Tuesday, May 10
8:30 - 9:00          Registration with Coffee, Tea, Muffins
9:00 - 12:00        Day 1: Morning Session
12:00 - 1:00        Lunch with Yoga Stretch Session available
1:00 - 4:00          Day 1: Afternoon Session 
5:30 - 8:00          Dinner in Amherst Room (10th floor of the Campus Center)

Wednesday, May 11
8:30 - 9:00          Meet-Greet-n'-Eat (coffee, tea, muffins) 
9:00 - 12:00        Day 2: Morning Session
12:00 - 12:30      Box Lunch to-go with your Project Group 
1:30 - 4:00          Day 2: Afternoon Session 
4:15 - 5:30          Travel to and Tour CEEC
6:00 - 8:00          Shared Dinners at restaurants in town

Thursday, May 12
8:30 - 9:00          Meet-Greet-n'-Eat (coffee, tea, muffins) 
9:00 - 12:00        Day 3: Morning Session 
12:00 - 1:00        Lunch with Youga Stretch Session available
1:00 - 4:30          Day 3: Afternoon Session

To Submit Payment by Credit/Debit Card
Attendees can submit payment via our secure payment gateway during the online registration process. Select "Credit Card" on the Order Confirmation and Payment page. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express credit or debit cards. If wish to provide card information over the phone, you should complete your online registration and then contact the UMass Registration Office at 413-577-8102 (open Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST). 

To Submit Payment by Check:
Attendees paying by check must first register online (click the Register Now button above). On the Order Confirmation and Payment page, select "Pay by Check" as your payment type. Mail a check made payable to UMass Conference Services to the address below. Space is limited and full payment is required to complete your registration: once your check is received by the UMass Registration Office, your registration will be considered complete and your spot in the event will be secure

Conference Services C16225
810 Campus Center
1 Campus Center Way
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003

To Submit Payment by Speedtype/Recharge
If your registration fees will be paid by a UMass department, you must first register online (click the Register Now button above). On the Order Confirmation and Payment page, select the "Pay by Speedtype" option when prompted for a payment type. You should then download and complete an Internal Authorization Form. This form can be returned to the UMass Registration Office by fax (413-577-8130), email (registration@umass.edu), or campus mail (810 Campus Center). Space is limited and full payment is required to complete your registration: once your completed IAF is received by the UMass Registration Office, your registration will be considered complete and your spot in the event will be secure. 

To Complete or Edit a Registration:
Click the Register Now button above to be brought to the registration log-in page. If this is your first time registering for an event with us, click the "Sign up with us" button to create an account using your email and password of choice. If you created an account when attending another event or already registered and are just returning to edit your registration/submit payment, simply sign-in to your account. After logging in, you will be able to submit your registration, edit a registration, submit payment via card using our secure online payment gateway, or obtain a receipt. If you forgot your username or password, just click the appropriate links on the enrollment log-in page to reset your account.

If you experience any issues using the online registration page, please contact the Registration office at 413-577-8102 or registration@umass.edu for assistance. 

To Register Multiple Attendees:
To register multiple attendees for this event, first start by clicking the Register Now button above. Create an account using your email and password of choice. Complete one registration all the way through the Order Confirmation and Payment page. After the first registration is complete, click the "Registrations" button on the top toolbar. Click "New Registration". Enter code ProjectApproach (one word) and follow the prompts to add a new registration. Repeat this process to register as many attendees as needed. 

When is the Project Approach conference?
The conference will begin Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 9:00a.m. and will conclude Thursday, May 12, 2016 at 4:30 p.m.

At this time we are in the process of updating the schedule, so please return to check the Schedule tab above for the latest update.

How do I register?
Registration is only available online. Simply click the "Register Now" button above! This will bring you to the log-in page for this event. If you are a first time attendee, create an account using your email and password of choice by clicking the "Sign Up with Us" button. If you have attended an event on campus in the past, sign-in to the account you created with us previously, clicking the appropriate links if you forgot your login details.

