Conferences

Each year, the Secular Student Alliance hosts an annual conference and several regional leadership events. At these events, students exchange best practices, get inspired, and connect with the larger secular movement. Although empowering student leaders and activists is the core purpose of our leadership events, we welcome non-students and off-campus group leaders to join us and learn.

Student leaders from across the continent at the SSA 2011 Annual Conference

2011-2012 SSA Leadership Events

October 7-9, Houston, TX,
Leadership Track at the 2011 Texas Freethought Conference

One of the fastest-growing freethought events in the last few years has been the Texas Freethought Convention. They have a star-studded lineup (Richard Dawkins is the keynote this year), the event is easily accessible with Texas being in the middle of the country, and this year the Texas Freethought Convention will be sporting a shiny new SSA Leadership track!

We will be bringing in a host of speakers and SSA staff to speak including Matt Dillahunty, Kathleen Johnson, and Dale McGowan!

We're also going to try maintaining a game room this year where you can go to unwind if they need some down time and/or wish to interact/network with other students. There will be games like Rock Band, Super Smash Brothers Melee, DDR, Apples to Apples, and other classics running at all timed. There may even a Duck Hunt tournament, because we know how to rock it old school at the SSA. We are even trying to tie down PZ Myers for an exclusive get-to-know you session with the students where he will challenge all-comers at Mario Kart Double Dash (or whatever game is popular at the time).

There will be limited discounted tickets for this event, so click here to get all the information you need to be a part of this awesome event!

Oct. 23, 2011, Sacramento, CA
Leadership Track at Sacramento Freethought Day 2011

You know what rocks? Freethought activism. You know what else rocks? The fair.

Combine the two and you get Sacramento Freethought Day 2011! This year they will be featuring an SSA Leadership Track for all you West Coast people (or all you East Coast people with a private jet or money to burn).

On the one hand, you'll have access to a group of activists on the forefront of this movement like FFRF Co-President Dan Barker, lawyer Michael Newdow, anti-creationism activist Zack Kopplin, and Washington lobbyist Amanda Knief giving a series of insightful lectures. On the other, there will be a bunch of fun activities like softball, live music, stand-up comedy featuring the Coexist Comedy Tour, ice cream, a trivia showdown, and bowling 'til midnight!

Camp Quest will also have a presence at the event, for those of you interested in getting involved with that program or in partaking of a multitude of family-style outdoor activities.

And, of course, you'll have access to the SSA Leadership Track which will tackle subjects like Reaching Students, Succession Planning, Growing Your Group, Fundraising, and Running a Meeting.

July 6-8th, 2012, Columbus, OH
The 2012 SSA Leadership Conference

The 2011 Leadership Conference was twice as big as its predecessor, and the 2012 conference looks to continue that trend. You know the drill: lots of student leaders, great sessions, and a rock star line up of icons of the secular movement. Be sure to mark July 6-8 off on your calendars!

High school phenom Jessica Ahlquist receives a standing ovation
at the 2011 SSA Leadership Conference

Read about our past conferences!