The 21st NAREA Summer Conference

Integrating Theory and Practice in Learning

Benvenuti tutti, and welcome to the 21st NAREA Summer Conference: “Integrating Theory and Practice in Learning,” a NAREA initiative in collaboration with Reggio Children, Boulder Journey School, and the University of Colorado Denver. We are delighted to gather in Boulder, Colorado—a community deeply committed to positive change and meaningful learning for both children and adults. Boulder holds a special place in our history, having hosted the 2008 debut of The Wonder of Learning exhibition. We are thrilled to return and engage with another powerful exhibition + atelier, Mosaic of Marks, Words, Material, which highlights the ongoing work of children, educators, and families in the schools and centers of Reggio Emilia.

We extend heartfelt thanks to our generous hosts at Boulder Journey School and the University of Colorado Denver. Their vision, dedication, and collaboration make this conference possible. This conference reflects an essence of the Reggio Emilia philosophy—a commitment to research, ongoing professional learning, and honoring the unique identity of each school within its community.

We express our deep appreciation to the Reggio Emilia community, including Reggio Children and the Istituzione of the Municipality of Reggio Emilia, for this occasion. We are especially honored to welcome our speakers: Marina Castagnetti, teacher; Maddalena Tedeschi, pedagogista; and Jane McCall, interpreter. Through their insights and shared experiences, we will enrich our interpretations of the principles and pedagogy that characterize the municipal infant-toddler centers and preschools of Reggio Emilia.

At NAREA, we actively live our mission by building connections among educators across North America, supporting professional learning, and advancing Reggio Emilia’s approach to education. Our annual activities produce multiple in-person and virtual conferences, seasonal webinars, resource distribution of Reggio Children publications and traveling exhibitions + ateliers, Innovations in Early Education periodical, NAREA website, member services, study groups to Reggio Emilia, global learning journeys to Reggio-inspired communities beyond North America, and new projects.

This conference expresses our mission—a space for reflection, collaboration, and growth. As we learn together, we are guided by the words of Loris Malaguzzi (1994):
“Children have the right to imagine. We need to give them full rights of citizenship in life and in society. . . . Instead of always giving children protection, we need to give them the recognition of their rights and of their strengths.” (Your Image of the Child: Where Teaching Begins, p. 5)

We hope you find joy, inspiration, and connection in this shared experience of thinking, wondering, and learning together.

June 25–27, 2025 | Boulder, Colorado