When should I register?
Registration is limited to maintain quality of the workshop experience so sign-up as soon as possible! Registration is not complete until payment is received.
If you need any assistance please call the Registration Office (413-577-8102) or send an email to registration@umass.edu.

What is included in the registration fee?
     • Three jam-packed days of active learning with Judy Harris Helm, Project Approach author and engaging trainer
     • Two books: Young Investigators: The Project Approach in the Early Years and Becoming Young Thinkers Deep Project Work in the Classroom
     • One notebook binder of workshop handouts and a contact list of participants
     • Morning coffee/tea and muffins, lunch each day, afternoon snacks, and Tuesday night dinner. (Wednesday’s dinner will be held at restaurants in town. Sign-up
        will occur at registration.)

Lodging is not included in the registration fee. Visit the Hotel UMass website to make a room reservation. Use the Group Code PAC16C for the reduced rate.

Who should attend?
This conference is open to Classroom Teachers, Family Child Care Providers, Center Administrators, Public School Administrators, Early Childhood Faculty, Teacher-Trainers, ... anyone who is curious about the Project Approach in the early educational years and wants to learn how to engage young children in the development of skills for life-long learning.

Should I bring a team?
Attending with a team of colleagues from your Center or school provides maximum opportunity for successful implementation of Project work after the training.

What type of recognition will attendees receive?
All attendees will receive a certificate of participation verifying the number of hours of training in EEC Competency Areas of Learning Environments and Curriculum and Observation, Assessment and Documentation.

We have applied for Massachusetts AEYC Continuing Education units and will notify participants at registration of this availability.

Where is the conference?
The conference will be held on the UMass Amherst campus. Our home base during the training is the Commonwealth Honors College Events Hall located in Sycamore Hall. During the day participants will explore nearby locations as they conduct a project investigation.

Is this your first time on-campus? Click here to view a campus map! Sycamore Hall is found in cell B4.

Where do I park?
Click the Location & Parking tab above for parking information.

How do I make hotel reservations?
The Accommodations tab above contains all the information you need to make a reservation and receive the special group rate at Hotel UMass. Be sure to identify yourself as part of the Project Approach conference to receive the special discounted single/double room rate of $115.00 per night (plus applicable fees, complimentary continental breakfast and parking included). Use Group Code PAC16C.
Contact the hotel by April 11, 2016 to guarantee the Group Rate. Attendees are responsible for making their own hotel arrangements and submitting lodging and registration payments separately, but we are more than happy to assist you in planning your visit if needed.

What is the dress code for the conference?
Business Casual
     • It is advisable to dress in layers so you will be comfortable no matter what the temperature may be in the meeting room.
     • Be sure to wear comfortable shoes as we will not be sitting in chairs all day! Project work is an active endeavor and you will explore and investigate around the campus.

Conference Location
The conference will be held on the UMass Amherst campus. Our home base during the training is the Commonwealth Honors College Events Hall located in Sycamore Hall. During the day participants will explore nearby locations as they conduct a project investigation.

Is this your first time on-campus? Click here to view a campus map! Sycamore Hall is found in cell B4.

Parking
Complimentary parking permits are available for all attendees in Lot 64 near Sycamore Hall or in the Campus Center Garage.

To avoid any potential ticketing and/or towing, please be sure to follow the instructions below and obtain a parking pass when you check-in at the on-site registration desk.

Lot 64:
Lot 64 is a surface lot located on Hicks Way across the street from Sycamore Hall. Click here to view a campus map (Lot 64 is located in box B4). Hicks Way is off of Commonwealth Avenue, across the street from the Champions Center. Drive up the hill, pass the Recreation Center on the left and turn left into Lot 64. You will be given a parking permit for this lot at registration and will then return to the car to place the permit on the dash.

Campus Center Garage:
If you are staying at the Hotel UMass you will receive a complimentary parking pass for the Campus Center Garage. The garage is located at 1 Campus Center Way, Amherst, MA, 01003. 

