*All students and accompanying adults must register in advance in order to attend madiSTEM. The information below describes the registration process for individuals and small groups (2-6 students).

Registration for Students in Grades 6-8 (Individuals and Small Groups): Three Required Steps

Step 1: Pre-register. (February 7th - February 15th)

All individual students and small groups who want to attend madiSTEM must pre-register via the link at the bottom of this section.  The pre-registration form will be open from 9 am on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 until 9 pm on Thursday, February 15, 2024.  Students can pre-register as either as an individual or within a group, but each student can only pre-register once. The pre-registration phase will help us to understand demand so that we can build the appropriate number of workshop tracks to accommodate the students. Pre-registration does NOT guarantee you a spot in the conference.  We anticipate being able to accept all pre-registered students into the conference, but we will utilize a waiting list if we reach capacity.  Students who are accepted must then complete additional steps to finish their conference registration and secure their spot.  Please remember to check your calendar before pre-registering to ensure that the student will be able to attend madiSTEM if accepted.

After the pre-registration period ends, tracks will be created and added to the website. Emails will be sent out by Noon on Monday, February 26th from registration@madistem.org. These emails will outline instructions for finishing your online registration to secure your spot at madiSTEM and enter your preferences for workshop tracks. Failure to finish your online registration by submitting the Online Registration Form within the prescribed time will forfeit your spot at madiSTEM, and your spot will be offered to a student on the waiting list.  See the registration timeline below for important dates for this process. 

The Two Types of Pre-registrations
(Open to all students, grades 6-8, but each student may be pre-registered in only 1 of these 2 ways.)

• Individual Entry: Students who pre-register as individuals will be accepted or waitlisted on an individual basis.
• Group Entry: Students who want to attend with their siblings, classmates, friends, etc., can pre-register as a group of 2 to 6 students. The entire group will be accepted or waitlisted as a single unit.  A single adult contact pre-registers the entire group at one time, serves as the email contact for the entire group, and is responsible for making sure each student in the group finishes their online registration and submits their release form on time if the group is accepted. To pre-register a group, the leader will need to know the first and last name, grade, school name, and home or school zip code of each student in the group. Note that group entries are limited to groups of size 2-6.
  
  

Link to Pre-registration Entry Form (Pre-registration is now closed)

Step 2: Finish the student's online registration by submitting the Online Registration Form by the deadline in the student's acceptance email. (Starts February 26th)

Accepted individuals and groups will be emailed instructions for completing the online registration form.  This step is required to secure your spot.  Failure to complete the online registration form by the deadline listed in the emailed instructions will forfeit your spot at madiSTEM, and your spot will be offered to a student on the waiting list. Completing the online registration form is an individual process for each student. The form will ask for additional contact information, lunch preferences, t-shirt sizes, and the student’s top choices of workshop tracks. (Group contact persons will be responsible for distributing registration information to the rest of the group so that parents/guardians can complete registration for their own students.)  The individual workshop tracks fill on a first-come, first-served basis, so it’s possible that some of the choices will not be available when you complete your registration.  Please have backup choices planned and try to complete your registration as soon as possible for the widest selection of workshop choices.

Step 3: Complete and submit release form. (Digital forms submitted by March 20th OR bring paper forms in person March 23rd)

This is a liability release document. Students must have a parent/guardian complete and sign the release form. 

A link to complete this form via Adobe Sign will be emailed to the parent email address listed on each student's conference registration form using the Adobe Sign platform. These emails must be sent manually, so you won't get it right after you register. We expect to send these emails in batches every few days after registration begins. A copy of the packet is also posted on the Release Form page on this site.

There are two options for submitting your forms:

• Complete and submit the form digitally by Wednesday, March 20th, using the Adobe Sign link that you received in your email OR 
• Bring completed paper form with you on Saturday, March 23rd, to turn in when you arrive at the madiSTEM conference.

If you are dropping off your child at madiSTEM, please come inside with them until they are checked in. If your child is coming to the conference with someone other than a parent/guardian, please triple-check that they have a completed and signed release/permission form with them when they leave for the conference.

2024 madiSTEM Registration Timeline (Individuals and Small Groups)

Registration for Adults Accompanying a Student to madiSTEM

A parent or teacher may attend madiSTEM with a registered student. Adults attending the conference have the option of either staying with one specific student all day or participating in the adult workshops. Other parents/teachers who do not want to stay with one student throughout the day or attend the adult workshops are strongly encouraged to explore alternate locations at JMU or in Harrisonburg instead of staying in the building. Adults unfamiliar with the area can stop by the info desk on the day of the conference if suggestions for places to go are needed.

Any adults who plan to stay at madiSTEM with their student(s) need to register for the conference after their student has finished both phases of online registration (not during the pre-registration phase). The emailed instructions for accepted students will include information for how to register as an adult accompanying accepted students.

How to Cancel Your Registration or Pre-registration If You Can No Longer Attend

If you discover after registering/pre-registering that you can no longer attend madiSTEM, it is extremely important that you cancel your registration/pre-registration by emailing madistem@jmu.edu as soon as possible. No-shows waste our limited financial resources and take spaces in workshops that could be filled with other interested participants.  By canceling your registration if you cannot attend, you help us to accommodate more students and keep madiSTEM free for all participants.