In 2007 and 2008, 55 educators from around the world came together for the two first Integral Education Seminars, held at Whidbey Institute on Whidbey Island in Washington State. The seminars were hosted by Next Step Integral and were described by participants as “Amazing,” “Life Changing,” “A peak experience in my life.” Below is a slide show, a photo gallery and words from participants.
2008 (above) and 2007 (below) i-edu Seminars
“This is THE seminar for educators interested in the future of Education.” — Bill Epperly, Director, Center for Academic Excellence, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, IL
“This week fueled my spirit, mind and body... I leave with a renewed strength to share my gifts with the world.” — Lisa Quinn, The Innerwork Company, Chester Springs, PA
“Attending the seminar has been a peak experience in my life.” — Ilene Val-Essen, Psychotherapist and author, Culver City, CA
“My rating is off the scale.” — Judith Harris, Associate Professor, University of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
“Above and beyond my expectations.” — Elizabeth Verea, Los Altos, CA
“I woke up buzzing today, feeling renewed! The seminar touched body, mind, soul and spirit, I learned so much and expanded my awareness.” — Laurel Andrews, Seattle, WA
“The place was full of light, dance, laughter, warmth, love, the week was thoroughly inspiring... a gift!” — Kaya Brandt, Finland
“The iEd seminar was an amazing uplifting experience, it showed so clearly potentials and possibilities and ways that we can realize them. ONE HUNDRED THUMBS UP!” — Maya Bobrowska, Owner, Spark for Exploration, Ottawa, ON, Canada
“Thanks for the chance to no longer feel isolated and alone” — Aline Wilkie, principal, teacher and doctoral student at the University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada
“I feel like I came home to family, Thank you!” — Deb Zucker, Seattle, WA
“An event that opened the heart, mind, Spirit and body... an invitation to live an Integral Life!” — Anne Adams, Consultant, Half Moon Bay, CA
“Amazing people, very well organized.” — Maneesh Saini, High school teacher, Oakland, CA
“An amazing seminar! I have NEVER had an experience that attended to so many aspects of life like this did (of course, it’s integral!)” — Eric Neufer, Information Specialist and Professional Development Instructor, Paradise Valley, AZ
“There is a new wave of intelligence, excellence and illumination coming to the world of education. There is no better place to encounter it, contribute to it and meet its embodiment than the iED seminar.” — Terry Patten, co-author with Ken Wilber, Marco Morelli, and Adam Leonard of “Integral Life Practice: How to Design Your Own Training Program for Body, Mind, and Spirit” San Francisco, CA
“Life changing!” — Lisa Quinn, The Innerwork Company, Chester Springs, PA
“Over the top, through the ground!” — Dennis Perrin, High school teacher, Hutchinson, Kansas
“This is exactly what I have been waiting for my entire life, it took until I was 16 years old to discover what it was I needed and another 13 years (and a trip half way around the globe) to find it.” — Andrew Suttar, 29 years old, Beaconsfield, Australia
“I have never attended an event with so many gifted teachers, I was truly inspired by other educators who are more progressive than me. I am leaving inspired to rethink and to broaden my own educational practice.” — Moshe Renert, Doctoral candidate in Math Education at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
“I feel that the overall organization of the seminar was excellent!” — Atsushi Matachi, Education Advisor, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Tokyo, Japan
“It’s awesome to see how many people, from all over the world, so different and diverse, all reaching toward the same goal. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE!” — Daniela Sampaio, 24 years old, Lawyer, Salvador, Brazil
“I hoped this would be a meeting of like minds, I got that and so much more! This was a personally and professionally enriching experience.” — Allissa Marshall, English Department Chair, Palm Desert High School, Palm Desert, CA
“The planning organization and HEART of this event was superior in every way. You have enriched my body, mind, soul and spirit. Many Thanks!” — Julie Smith, Program Coordinator, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska
“The seminar was powerful for me, especially personally, unexpectedly for me, the growth was more inner than outer, more about self-growth than tangible in the teaching arena. And that’s where it all begins! Thank you NEXT STEP INTEGRAL!” — Cynthia Tag, Music Educator, Albuquerque, NM
“Amazing!” — Reilly Dow, 20 years old, Primary school teacher, Mexico City, Mexico
“Thank you for creating this transformative container for all of us... a rich and heartful embodied experience of integral education.” — Lisa Chacon, Matrix Integral, Bolinas, CA
“Beyond my imagination by far! I feel I finally have access to the second tier ‘playground’ I have been looking for.” — Willow Dea, Executive Director, Whole Kidz Community and Advanced Integrative Therapy, Austin, TX
“Very rich, very engaging, very integral!” — Ian Wight, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of City Planning, Faculty of Architecture, University of Winnipeg, MN, Canada
“The seminar greatly exceeded and went far beyond my expectations. It also stretched me in unexpected ways.” — Moshe Renert, Doctoral candidate in Math Education at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
“The flow, the connectedness of the event and the people were INCREDIBLE!” — Catherine Gee, Bell Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
“A transformative, integral experience! Nothing can be better than learning to be integrated in self and as an educator than experiencing it.” — Aline Wilkie, principal, teacher and doctoral student at the University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada
“The seminar definitely exceeded my expectations! The physical space was beautiful, the organizing impeccable.” — Julian Gonzalez, Vancouver, BC, Canada