Campus Center Way is off of Commonwealth Avenue, across the street from the Mullins Center. After turning onto Campus Center Way, proceed to the left to go up the hill and enter the garage. After taking an entry ticket, proceed down to Level 2 of the garage, following signs to the Hotel/Concourse entrance, and enter the Campus Center using the marked walkway near the Parking Services office. (If you are unfamiliar with campus, we encourage you to take a look at a picture of the Campus Center or consult a campus map before your arrival!). Once you enter the Campus Center, follow the signs directing you to through the 2nd floor concourse to the elevators which will take you to the Hotel UMass lobby.

Accessible Parking:
Attendees with a valid state-issued reserved accessible license plate or placard may park in any marked Handicap Space or any nonrestricted, nonreserved space or lot, at no charge, as long as your plate or placard is clearly displayed at all times during your stay. To locate reserved accessible parking, visit the  UMass Parking Map, select the blue parking icon on the right, and click the "Handicapped Parking" option.

Driving to Campus
From the North: From I-91 South, take exit 25 in Deerfield. At the end of the ramp, turn left and follow the road to the intersection. Turn right onto Routes 5 & 10 South. Go 1 mile, then turn left onto Route 116 South. Follow Route 116 South for 8 miles to the UMass exit.

From the East: Take Route 2 West to Exit 16 (Belchertown/Amherst). From Route 2 take Route 202 South for about 15 miles to a blinking yellow light at Amherst Road. You will see signs "to Route 9/Route 116". Turn right and follow Amherst Road (which becomes Pelham Road) for 7 miles to Amherst center. Follow signs to UMass.

From the South: From I-91 North, take Exit 19 in Northampton. From the exit ramp, turn right onto Route 9. Travel approximately 4.5 miles to Route 116 North. Turn left at the traffic lights to merge onto Route 116 North. Take the UMass exit in 1 mile.

From the West: Take Route 2 East to the Greenfield/I-91 exit. Take I-91 South to Exit 25, Deerfield. At the end of the ramp turn left and follow the road to the intersection. Turn right onto Routes 5 & 10 South. Go 1 mile, then turn left onto Route 116 South. Follow Route 116 South for 8 miles to the UMass exit.

From I-90 (Mass Pike): Take Exit 4 (West Springfield). Follow I-91 North to Exit 19. From the exit ramp, turn right onto Route 9. Travel approximately 4.5 miles to Route 116 North (turn left at traffic lights). The UMass exit is 1 mile up.

Traveling by Plane
If you are traveling to Amherst by plane, the closest airport is Bradley International Airport, located in Windsor Locks, Connecticut (right outside of Hartford). This airport is approximately 45 miles south of the UMass campus (about 1 hour by car). Many visitors find more flight options to Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts. Logan is approximately 90 miles east of the UMass campus (about 2 1/2 hours by car), so if you book a flight to Logan please allow for extra travel time to UMass. Both airports feature car rental agencies and a variety of shuttle services, including Valley Transporter (413-253-1350), Seemo Shuttle (413-586-1120), Exclusive Car Service (877-695-4665), Bluebird Transportation (413-221-4512), and Michael's Limousine & Transportation Service. Reservations are required prior to your arrival for many of these shuttle services, so be sure to plan accordingly when making your travel arrangements. 

Traveling by Bus
The Amherst area is serviced by Greyhound, Peter Pan Bus Lines, Megabus and the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA). For Greyhound, Peter Pan, and Megabus, we recommend using "Amherst UMass, MA" as your destination instead of "Amherst Center, MA", when possible. The Amherst Center stop used by these bus services is about 1.5 miles from UMass and will require some additional planning to get to campus by PVTA bus, taxi, or foot. The Amherst UMass stop, however, will bring you right to Haigis Mall, located on the UMass Campus. From here, the UMass Campus Center is about a 7 minute walk.

