Friday, May 15th • Saturday, May 16th
Doors open at 7:30am
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
Click here to register for the 2026 conference:
General Registration: $65, discounted to $50 early bird (ends 05/01/2026.)
No refunds after Early Bird Registration closes.
Conference Recordings will be available online to all attendees and members after the event.
One registration covers up to two parents and their first-generation minor children. Adult unmarried children may be included if they are not a parent.
All paid attendees will receive a complementary 1 year HSD membership. This membership entitles you with access to the bi-monthly HSD Member News, recordings from the past conference, and more.
Keynote speakers
Kevin Swanson
Kevin homeschooled himself in the 1960's and 70's. He and his wife, Brenda, have homeschooled their five children. Kevin has 56 years of experience in homeschooling and 27 years of experience in leadership, serving as Executive Director of Christian Home Educators of Colorado, and Director of Generations - a ministry he founded to strengthen homeschool families worldwide. Kevin was the pro-life candidate for Governor of Colorado in 1994, and the U.S. Senate in 1998. As a father who wants to leave a godly heritage for his own five children (and 8 grandchildren), Kevin's passion is to strengthen and encourage the homeschooling movement all over the world, and to cast a vision for generational faith. For the last 20 years Kevin has hosted a daily radio program - Generations Radio - reaching families across the U.S. and over 100 countries around the world.
Kevin has served as an elder/pastor in his local church for 22 years, while authoring several popular books for homeschoolers, including Upgrade: 10 Secrets to the Best Education for Your Child, Family Life: A Simple Guide to the Biblical Family, The Story of Freedom, The Proverbs Family Bible Study Guide Series, The Psalms Bible Study Guide Series, Apostate: The Men Who Destroyed the Christian West, Epoch: The Rise and Fall of the West, Worldview: What We Believe, What They Believe, and Why They are Wrong, Strong: Stand Firm. Be Courageous. Strengthen What Remains, and an upcoming book Under God: With Liberty and Justice for All Nations. As the creator and developer of the Generations' Christian Discipleship Curriculum, Kevin has also authored dozens of textbooks covering 1st through 12th grades. Serving as a passionate supporter of home education, he has been interviewed on hundreds of media outlets, including Dr. James Dobson's Focus on the Family and the Fox News Network.
Andrew Pudewa
Andrew Pudewa is the founder and director of the Institute for Excellence in Writing. Presenting around the world, he addresses issues relating to teaching, writing, thinking, and spelling, with clarity, insight, practical experience, and humor. His seminars for parents, students, and teachers have helped transform many a reluctant writer and have equipped educators with powerful tools to dramatically improve students' skills. Although he is a graduate of the Talent Education Institute in Japan (Suzuki Method) and holds a Certificate of Child Brain Development, his best endorsement is from a young Alaskan boy who called him "the funny man with the wonderful words." Andrew and his beautiful, heroic wife, Robin, homeschooled their seven children and are now proud grandparents of nineteen, making their home in Northeastern Oklahoma's picturesque Green Country.
Dr. Renton Rathbun
Renton has been a classroom teacher for over 25 years. His teaching experience has included both secular and Christian colleges and universities. He and his wife homeschooled their oldest son, Daniel, and are now homeschooling their two littles, Jude and Olivia. Renton has spoken for homeschool venues such as the Foundations Summit, the Canadian Homeschool Symposium, Teach Them Diligently, the Great Homeschool Convention, the Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference, and others. Renton has spoken on podcasts from all over the nation, such as The Steve Noble Show, Schoolhouse Rocked, Parenting with Ginger Hubbard, The Heidi St. John Podcast, the Zan Tyler Podcast, and others. Renton holds a BS in English education and an MA in interpretative speech from Bob Jones University. He has also received an MFA in creative writing from Minnesota State University, an MA in philosophy from the University of Toledo, a ThM from Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, and a PhD in apologetics from Westminster Theological Seminary. Renton serves as a national consultant for BJU Press.
Workshop Speakers
Seann M. Dikkers, M.Ed., Ph.D.
