Southwestern Oregon Community College’s Child Care Resource & Referral, CARE Connections, presents their annual training conference for child care providers and early childhood education professionals: Retreat by the Lake (RBTL) XVI  2014 “ Nurturing Our Future”.  The conference takes place on Friday, June 20th, 2014, 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. and Saturday June 21st, 2014, 8:00 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.  Back by popular demand – RBTL offers an all-day session with Stephen Bavolek, Ph.D., author of Nurturing Parenting, trainer and recognized leader in the field of parenting education, on Friday with a follow-up key note address and session on Saturday.  Stephen J. Bavolek, Ph.D., is an author, trainer and recognized leader in the field of parenting education. His Nurturing Skills curriculum for kindergarten through high school classrooms is currently used in American Embassy Schools throughout the world. Now, Dr. B has “adopted” Coos and Curry Counties, and has been the catalyst for the “Nurturing Community Coalition” project that is moving forward along the Southern Oregon Coast. He has trained over 300 local professionals and community members in Nurturing Programs. Child Care providers play a vital role in “Nurturing Communities” because their homes, centers and preschools are sites where school readiness can be implemented.  Other presenters include a Friday night Keynote address by Tom Udell from Western Oregon University titled, “Oregon’s QRIS: Helping to Guide the Future;” and Saturday break out sesisons with Christy Cox, Ford  Family Foundation Early Childhood Development Program Officer; Don Owen Costello, Chief Judge with the Coquille Indian Tribe; Gary Glasenapp, Amber Ryerson and Cori Brownell from Western Oregon University’s Center on Early Learning Teaching Research Institute; Pamela Deardorff, Director for the Oregon Center  for Career Development in Childhood Care & Education, and local trainers Marion Bauer, Corinne Potts, Hannah Stanfield from South Coast Head Start/early Head Start; Danaye Leonard and Rocio Montes from the Nurturing Center.  The $100 conference fee includes 2 full days of training, Friday night dorm lodging and meals on Friday and Saturday. 15 hours of training is available with certificates on the beautiful Southern Oregon Coast! Includes 12 hours of Set 2 training (upon approval). Saturday’s workshops will offer 10 exciting sessions for you to choose from, including Set 2 options (upon approval). Scholarships or reimbursements are available to eligible CCD licensed providers and center staff through the Oregon Statewide Scholarship Program – please contact OCCD Toll-free at 1-877-725-8535; online information, see www.centerline.pdx.edu/scholarship.  If you want to attend but can’t afford it, please contact us!