yoga, Chi Gong, Sound Bath, Meditation, Silent Nature walks, or Forest Bathing. Learn some new strategies for self-care that you can bring into your homes and classrooms.

Online (Zoom)Workshop: Documentation and Design. A 3-part series 

March 5th, 12th, and 19th,  6-8 pm (Pacific Time Zone)


Unlock the transformative power of documentation and design in early childhood education 

with a three-part workshop on documentation and design. 


This workshop is designed specifically for teachers and educators; 

  • This dynamic experience will equip you with the knowledge, skills, and inspiration to create rich and meaningful documentation

  • Hone your expertise in observation 

  • Make children’s learning visible 

  • And revisit design concepts that emphasize these ideas.

Workshop Highlights:

  • Understanding Documentation: Understanding the philosophy and principles of documentation in our context.

  • Gain insights into creating visual tools that foster curiosity, exploration, and collaboration.

  • Develop practical skills in observing children's play and activities. Learn how to document these observations in a way that honors children’s unique voices and learning styles.

  • Visual Storytelling: Dive into the world of visual storytelling through photographs, videos, and written narratives. Discover how these tools can amplify the impact of your documentation and engage parents and caregivers.

  • Collaborative Learning: Engage in collaborative discussions and activities with fellow educators, sharing experiences, challenges, and success stories. 

  • Build a supportive community of like-minded professionals.

Who Should Attend:

These workshops are ideal for educators, teachers, parents and administrators with children from infancy through early childhood. Whether you're new to the Reggio Emilia approach or looking to deepen your understanding, this workshop offers valuable insights and practical tools that can be applied at home or school.

*IMPORTANT*

  • If you are purchasing tickets for a group, please enter separate emails for each attendee, as we will need to send some links prior to the workshop.

  • If you are viewing as a group, all attendees must pay to attend this workshop