Dr. Dikkers is a husband and father of two homeschooled adults. As a teacher, principal, pastor, professor, and researcher, he has authored books including TeacherCraft: How Teachers Learn to Use MineCraft in Their Classrooms, Mobile Media Learning: Amazing Uses of Mobile Devices for Learning, and Real-Time Research: Improvisational Game Scholarship with a decade of research, interviews, and coaching toward more playful learning. His vivid presentations are known for energetically making complex ideas clear, with practical examples, emphasizing God's design for learning. As a pastor, you can hear his chapter-by-chapter Bible study on any podcast server at All In Gospel. He currently serves as a pastor and the Lead Designer for PortalsEDU.com - a new program that streamlines "Literature-to-Project" playful homeschooling. Portals provides support and delivers over 12,000 project-linked lessons to homeschooling parents.
Dr. Nicholas Ellis
Dr. Nicholas Ellis, a third-generation homeschooler, is founder and President of Christian Halls International. He has a DPhil (Doctorate of Philosophy) from the University of Oxford where he taught New Testament and Greek at Wycliffe Hall, and was educated in Jerusalem, Germany, Canada, and the U.S. He grew up as a missionary kid in Brazil. Dr. Ellis' work with Christian Halls focuses on building local, family-based flourishing through local, mentor-led higher education. He is passionate about giving back responsibility for the formation of souls to families and churches, and for the flourishing of local places, leading to civilization-level renewal.
Jan McGrath
Jan is a veteran home educator, movement innovator, and communication strategist who helps people think sharper, move smarter, and speak with confidence. Long before screens became ubiquitous in children's culture, she chose living books over pixels, cultivating focus, curiosity, and intentionality in her family and teaching. Her witty mantra - "The last person to get a cell phone wins" - reflects her philosophy: technology is a tool to be mastered, not a master to follow.
As the creator of NeuroPower Pilates®, Jan fuses brain training with mindful movement, delivering a one-of-a-kind system that strengthens mind and body simultaneously. Her method helps clients improve focus, coordination, and mental clarity - transforming how they move, think, and perform.
As a communication coach, Jan teaches individuals to align words, voice, and nonverbal cues so every message lands with precision and authority. She shows people how to be heard, seen, and remembered - whether in a boardroom, on stage, or in everyday life.
Through her work, Jan equips families and professionals alike to reclaim focus, build presence, and communicate with authenticity - turning intention into action, and action into results.
Thomas J. ('Tj') Schmidt, Esq.
Tj was homeschooled starting in the 2nd grade through high school graduation. For much of that time, his family served as missionaries in Haiti. He earned his juris doctor from Oak Brook College of Law while serving as a legal assistant at HSLDA. Now, as a senior HSLDA attorney, Tj assists members across the country with legal questions and challenges to their homeschool freedom. Tj and his wife, Susan, homeschool their nine children: Josiah, Suzanna, Ella, Makenna, Jonah, Annika, Ezra, Sadie, and Henry.
Emily Baumiller
My name is Emily Baumiller. I am a wife of 25 years and a mother of two boys, living in Piedmont, South Dakota. After struggling with spatial dyslexia in public school, I later gained tools for success while studying Social Sciences at Mass Bay College and the University of Southern Maine.
When our first son was born, we felt led to homeschool and stepped out in faith despite my own learning challenges. Through that journey, I have rediscovered a love for learning and experienced God’s faithfulness firsthand, including graduating our first son last year. I am deeply grateful for the privilege of homeschooling and the community the Lord has provided along the way.
