Orange County Association for the Education of Young Children

10/09/2026

Calling All Keynote Speakers!

OCAEYC is seeking dynamic, inspiring voices to serve as Keynote Speakers for our 2027 Annual ECE Conference as we celebrate 70 years of supporting Orange County’s early childhood community!

📅 Saturday, March 6, 2027
📍 Knott’s Berry Farm | Buena Park, CA

We’re looking for engaging speakers with meaningful perspectives, research, experiences, and ideas that connect to early childhood education, leadership, advocacy, equity, belonging, child development, or the future of our field.

✨ Have a message that can inspire, challenge, and energize early childhood professionals? We would love to hear from you!

Complete our Keynote Speaker Interest Form to be considered:
🔗 https://forms.gle/TMdfrabwqgRH1BFQ7

Please share this opportunity with your networks and help us find voices that will make OCAEYC’s 70th Anniversary Conference one to remember!

10/06/2026

📣 Registration is OPEN for Brave Beginnings!

Join OCAEYC and First 5 Orange County for Building Brave Beginnings: Foundations of Anti-Bias & Anti-Racist Education, the first workshop in our Anti-Bias/Anti-Racism Series.

Led by Gina Olabuenaga, EdD, this foundational workshop will support early childhood educators in exploring how identity, culture, race, and bias shape children’s experiences while building practical strategies to foster belonging, recognize bias, create inclusive learning environments, and strengthen authentic partnerships with families.
📅 October 24
⏰ 9:00–11:00 AM
📍 In person at The Village
✨ FREE workshop

Spots are limited, so register today! Scan the QR code or visit OCAEYC.com to reserve your spot.

10/01/2026

🍂 Join Us Tonight! 🍂

Are you passionate about professional development and early childhood education? We’d love to have you join us for our OCAEYC Professional Development Committee Meeting!

Bring your ideas. Help shape a year of meaningful professional development.

📅 Thursday, October 1
⏰ 6:15–7:30 PM PT
💻 Virtual via Zoom

Whether you’re already involved or simply interested in helping create meaningful learning opportunities for early childhood educators, your voice and ideas matter!

👉 Comment below for the Zoom link!

09/30/2026

✨ Save the Date! ✨

OCAEYC is celebrating 70 years of supporting, connecting, and uplifting Orange County’s early childhood education community—and we want you there!

Join us for the 2027 OCAEYC Annual ECE Conference as we celebrate seven decades of learning, leadership, advocacy, and community.

📅 Saturday, March 6, 2027
📍 Knott’s Berry Farm | Buena Park, CA

Mark your calendars and stay tuned—registration, speakers, workshops, and more details are coming soon!

🧡 70 Years of OCAEYC. One incredible ECE community.

09/22/2026

Join OCAEYC on October 17 from 9:30–10:30 AM for the kickoff of this year’s Coffee & Conversations series!

We’ll come together for a guided discussion exploring early childhood education philosophies, approaches, and best practices: and how they shape the way we think about children, learning, environments, and our role as educators.

This foundational conversation will set the stage for our upcoming Coffee & Conversations sessions, where we’ll take a closer look at different ECE philosophies and approaches throughout the year.

☕ Grab your coffee, bring your experiences and questions, and join the conversation!



__________________________________________________________________
OCAEYC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Coffee and Conversations
Time: Oct 17, 2026 09:30 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82497217591?pwd=AiCXiyobadMJRCPkMVVqjHsuw1ew9I.1

Join and take notes
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82497217591?pwd=AiCXiyobadMJRCPkMVVqjHsuw1ew9I.1&mynotes=on

Meeting chat link
https://us06web.zoom.us/launch/jc/82497217591

Meeting ID: 824 9721 7591
Passcode: 853002

09/13/2026

Shanah Tovah to our wonderful community of children, families, and early childhood educators! Wishing you a new year filled with sweet moments and bright new beginnings.

09/11/2026

Join PEACH and OCAEYC for The Heartwork of Educators in Diverse Communities, a three-part A.R.E. (AntiRacist and Equity) Working Group Convening Series designed to restore, reconnect, and rekindle the educators who carry others. 💛

Our first convening brings together coaches, mentors, administrators, trainers, and early childhood professionals for a meaningful day of reflection, connection, and community.

📅 Friday, September 18, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
📍 First 5 LA | Los Angeles

Come connect with fellow ECE professionals committed to equity, belonging, and sustaining the heartwork of early childhood education.

✨ Learn more: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/dqdu2cb/lp/a17fe350-2aac-47dc-8414-8629963017a3
🧡 Register: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/dqdu2cb

09/05/2026

Brave Beginnings: Courage to Learn. Commitment to Change. Together.
Join OCAEYC and First 5 Orange County for Part 1 of the Brave Beginnings Anti-Bias/Anti-Racism Series, featuring Dr. Gina Olabuenaga.

This free, in-person workshop will provide early childhood educators with foundational strategies for creating learning environments where every child and family feels seen, valued, and a true sense of belonging.

Participants will explore practical approaches for recognizing bias, engaging children in conversations about identity and differences, strengthening inclusive practices, and building authentic partnerships with families.

📅 October 24, 2026
⏰ 9:00–11:00 AM
📍 The Village | In Person
1505 E. 17th Street, Santa Ana, CA 92705
🎟️ FREE Workshop | Space is limited

Scan the QR code or visit OCAEYC.com to register today!

Together, we can build brave beginnings for every child. 🧡

ECE

09/05/2026

Brave Beginnings: Courage to Learn. Commitment to Change. Together.
Join OCAEYC and First 5 Orange County for Part 1 of the Brave Beginnings Anti-Bias/Anti-Racism Series, featuring Dr. Gina Olabuenaga.

This free, in-person workshop will provide early childhood educators with foundational strategies for creating learning environments where every child and family feels seen, valued, and a true sense of belonging.

Participants will explore practical approaches for recognizing bias, engaging children in conversations about identity and differences, strengthening inclusive practices, and building authentic partnerships with families.

📅 October 24, 2026
⏰ 9:00–11:00 AM
📍 The Village | In Person
🎟️ FREE Workshop | Space is limited

Scan the QR code or visit OCAEYC.com to register today!

Together, we can build brave beginnings for every child. 🧡

08/26/2026

🌿 Reflect. Reconnect. Rejuvenate. 🌿
Join Start Well for their 3rd Annual Gathering—a morning dedicated to connection, reflection, and renewal within our early childhood community.

📅 Saturday, August 29, 2026
⏰ 8:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
📍 Quail Hill Community Center
39 Shady Canyon Drive, Irvine, CA 92603

Registration is required and space is limited, so be sure to reserve your spot!

🔗 Register here: https://forms.gle/8vbtsAgCXCtxZVAK6

We hope to see members of our Orange County early childhood community there!

Thank you for your interest in the Start Well 2026 Gathering! We are excited to invite you to a morning dedicated to reflection, reconnection, and rejuvenation—because caring for young children begins with caring for ourselves and one another. Join fellow early childhood professionals for an inspi...