Traveling by Train
Amtrak provides passenger rail service to nearby Northampton, MA, located a 20 minute drive from the UMass campus, and Springfield, MA, located a 30 minute drive from the UMass campus. For schedule information and to purchase tickets, visit Amtrak's website and select "Northampton, MA (NHT)" or "Springfield, MA (SPG)" as your arrival destination. If you take a train to Northampton, MA, you will be able to take either a bus or taxi to the UMass campus. Both  PVTA and Peter Pan buses service the area, but the bus stops are not located at the train platform and will require about a 7 minute walk. If you prefer, you may use one of the many local taxi services. We encourage you to carefully plan your trip - including bus or taxi services - prior to your arrival as the Northampton train platform is not a train station and phone access, area maps, bus schedules, and bus tickets will not be available once you arrive. If you decide to take a train out of Northampton, remember to purchase your return ticket online prior to arriving at the platform. The train platform is located at 170 Pleasant Street in Northampton, MA.

If you take a train to Springfield, MA, we recommend booking a shuttle service, such as Valley Transporter, to get you from Springfield to Amherst. Bus services, including Peter Pan, are also available, but will require about a 15 minute walk from the train station to the bus stop. The train will arrive at the Springfield station building, located at 66 Lyman Street in Springfield, MA. This station building does have a waiting room, ticket office, quik-trak kiosk, and payphone, but we do still encourage you to plan your trip, including services from the train station to campus, prior to your arrival.

Getting Around Campus and the Area
Downtown Amherst is a 15 minute walk from campus. Local buses, operated by the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, run regularly between town and the University, with additional services traveling throughout the Pioneer Valley. UMass has also partnered with Zipcar to bring on-demand car sharing services right to campus.

Conference registration fees do not include lodging, so attendees are responsible for making their own hotel arrangements.

On-Campus
Hotel UMass, located in the heart of campus at the Murray D. Lincoln Campus Center, offers conference attendees single and double occupancy rooms at a discounted conference rate of $115.00 per night (plus applicable fees). Complimentary continental breakfast and a parking pass for the Campus Center Parking Garage is included for each night’s stay. Check-in is at 3:00pm and check-out is 11:00am. Rated the top hotel in Amherst, Hotel UMass is the most convenient place to stay during your visit to campus.

To complete your reservation at this discounted rate, contact the hotel directly (hotelumass.edu or 877-822-2110) and reference Group Code PAC16C. The discounted conference rate is guaranteed until April 11, 2016 (or until space fills) so we encourage guests to make their reservations early.

Guests wishing to check-in prior to May 9 or check-out later than May 12 should call the hotel at 877-822-2110 to complete a reservation.

Off-Campus
Looking for something a little different? There are many other options are available to you in the Amherst area including hotels: https://www.amherst.edu/visiting/lodging and bed and breakfast accommodations: https://www.amherst.edu/visiting/lodging/bb

When planning your stay, keep in mind that the University of Massachusetts campus is a 15-20 minute walk or 5-7 minute drive from the center of Amherst, and a 20-30 minute drive from the center of Northampton.

On-Campus Attractions
You don't need to travel far to find something to do - there are numerous attractions located right here on campus! The Fine Arts Center offers the region's only mix of classical music, dance, theater, jazz, Broadway, special events and galley exhibitions. The Mullins Center, our state-of-the-art, multi-purpose facility, hosts diverse events from hockey and basketball to concerts and popular touring performance groups. The Orchard Hill Observatory, located on the highest point of the UMass campus, is home to a 16-inch Cassegrain telescope and is used for public events and open observatory nights. The Durfee Conservatory and Garden, established in 1867, is a historic plant conservatory that offers a sanctuary of calm and serenity among the hustle and bustle of campus.

Area Attractions
Amherst is known for its rural charm and big city appeal. With many restaurants, bars and local shops, visitors enjoy exploring our downtown. Located just a 15-minute walk or 7-minute drive from the campus, it is a convenient and popular destination.

