✨ RETURN TO PLAY: A Residential Learning Retreat with Alice Sharp & Emily Webster ✨
Over several inspiring days, you'll step away from the demands of daily practice and into a community of passionate educators where curiosity, creativity, reflection, and connection take centre stage.
Together we'll explore:
🌿 The Why of Play – understanding the foundations of child-led learning
🎨 Process-Based Creativity – valuing the journey over the product
🧩 Invitations to Play – creating meaningful opportunities for exploration
🔍 Schematic Play – uncovering the patterns behind children's interests
🏡 Playful Environments – designing spaces that spark wonder and engagement
🤝 The Adult's Role – supporting learning through observation, interaction, and reflection
📝 Reflection & Action Planning – turning inspiration into practical next steps
Led by internationally respected early years expert Alice Sharp and Scholar's Choice's own Emily Webster, this hands-on retreat is filled with meaningful discussions, playful provocations, practical experiences, and opportunities to learn alongside like-minded educators.
Why attend? 💡
🌟 Reignite your passion for play-based learning
🌟 Explore hands-on experiences through the eyes of a child
🌟 Connect with educators from across Canada
🌟 Gain practical ideas you can immediately bring back to your classroom or centre
🌟 Leave feeling inspired, refreshed, and confident in your practice
This is more than professional development. It's an opportunity to pause, reflect, play, and rediscover the joy, wonder, and possibility that lies at the heart of early childhood education.
Retreat Sessions
Why Play Still Matters
A grounding opening session that revisits the purpose of play in early childhood and why play remains at the heart of effective practice. Participants will reconnect with the foundational principles of play before moving into more practical workshops.
Going Back to Basics: The Materials of Play
Inspired by Alice Sharp’s “back to basics” approach, this workshop explores simple, open-ended materials and how they support deep thinking, creativity, communication, belonging, and meaningful learning experiences.
The Adult’s Role in Play
A reflective session examining when to step in, when to step back, how to observe deeply, and how to extend children’s learning without taking ownership of the play.
Schematic Play: Seeing Children More Clearly
Explore common play schemas through hands-on provocations and discussion. Participants will consider how environments can be intentionally designed to support children’s interests, patterns, and ways of learning.
Process Over Product
A creative studio-style experience where educators engage in open-ended art, sensory, and construction activities while reflecting on how adult expectations can unintentionally limit creativity and exploration.
Invitations to Play That Actually Invite
A practical and highly visual session focused on creating irresistible invitations to play using loose parts, natural materials, sensory resources, and everyday classroom items.
The Language of Play
Discover the phrases, questions, and interactions that support and sustain child-led learning through practical examples, reflection, and collaborative discussion.
Wonder, Awe, and the Power of Simple Experiences
A reflective session focused on slowing down, noticing more, and creating opportunities for children to experience curiosity, wonder, and meaningful connections with the world around them.
The Play Studio
A fully hands-on maker experience where participants rotate through a variety of provocations, including:
- Loose parts
- Transient art
- Mark making
- Sensory play
- Storytelling baskets
- Block and construction experiences
- Light and shadow exploration
- Nature-based art
Featured Presenters
Alice Sharp - Featured Presenter
Alice Sharp is a highly respected early childhood educator, consultant, and speaker with over 30 years of experience. Known for her dynamic and innovative approach, she brings a deep understanding of children, relationships, and everyday practice. Her work is rooted in curiosity about people—what drives them, how they learn, and how meaningful connections shape experiences for both children and educators. She is widely recognised nationally and internationally for translating theory into rich, experiential learning. Through her work as a keynote speaker, writer, and consultant, Alice supports educators in reconnecting with the foundations of early learning. Her sessions are engaging, reflective, and practical, leaving participants inspired and empowered.
Marie Richardson- Presenter
Marie brings over 25 years of experience in the field of early childhood education, with a career dedicated to supporting both children and the educators who guide them. She is an inspiring and motivational presenter, known for her engaging approach to early years training and ongoing professional development. Marie’s work is grounded in a deep understanding of play, relationships, and reflective practice. She creates meaningful learning experiences that encourage educators to think critically, share perspectives, and grow in confidence within their roles. Her sessions are both practical and thought-provoking, leaving participants feeling energized, supported, and empowered to enhance their everyday practice.
Emily Webster- Host, Scholar's Choice
Emily has been working alongside the parent, teacher, and childcare community at Scholar’s Choice for over eight years. However, as Scholar’s Choice is a family business, she has been immersed in its culture and community since birth. She holds a degree in Communications and Cultural Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University and currently serves as Social Media and Partnerships Coordinator for Scholar’s Choice. In this role, she develops ideas and solutions to help the community engage children through the Playful Learning Approach, supporting young learners in developing a love of learning and the confidence to pursue their hopes and dreams.
View Past Retreats and Conferences Featuring Scholar's Choice!
