Professional Development

Early Childhood Conference at UW–Whitewater

Saturday, April 11, 2026 | $125 | UW–Whitewater

We’re excited to announce the 2026 UW-Whitewater Early Childhood Conference! We’re bringing all the energy, learning, and connection into an action-packed day. Join us for high-quality professional development and networking with early childhood professionals.

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Early Childhood Education Conference at UW–Stout

April 24-25, 2026 | $145-$225 | UW–Stout

Whole-Child, Whole Educator: Building Emotional Wellness in Every Classroom, highlights the integral relationship between the emotional well-being of educators and the holistic development of children. This year’s conference includes K through 3rd-grade educators and invites early childhood special education teachers to join us as we work together to build inclusive, emotionally supportive learning environments.

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Leaves, Light and Learning: Early Childhood Education in the Outdoors

April 27, 2026 | $30 | Franklin, WI – Wehr Nature Center

Join KEEP, LEAF, Project Learning Tree (PLT), and Wehr Nature Center staff for a full-day, hands-on professional development experience designed for early childhood educators who want to bring the wonder of the outdoors into their teaching.

This workshop emphasizes active learning, collaborative exploration, and practical takeaways that educators can immediately apply in their own settings. Participants will also be introduced to the all-terrain wheelchair on-site at Wehr Nature Center.

4 hours of Registry credit are offered through this training.

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Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health (WI-AIMH) Conference 2026

October 27-28, 2026, Elkhart Lake, WI

This conference is intended for people who work with or on behalf of young children and their families.  The conference features nationally-known speakers, as well as presenters from around Wisconsin, sharing information about promoting social and emotional development in everyday activities for infants, young children, and their families, as well as early intervention and treatment strategies.

The Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health (WI-AIMH) promotes the social and emotional well-being of Wisconsin children from birth through age five by supporting families and professionals across disciplines. Our vision is for all Wisconsin infants and young children to reach their fullest potential through nurturing and consistent relationships within the context of family, community, and culture. Our efforts focus on weaving relationship-based infant mental health practices and principles into the everyday activities of all individuals who touch the lives of infants, young children, and their families.

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Free ECE Foundational Courses with Madison College

Madison College is offering several noncredit and foundational courses for free to recipients of the Wisconsin Innovation Grant (WIG). Scholarships are also available for students pursuing Early Childhood Education. Call 608.243.5400 for more information on how to apply.

UW-Madison Professional Development Opportunities

UW-Madison offers professional development opportunities through the Office of Human Resources that are open to campus child care center staff.

Browse OHR Catalog

UW also offers several conferences that may be open to UW and non-UW participants.

See UW Conferences