Enjoying ASCA14, Whether You’re There or Not

By this time next week ASCA14 will be over and you and I will be either (1) ~~overtired~~ basking in the afterglow of attending and/or (2) feeling good about everything you got out of it, even if you didn’t go. Whether you’re going to be there in the flesh or not, you can still join in and feel a part of it all and get some great ideas and resources. I will be there, and hope to meet you. Some of the School Counseling by Heart readers I met last year have become my very good friends! That one time, at ASCA Camp . . .

Here I am with the first person I met at ASCA13, also a Rebecca! I’m the old Rebecca on the right. If you see me, please come up to me and say hi! And if you see the young Rebecca, say hi to her too – she’s super nice!

You’ll be able to find me for sure at the Opening Session in what is bound to be the teeny-tiny Vermont contingent, at the Tweet Up on Monday at 5:15, and at my presentation, Teaching Students to Recognize and Report Sexual Abuse, on Wednesday at 9:00am.

At ASCA14 on Wednesday, July 2, 9:00am

Whether you’re going or not, make sure to download the ASCA14 app, which is available for phone, tablet, and computer. It’s a great tool for navigating while you’re there, but the best thing about it is that you can access the digital “handouts” from the sessions, including mine, even if you’re not in the room (or the state) when they’re happening.

An iPad screenshot of the ASCA14 app homepage

Another great way to feel a part of what’s going on is to follow the #ASCA14 hashtag on Twitter. Lots of people will be sharing ideas and resources, along with some fun stuff. #ASCA14 will help you stay connected if you’re elsewhere, and, if you are in attendance, give you an even more in-depth and connected experience. Last year people who weren’t there were tweeting with the #ASCA14 hashtag too, and it was really great to have them be part of the mix. Some of them also used the hashtag #NotAtASCA14, which was kind of hilarious!

Not on Twitter yet? Check out this handy infographic that summarizes Twitter to help you get started. It’s not that scary, really! My favorite way to manage and organize my Twitter feeds is through Hootsuite.

Stop by if you’re at #ASCA14!

If you can’t be at ASCA, but want to participate in a bigger way, you can sign up for the webstream sessions. You can check out the selections and the cost here. ASCA will be webstreaming First Lady Michelle Obama’s speech for free on July 1 at approximately 11:45 a.m. You can access this from the ASCA home page to watch it live and do not need to register in advance.

After the conference lots of bloggers and other attendees will share what they learned, so it will be easy to catch up or relive the experience. Every day I am so grateful for all the wonderful sharing and support that exists in our school counseling community! My summary may or may not be as tongue-in-cheek as last year’s ASCA13: Diary of a (Not Very) Young Counselor.

School Counseling Bloggers at the ASCA13 Blogger Meet and Greet.

If you want a preview of what to expect at #ASCApickayear, check out this YouTube video of the recent School Counseling On Air, How to Make the Most of the ASCA Conference.

Nope, I’m not packed yet. I haven’t actually finished school stuff. My mother-of-the-bride to-do list is getting a bit unwieldy. And the weeds in my garden are getting a bit out of control. I don’t care, ready or not, I’m going to ASCA14! I can’t wait to see everyone and to get some of the best professional development there is. Let’s get together, whether you’re there or not!