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art has three art galleries, an art studio, a theater, picture book and scholarly libraries, and educational programs for families, scholars, educators, and children. The museum’s mission is to inspire a love of art and reading through picture books.

The Children’s Museum at Holyoke provides a unique setting in which children and adults learn together about art, science, and the world around them. Through hands-on exhibits, children challenge themselves, discover how the world works, explore new roles for themselves, and learn by doing.

The Emily Dickenson Museum includes the home where poet Emily Dickinson was born and lived most of her life and The Evergreens, home of the poet’s brother and his family. The two houses share three acres of the original Dickinson property in the center of Amherst.

Historic Deerfield is an authentic 18th-century New England village. Tour beautifully restored museum houses with period architecture and furnishings, see yankee ingenuity at work in demonstrations of colonial-era trades, and explore the world-famous collection of early American crafts, ceramics, furniture, textiles and metalwork.

Yankee Candle, located about 20 minutes away in South Deerfield, offers an enchanting mix of shopping and entertainment. You'll find 400,000 candles in over 200 different famous Yankee scents, but there are more than just candles at this flagship Village Store. It's a unique, entertaining world of New England charm, fairy tale fantasies, and hands-on, interactive candlemaking that's fun for every age.

The Basketball Hall of Fame is home to more than three hundred inductees and more than 40,000 square feet of basketball history to stir the spirits of basketball fans everywhere. Hundreds of interactive exhibits share the spotlight with skills challenges, live clinics, shooting contests and enough basketball history to impress the world’s most avid sports fans.

Six Flags New England is home to many rides and attractions, from pulse-pounding roller coasters to gentler options for the youngest of thrill seekers. With some of the fastest, tallest, wildest, most gut-wrenching rides in the country (including a few record breakers), as well as family rides, kid rides, entertaining shows and the Hurricane Harbor Water Park, Six Flags New England has fun for everyone.

Local Hikes
Amythest Brook is a section of the Robert Frost Trail that winds its way through Amherst, just a 10 minute drive from the UMass campus.

Skinner Mountain State Park offers 400 acres of forest on Mt. Holyoke, as well as the historic Mt. Holyoke Summit House. The park, located at the western end of the Holyoke Range, abutting the majestic Connecticut River, offers multiple hiking trails and breathtaking views of the Connecticut River Valley. The summit of Mt. Holyoke is accessible by walking the road or hiking along the trails year-round.

Additional Area Information
For more information about the Pioneer Valley, click here!
• Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce
• Northampton Visitor Information
• Area Attractions (PDF)
• Area Restaurants (PDF)
• Area Places of Worship (PDF)

For Registration & Payment questions contact:
UMass Registration, registration@umass.edu, 413-577-8102

To Complete or Edit a Registration:
Click the Register Now button above to be brought to the registration log-in page. If this is your first time registering for an event with us, click the "Sign up with us" button to create an account using your email and password of choice. If you created an account when attending another event or already registered and are just returning to edit your registration/submit payment, simply sign-in to your account. After logging in, you will be able to submit your registration, edit a registration, submit payment via card using our secure online payment gateway, or obtain a receipt. If you forgot your username or password, just click the appropriate links on the enrollment log-in page to reset your account.

If you experience any issues using the online registration page, please contact the Registration office at 413-577-8102 or registration@umass.edu for assistance. 

To Register Multiple Attendees:
To register multiple attendees for this event, first start by clicking the Register Now button above. Create an account using your email and password of choice. Complete one registration all the way through the Order Confirmation and Payment page. After the first registration is complete, click the "Registrations" button on the top toolbar. Click "New Registration". Enter code ProjectApproach (one word) and follow the prompts to add a new registration. Repeat this process to register as many attendees as needed. 

Additional Campus Information
• UMass Amherst 
• UMass Amherst Parking
• UMass Amherst Campus Map
• UMass Amherst Campus Accessibility Map
• UMass Amherst Parking Map (PDF)
• UMass Amherst Special Transportation Services
• Zipcar at UMass Amherst
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car at UMass Amherst