Keynote Sessions
| Presenter | Session | Room | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Swanson | The Heart of Homeschooling | Rushmore Hall 3-5 | Friday 8:50 |
| Dr. Renton Rathbun | Kids' Deconstructing Faith and How to Win Them Back | Rushmore Hall 3-5 | Friday 1:30 |
| Andrew Pudewa | However Imperfectly | Rushmore Hall 3-5 | Friday 4:30 |
| Dr. Renton Rathbun | AI, Homeschool, and the Brain: Preserving Critical Thinking | Rushmore Hall 3-5 | Saturday 8:50 |
| Andrew Pudewa | Conquering Corrupt Culture | Rushmore Hall 3-5 | Saturday 1:30 |
| Kevin Swanson | For Such a Time as This | Rushmore Hall 3-5 | Saturday 4:30 |
HSD Sessions
| Session | Room | Time |
|---|---|---|
| HSD Leadership Coffee | LaCroix C | Friday 3:00 |
| Gubernatorial Candidate Q&A | Rushmore Hall 3-5 | Saturday 11:40 |
| HSD Legislative Update and Q&A | LaCroix B | Saturday 3:00 |
Speaker Workshops
| Presenter | Session | Room | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Pudewa | Cultivating Language Arts | Rushmore Hall 3-5 | Friday 10:30 |
| Dr. Seann Dikkers | The Insidious Nature of Schooling | LaCroix A | Friday 10:30 |
| Dr. Nicholas Ellis | Homeschool College & Trade Halls for SD | LaCroix B | Friday 10:30 |
| Jan McGrath | Disconnect to Reconnect: Reclaim Your Family from Screens | LaCroix C | Friday 10:30 |
| Military Connection Coffee | Noel Molnar | LaCroix D | Friday 10:30 |
| Kevin Swanson | What Does the Bible Say About Educating Kids? | Rushmore Hall 3-5 | Friday 3:00 |
| Dr. Seann Dikkers | Carrots, Not Sticks: Designing Learning for Joy | LaCroix A | Friday 3:00 |
| Dr. Nicholas Ellis | Education as Community Formation | LaCroix B | Friday 3:00 |
| Homeschool South Dakota | Leadership Coffee | LaCroix C | Friday 3:00 |
| Andrew Pudewa | The Three Best Things I Did as a Homeschool Dad | Rushmore Hall 3-5 | Saturday 10:30 |
| Dr. Seann Dikkers | Project-Based Learning | LaCroix A | Saturday 10:30 |
| Tj Schmidt | Latest Homeschool Cases and Legislation (Across the USA) | LaCroix B | Saturday 10:30 |
| Dr. Renton Rathbun | A Biblical Worldview of Math: Does It Add Up? | LaCroix C | Saturday 10:30 |
| Military Connection Coffee | Noel Molnar | LaCroix D | Saturday 10:30 |
| Kevin Swanson | The Fight for Family Freedoms & Parental Rights | Rushmore Hall 3-5 | Saturday 3:00 |
| Dr. Seann Dikkers | Play More | LaCroix A | Saturday 3:00 |
| HSLDA | Legislative Update and Q&A | LaCroix B | Saturday 3:00 |
| Emily Baumiller | Joy in the Journey | LaCroix C | Saturday 3:00 |
Vendor Workshops
| Presenter | Session | Room | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Etiquette Factory, LLC | Raising Gentlemen Who Live with Honor | LaCroix A | Friday 11:40 |
| WatchSafe | Guarding the Hearts of Your Children: Biblical Authority Over Digital Media | LaCroix B | Friday 11:40 |
| South Dakota Hall of Fame | Exploring Leadership Skills Through the SD Hall of Fame | LaCroix C | Friday 11:40 |
| BJU Press Homeschool/ HomeWorks by Precept | Military Homeschooling: From Deployments to Retirement | LaCroix D | Friday 11:40 |
| Interfaith Federal Credit Union | Equipping Teens for Financial Freedom | Rushmore Hall 1 | Friday 11:40 |
| Club America | Raising Patriotic Leaders at Home | Rushmore Hall 2 | Friday 11:40 |
| Christian Halls International | Education as Community Formation: A Multi-Generational Vision for the Homeschool Education Movement | Rushmore Hall 1C | Friday 11:40 |
| The Etiquette Factory, LLC | Discipline with Love/ Protect Your Relationships | LaCroix A | Friday 12:35 |
| Black Hills Christian Hall | Questions That Lead to Truth: Christian Socratic Path to Biblical Wisdom | LaCroix B | Friday 12:35 |
| South Dakota Hall of Fame | Exploring Leadership Skills Through the SD Hall of Fame | LaCroix C | Friday 12:35 |
| BiblioPlan | Bits of Wisdom for Moms of Pre-K through 2nd Graders | LaCroix D | Friday 12:35 |
| Alpha Omega Institute | Dragons, Unicorns, and the Bible | Rushmore Hall 1 | Friday 12:35 |
| Biblical Science Institute | Importance of Genesis | Rushmore Hall 2 | Friday 12:35 |
| TeenPact | Rushmore Hall 3-5 | Saturday 12:35 | |
| Ready Lamp LLC | The Homeschool Entrepreneur | LaCroix A | Saturday 12:35 |
| SD Family Voice | Creating a Child's-Rights Movement in America | LaCroix B | Saturday 12:35 |
| Classical Conversations | 5 Tools to Help Your Child Think Well and Develop Understanding | LaCroix C | Saturday 12:35 |
| BiblioPlan | All Together without Mom Losing her Mind! | LaCroix D | Saturday 12:35 |
| Alpha Omega Institute | The Origin of Life and God's Amazing Design | Rushmore Hall 1 | Saturday 12:35 |
| Christian Halls International | Studying the Book of James | Rushmore Hall 2 | Saturday 12:35 |
Music
Free worship concert featuring Mike Weaver of Big Daddy Weave
We will be hosting a worship concert on Friday night, starting at 7:00 p.m.. This will be a free concert, open to the public, no tickets needed. More information here!
