ROCKY MOUNTAIN EARLY CHILDHOOD CONFERENCE (RMECC)
Denver’s Early Childhood Council hosts the Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Conference (RMECC) each spring. Whether you’re an educator, caregiver, program director, or advocate, the Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Conference (RMECC) is your opportunity to recharge, reconnect, and reimagine what’s possible for young children and the professionals who care for them. The theme for 2026 is EXPLORE! Next year’s two-day conference will deliver more than 180 workshops and presentations, top-notch keynote speakers, and 10 professional development tracks.
Registration is OPEN!
RMECC will take place on April 16-17, 2026 in Denver, CO.
HISTORY OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN EARLY CHILDHOOD CONFERENCE
In 2011, the Colorado Association for the Education of Young Children (COAEYC), Denver Preschool Program, Colorado Head Start Association, and Early Childhood Education Association of Colorado came together to sponsor the first Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Conference (RMECC).
The goal was to establish a regional conference focused on the many aspects of child development and the early childhood field as a profession. Through RMECC, these partners advanced the coordination and communication around early childhood programs and policy; increased access to professional development for educators; and promoted the agenda for early childhood education. This collaboration succeeded in creating a annual conference that provides an opportunity to learn from a broad range of leaders, educators, and experts representing every angle of early childhood education.
In 2016, Denver’s Early Childhood Council, COAEYC and the Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance (ECCLA) partnered to deliver a two-day program filled with workshops and presentations designed to meet the professional development needs of early childhood educators and foster an environment that encourages the community to learn, share, and network. From 2017 to 2020, the Council and ECCLA continued our partnership in making this the best annual regional conference of its kind.
Since 2021, Denver’s Early Childhood Council has managed RMECC as a distinct program, offering the conference every spring.