Global Self-Directed Democratic School Conference

Frequently Asked Questions

What role will students play in the conference? Will there be student-specific programming?

Students aged 5-17 that are currently enrolled in a self-directed democratic school program are invited to attend the conference. All student attendees at the conference must be accompanied by a supervising adult guardian throughout the duration of the event and must have a waiver signed by their parents / legal guardians delivered to Alpine Valley School before the start of the conference.

From a student perspective, the conference offers a unique opportunity to engage in a community that shares similar educational philosophies. Students are free to participate in any of the events, activities, and breakout sessions throughout the conference. While there isn't student-specific programming (at least not at this point), the inclusive nature of the conference means that students will find many opportunities to engage in meaningful ways. They can accompany parents or staff members who are attending, and they will have the chance to be in community with other students, including those from Alpine Valley School, hanging out and playing during the day like they might do at their own school.

Where should conference attendees book accommodations?

We have booked a block of rooms at the Comfort Inn Denver West Arvada Station, 10200 W. I-70 Frontage Rd. S, which is less than a mile from the school campus. Reserve your room online or call the hotel directly for a discounted group rate. To book a room using this discount, please use the following information:

Group Name: Self Directed Democratic School Conference

Group Number: RN52L8

For best results, book using this link to the hotel.

In addition, there are several Airbnb locations a few miles from the school that might be suitable for larger groups.

How will the content for conference breakout sessions be determined?

One of our sister schools designed a conference workshop submission / voting system that was used during the online self-directed democratic school conference in 2023 with great success. Alpine Valley School has licensed this software for use in the 2024 Global Self-Directed Democratic School Conference and will be using that system. It allows attendees to submit topics for workshops and then vote on which topics they would like to attend during the conference, producing a personalized schedule of topics for all three days. In order to participate in the voting / scheduling system each user will need a Google / Gmail address where additional instructions and sign-up information will be sent (this information is included in the registration forms).

Will meals be provided to attendees during the conference?

Yes, meals will be provided during the Conference. Attendees can look forward to enjoying a variety of meal options catered to suit different dietary needs and preferences. Meals will be provided on the following schedule:

Wednesday, July 10th: Dinner (provided to attendees of the Startup & Founders Group Symposium)

Thursday, July 11th: Dinner

Friday, July 12th: Lunch, Dinner

Saturday, July 13th: Lunch, Dinner

Sunday, July 14th: Picnic lunch (during our outing)

In addition to main meals, snacks, coffee, and water will be available throughout the day on all days when the conference is in session. For specific dietary requests or concerns, please note those items in the individual registration form where indicated.

Will there be parking available on-site?

Yes. Alpine Valley School has a small parking lot in the rear of the building, and there is also abundant parking available on the streets surrounding our building, especially along 45th. We have also secured permission with our neighbor to park on his farmland if we run out of street parking and so forth. If you encounter any issues with parking, please let Marc or another AVS staff member know. While our neighborhood is very safe, it is generally a good practice not to leave any valuables in your car and to lock your vehicles when leaving them.