Essential Info for Attendees

Daily schedule
hotel
parking
fyi & pro tips
2024 CONVENTION DATES
Friday, July 12 & Saturday, July 13, 2024
Pre-convention events Thursday, July 11

PRE-REGISTRATION ONLINE
April 2 - June 21
Pre-registration through our website is
an AFHE membership benefit.

CHECKING IN AT THE CONVENTION
Registration counters in the main lobby of the South Building will open at 7:30 AM (Friday & Saturday) for attendees to check in.
Registration will be available onsite.

EXHIBIT HALL SHOPPING HOURS
Friday 10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Saturday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

VENUE:
Phoenix Convention Center South Building
33 South Third Street, Phoenix 85004

Visit dtphx.org for info on downtown road conditions,
restaurants, parking, and shopping.

Daily Schedule & Highlights

HYATT RESERVATIONS
OUR HOTEL RESERVATION LINK IS NOW LIVE
The Hyatt Regency Phoenix has offered a special group discount rate of $135 + tax up to quadruple occupancy, with a 25% discount on self-parking for those booking with our group. Use the reservation link here or mention that you are booking with Arizona Families for Home Education when you call. Room availability is limited and reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis.
 
HYATT RESERVATIONS
Hyatt Regency Phoenix | 602-252-1234 | 122 N. Second Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004

The Hyatt Regency is a short two-block walk from the Phoenix Convention Center South Building. Breakfast and parking are not included; complimentary wireless internet is included.

NOTE: We regularly fill our room block by early June. Book early to take advantage of the discount!
The room block at the Hyatt is sold out! We have secured a courtesy overflow room block at the nearby Residence Inn. Rooms are $125+tax per night, with this rate available for Thursday-Saturday (July 11-13); hot breakfast included.

Residence Inn by Marriott Phoenix Downtown | 132 S. Central Avenue | Phoenix 85004 | 602.603.2022 
residence inn reservations
SCAM ALERT: AFHE does not contract with any other hotels than those listed on this page nor do we have arrangements with any companies or aggregators that book rooms for our event. Your privacy is important to us. We do not give out attendee information.

NOTE: If you have stayed at the Hyatt as part of AFHE’s room block during a previous AFHE Convention, you may have received an email from the Hyatt via Passkey. The link in that email matches the reservation link above and is legitimate.
DOWNTOWN PARKING
The limited supply of discount parking passes for the Jefferson Street Garage has sold out. However, there are many places to park downtown. Please realize that there are other large events taking place the same weekend as our convention. Demand for parking will be high, and it is best that you make a plan as soon as possible for your transportation to/from downtown Phoenix.

Here are some suggestions. AFHE has no arrangement or agreement with any of these parking options. These are options we have researched and collected on this page for your convenience. You might find or know of others than those we have listed here.

  1. Although the Jefferson Street Garage is sold out (for both discount and regular price passes), ParkWhiz.com shows several parking garages that still have capacity on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. https://www.parkwhiz.com/phoenix-convention-center-parking/
  2. At AceParking.com you can pre-purchase passes for other garages very close by: the East Garage, Regency Garage, North Garage, and more. Visit https://space.aceparking.com/ and enter your selection for days and times.
  3. Farther away, there are options with LAZParking (https://go.lazparking.com/search-results/Downtown-Phoenix-AZ-USA), although it does not appear that you can pre-purchase to guarantee a spot. You might have to create a profile in order to place an order.

Other options are:
  1. Use Valley Metro Rail (the lightrail system) that runs from northwest Phoenix through Tempe out to Mesa. This could be especially helpful if you are coming from out of town and want to avoid driving in the downtown area. Some stations are set up for park & ride, and there is a stop right next to the Convention Center. There are also hotels along several of the lightrail lines. The system map, park & ride info, and pricing are all found at https://www.valleymetro.org/maps-schedules/rail.
  2. If you are staying at a downtown hotel, you can probably reserve a parking spot in whatever garage they contract with for their guests.
  3. Carpool with friends -- or set up a "vanpool"! Does your church have a van or bus? See if there is a staff member or church member who could drive a group to the convention in the morning and pick you up at the end of the day. Or if you are authorized to drive the church van, it could be parked in one of the surface lots and you all share the cost of parking.

↓ FYI & PRO TIPS (click through the slides for more details) ↓

NAME BADGES

Your name badge is your admission to workshops, keynotes, and the exhibit hall. Name badges must be worn at all times while at the AFHE Convention. Name badges may not be shared or transferred. First and last names are required on all name badges.

PICK UP YOUR NAME BADGE(S) ON-SITE
For those who register online, your name badges will be available for pick up on-site. Look for the PRE-REGISTRATION sign. Name badges will be not be mailed. The registration counter will open at 7:30 AM for pre-registered attendees to pick up their name badges and welcome bags, and for onsite registration (member and nonmember).

Those who register at the door will be issued a handwritten name badge at on-site registration.