Invite your friends!
Morning Worship
Praise and Worship by local homeschool singers and musicians is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. in Rushmore Hall 3-5 on both mornings.
Saturday Concert
A Homeschool Choir & Band concert will be held at 6:00 p.m. in the Rushmore Hall 3-5
Gubernatorial Candidate Q&A Session
Bring your respectful questions about the issues that concern you to the Gubernatorial Candidate Q&A. This moderated session is structured to help you become a better-informed voter. All registered gubernatorial candidates have been invited, though attendance depends on scheduling availability.
Graduation
We invite all homeschool graduates and their families to join us for a special graduation ceremony to honor your achievements.
Please visit blackhillshomeschoolgraduation.com for additional details and registration information.
Youth activities
We have a full schedule of youth acitivities planned, including educational and entertaining sessions from local and national educators. We will also have opportunities to showcase your student's creative work and achievements (more details here.) Outdoor activities will also be available throughout the event. Find the tentative schedule of activities below:
| Activity | Presenter | Room | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylic Painting (Ages 7 & Up) | Canvas 2 Paint (Madison Soyland, Jessica Garlach) | Rushmore Hall 1C | Friday 10:00-11:30, 1:30-3:00, Saturday 10:00-11:30, 1:30-3:00 |
| Juggling with Jared (Ages 10 & Up) | Jared Ashton | Rushmore Hall 1 | Friday 9:00-10:00, Saturday 9:00-10:00 |
| Homeschool PE (Ages 7 & Up) | E3 Sports (Heidi Parmenter, Ada Frandsen, Joe Bennett) | Rushmore Hall 2 | Friday 9:00-10:00 |
| Rock Hounding (Ages 3-12) | Rushmore Hall 2 | Friday 10:30-11:30 | |
| Unlock Your Memory: A Fast, Fun Workshop (All Ages) | Marge Greene | Rushmore Hall 1 | Friday, 10:30-11:30, Saturday 10:30-11:30 |
| Science Steve | SD Public Broadcasting (Steven Rokusek) | Rushmore Hall 2 | Friday 1:30-2:30, 3:00-4:00, Saturday 1:30-2:30, 3:00-4:00 |
| Introduction to TaekwonDo (All Ages) | Master Scott Craig, Pastor, Landmark Community Church | Rushmore Hall 1 | Friday 3:00-4:00 |
| Speed Stacks (Ages 8 & Up) | Jamie Limberg | Rushmore Hall 1 | Friday 4:30-5:30, Saturday 4:30-5:30 |
| The Power of a Threefold Cord (All Ages) | Shane Gould | Rushmore Hall 2 | Friday, May 15, 4:30-5:30 |
| Robots and Programmers (Ages 8 & Up) | Trivium Polytech Micro School (Jason Harris) | Rushmore Hall 2 | Saturday 9:00-10:00, Saturday 4:30-5:30 |
| Intro to Chess (All Ages) | Paul Freidel | Rushmore Hall 2 | Saturday 10:30-11:30 |
| Step into the Shoes of a South Dakota Legislator (Ages 12 & Up) | Teen Pact | Rushmore Hall 3-5 | Saturday 12:35-1:20 |
| Black Hills Pioneers (All Ages) | 1881 Courthouse Museum (Deborah Hanagan) | Rushmore Hall 1 | Saturday 1:30-2:30 |
| Preparedness Skills (All Ages) | ACSD (Jeff Prior, Jon Gindhart, Karen Gindhart, Bill Zollinger) | Rushmore Hall 1 | Saturday 3:00-4:00 |
| Speed Stacks (Ages 8 & Up) | Jamie Limberg | Rushmore Hall 1 | Saturday 4:30-5:30 |
Student art and achievement table
Show off your student's achievements or creativity in the free art display! Contact us to be involved, so we ensure there's enough space for all participants.
