Edufest 2025

Edufest is the Northwest’s Premiere Summer Conference for Advanced Learning

Edufest 2025 will take place on the campus of Boise State University in Boise, Idaho and virtually on AirMeet in late July 21st – 24th, 2025!

Stay Tuned for Registration information coming soon!

Monday, July 21st 2025

2025 Edufest Opening Keynote

Matt Fugate

Matthew Fugate, Ph. D. is a nationally regarded educator in the field of gifted education and twice-exceptionality. His research has examined the relationship between working memory and levels creative thinking in gifted students with ADHD. He has also examined the coping mechanisms of twice-exceptional girls in secondary school as they navigate both their academic studies and interpersonal relationships. He has presented to national and international audiences. Matthew currently serves on the Board of the Texas Association for Gifted and Talented and as Chair of the Special Populations Network for the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC). Additionally, he serves on the Editorial Board for the Journal for Education of the Gifted and is the Associate Editor of Teaching for High Potential. Matthew was named one of Variations magazine’s “22 People to Watch in the Neurodiversity Movement” and received the Early Career Award from the NAGC Special Populations Network. He has published several articles, book chapters, and books related to his work.

Thursday, July 24th, 2025

2025 Edufest Closing Keynote

Samantha Silva

Samantha Silva is an author and screenwriter based in Idaho. Over her career, she’s sold film projects to Paramount, Universal, and New Line Cinema. Love and Fury: A Novel of Mary Wollstonecraft is her second novel. Her short fiction and essays have appeared in One Story and LitHub. A short film, The Big Burn,  which she wrote and directed, premiered at the Sun Valley Film Festival in 2018. She was a 2020 Idaho Commission on the Arts Literary Fellow and a 2022 Bread Loaf Fellow. Her adaptation of her debut novel, Mr. Dickens and His Carol, had its world premiere at Seattle Repertory Theater in 2022.

​Silva graduated from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, where she studied in Bologna, Italy and Washington, D.C. She’s lived in London three times, briefly in Rome, is an avid Italophile, and a forever Dickens devotee.

Educators Love Edufest!

Don’t Just Take Our Word For It

“I feel that I have been given a huge dose of motivation in the form of renewed energy and passion for teaching.  Edufest definitely has impacted my thinking and beliefs about teaching and the absolute need to differentiate and create lessons that incorporate higher level thinking skills.”
Edufest Attendee
Edufest 2016
“For the past two years that I have attended Edufest, I have come to realize how vital it is for me as an educator to keep coming to this special week. The knowledge I gain is invaluable. Nowhere else do I get exposed to current trends in education, new methods for keeping my classroom exciting for students, and information to keep me growing both as a teacher and as a person. I am looking forward to next year.”   
Edufest Attendee
Edufest 2017
“I am very impressed by the quality of presenters at Edufest.  I have not attended a conference at which presenters were so knowledgeable and demonstrated such good teaching techniques themselves. I hope to return to Edufest to inspire me to give the best and most appropriate educational opportunities to all kids.”
Edufest Attendee
Edufest 2022
“Edufest was an informative and inspiring week.  I was informed about the latest research for best practices regarding gifted students and all students.  I was informed about methods for helping reluctant learners and for encouraging students to delve into their areas of interest.  I received inspiring lessons in art, drama, questioning, motivating students who had previously displayed a lack of interest, and in working with students to help them reach their full potential. 
Edufest Attendee
Edufest 2021
“This has been a wonderful learning experience.  It was mentally challenging and increased my awareness and understanding of the gifted students in my class. While I learned a lot – there were many seminars I would have loved to go to.  I was amazed at the connections I made between sessions and presenters that reinforced my learning.  As I mentioned earlier, I love to learn and Edufest is a great opportunity for that. I really found in each session – not only ways to meet the needs of my gifted kids, but all of the kids in my class.  It reminded me that teaching is about reaching out to each of the students in my class – where they come in at and moving them to the next level.  Now I can honestly challenge my gifted students.  Thank you for the resources!”
Edufest Attendee
Edufest 2020
“I have to say that I teach in the traditional classroom.  I do not have a GT endorsement; however, I strive each day to ensure that all of my students grow in their learning and excitement of learning.  This conference allowed me to obtain resources that will help me continue to reach all students, especially those that are advanced learners but who don’t necessarily qualify under the GT parameters.  I also currently teach kindergarten and get a plethora of student levels in my classes.  Being able to tap into resources to continue to push those students who will eventually be in GT classes while they are at this early developmental stage is invaluable.  I appreciated all of the information that will continue to help me develop my students on a daily basis!”
Edufest Attendee
Edufest 2018
“All schools/educators need this training to meet the current challenges of the classroom.”
Allison
Idaho Falls
Edufest 2023