VOLUNTEERS

The AFHE Convention is run almost entirely by amazing, generous, friendly volunteers. Volunteers are an integral part of the success of the annual Arizona Home Education Convention hosted by AFHE. Our volunteer workers help keep costs to a minimum while continuing to provide an excellent conference. We are thankful to each and every volunteer who serves the community and helps to make this event a success!

Learn more information at the Convention Volunteer webpage.
 
Volunteers who serve 5 or more hours* during the convention can earn free admission (for one adult). Complete the online convention volunteer application, then once your volunteer shifts are scheduled, you will receive a special registration link. *Six volunteer hours minimum to qualify for free admission for primary adult + spouse.

The opportunity to volunteer is a benefit of membership. Current AFHE Membership expiring August 1, 2024 or later is required.

REFUND POLICY

AFHE Membership and Convention Registration are non-refundable and non-transferrable. If you registered but are unable to attend this year’s AFHE Convention, please know that AFHE appreciates your support for this non-profit organization that serves the Arizona homeschool community all year long.

Unredeemed registrations are considered a tax-deductible contribution to AFHE and, upon written request, we will provide a receipt for tax purposes.

BOOK LOCKER SERVICE

The Book Locker service is located in the exhibit hall for your convenience. You may leave your purchases, wheeled carts/bags, and strollers with our Book Locker team for $3/day ($5 for both days). You will receive a claim number which will allow you to pick up items or add to your stored items, with in-and-out privileges throughout the day.

Due to space limitations and the hazards of blocked aisles in workshop rooms, strollers will only be permitted in designated spaces in the back rows. Strollers and roller bags may be parked in the book check area (space available basis) for a small fee. There are no restrictions on strollers in the Ballroom, exhibitor workshop pavilions, and in the exhibit hall.

CLOSED CAPTION SCREENS FOR DEAF and Hard of Hearing

At the 2024 Convention, AFHE will provide a screen with closed-captioning in the Ballroom during the keynote sessions each day and in our largest workshop room (155-157) for both Friday and Saturday. We must also know by July 1 if closed captioning for deaf/HOH will be needed for either of our free mini-conferences taking place on Thursday, July 11 (You Can Homeschool! 9:30 AM-12:30 PM, Getting Started Homeschooling with Special Needs 2:00-5:00 PM). Contact convention@afhe.org to make arrangements for Thursday events.
 
If you prefer to bring a friend or relative to interpret for you, we will provide free convention admission for this person to accompany you. Please contact us at convention@afhe.org prior to July 1 to arrange for your guest interpreter's registration. In the exhibit hall, vendor booths will have signage indicating whether they have staff who are able to serve customers using ASL.

CONTINUING EDUCATION FORMS

AFHE will provide a Continuing Education form for foster parents, childcare workers, and others who need to accrue professional development hours. If you need a form, please ask at the registration counter. An AFHE representative will sign the form and the attendee will write in the workshops he/she attended along with the presenters’ names. AFHE does not have information about which sessions qualify for hours needed for the recipient.

PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEO USAGE

Photographs or video taken at this event may be published in the AFHE magazine, on the AFHE website, on AFHE social media pages, or in other AFHE publications. AFHE does not provide compensation or royalties in conjunction with publication or use of these materials. Any photographs, video, or audio used by AFHE from this event will be used with the purpose of celebrating and promoting homeschooling in Arizona.

PHOENIX CONVENTION CENTER FOOD POLICY

Aventura Catering is the exclusive provider of food and beverage at the Phoenix Convention Center.  Visitors to the Phoenix Convention Center are prohibited from bringing outside food and beverage into the facility. Aventura and AFHE have worked to provide expanded options that serve a wide range of dietary and budgetary interests for attendees at the 2024 AFHE Home Education Convention.  It is possible to make accommodations for a person with specific health concerns or an allergen-related need; please contact convention@afhe.org for more information.

Concessions located in the South Building (the location for our Convention) will offer an expanded menu developed specifically for our event, including more options for kids and more detailed labeling to address dietary concerns. Eateries in the North Building will also provide convenient dining options, and items purchased at these eateries are permitted in the South Building.

Spanish translation • Sesiones en Español

Closed caption translation screens will be placed in the Ballroom for the keynote sessions on Friday and Saturday mornings, and in room 155-157 for the workshops throughout the day in that room.

At the 2024 Convention we are offering a full day of Spanish-language workshops with introductory homeschooling information. These sessions are scheduled in a mini-conference format within the main convention schedule, on Saturday 10:30 AM - 3:30 PM in room 166. Convention registration is required to attend. Read more information about our Hispanic Homeschool Mini-Conference (more info available after April 1).

convention sponsors


Visit our SPONSORS page to learn more about all of our other outstanding sponsor partners. They are here to support you in your homeschool endeavors, and their generosity helps to keep AFHE serving the Arizona homeschool community year-round.
Faith & Family Sponsor