Co-op table
We will be providing a table with a map of co-ops and groups across the state. Let us know the best way to contact your co-op, or fill out an index card at the table when you arrive.
Lodging
Doubletree Inn
(800) 445-8667
505 N 5th St, Rapid City, SD 57701
Event discount available, just mention the Homeschool South Dakota group Code 964 when you call to place your booking.
Conveniently located across the parking lot from The Monument.
Book your room here.
Food
No outside food is allowed in the Convention Center. The Monument has a food court with many food and drink options available, including all-day free refills on select drinks.
Recordings
Couldn't attend all of the keynote sessions? Recordings from most of the sessions and workshops will be available after the event.
Vendors
The vendor hall is where you can browse and purchase curricula, books and supplies, as well as learn about new educational resources and methods, consult with experts and interact with the conference speakers.
The vendor hall will be open Friday from 9-5:30, and Saturday 9-4:30.
Vendor Hall
To register as a Vendor or for more information, visit the vendor registration page.
We’re always looking for exciting vendors that can provide value to our conference attendees.
If you’d like to be a sponsor, have questions about our vendors or have suggestions for vendors you’d like to see at the conference, please contact our vendor coordinator.
ASVAB
Attention Parents and High School Students: To find career satisfaction, you need all the facts about your skills and interests, the world of work, and your post-secondary options to make an informed decision.
The ASVAB Career Exploration Program (CEP) includes a validated aptitude test and interest assessment. The results are used to guide career exploration using our career planning tools and can recommend over 1,000 different career paths.
We will be hosting an opportunity for you to take the assessment on Saturday at 2 p.m.. Please bring your own laptop with a fully charged battery. This is a quiet test, so we ask that parents and family members wait outside the room. The test can take up to 3 hours, but averages 90 minutes.
For more information about the CEP, visit asvabprogram.com
Services
Complimentary Registration
Current legislators, non-homeschooling pastors and non-homeschooling grandparents are invited to attend the conference as our guests. Homeschool South Dakota does not endorse any political party, legislator or denomination, but instead uses their attendance at the conference to acquaint them with home education as a successful, proven educational choice. Please feel free to take a moment and introduce yourselves to them. Legislators, please bring credentials to receive your free pass.
Unstaffed Kids' Areas
Need a place to let the little ones, or those watching them, unwind? There are Unstaffed Respite Tables in a divided portion of Rushmore Hall 1. The Nursing Moms' Area is available for use with a code. Visit the HSD Registration/Information table for details. The Nursing Moms' Area is intended for nursing mothers and smaller children while the Unstaffed Respite Tables are for older children who'd like to hang out and play games or just rest a bit. Please note that these areas are unstaffed, and adults are still responsible for their children while they're in these areas.
Vendor Prize Drawings
Enter to win amazing prizes donated by participating vendors! To enter the drawing, complete your vendor stamp cards by receiving a stamp while visiting participating vendors. Look for the yellow stamp card flag to identify each participating vendor booth. Vendors may require an adult to visit their booth in order to receive a stamp. Prizes must be picked up from the vendor during Vendor Hall hours. Enter early for more opportunities to win hourly vendor prizes.
Code of Conduct
The conference is designed to be a family-safe and family-friendly event. However, families who are attending must understand that the conduct and behavior of parents and children are representative of the South Dakota homeschool community at large. We have seen an alarming rise in disruptive and disrespectful behavior by unattended children in activities and the Vendor Hall. Please prepare your children to conduct themselves with decorum, decency and respectfulness while attending the conference and participating in activities. Children who are unable to listen to and follow instructions will be removed from activities and asked to return to their parent’s care. Children found running or being rambunctious in the Vendor Hall will be required to do the same.