What if “bad” behavior is actually communication — a signal of unmet needs, chronic stress, or survival strategies? This interactive workshop explores how trauma and nervous system dysregulation shape youth behavior, and how shifting our lens from judgment to curiosity helps us respond with insight instead of reactivity. When we understand behavior as a clue to what’s needed, we can de-escalate, co-regulate, and begin to heal. Together we will learn practical, compassionate, evidence-informed strategies to support youth resilience — and our own.

Is your staff inspired… or in pain? Staff training and professional development is often viewed as a painful process – but it doesn’t need to be! When you apply a 13 Minute Roller Coaster approach, combined with a MIST formula of facilitation, and integrate FREE innovative assessment, technology, and group development techniques… training can be ROCKSTAR like! Don’t miss this showcase of multiple strategies, techniques, and examples of how (and why) staff training and DYNAMIC professional development can be the SPARK to keep your organization healthy and moving forward.

In the current funding landscape, managing a federal grant feels less like strategy and more like survival. In this session, attendees will learn how to navigate the real-life challenges of grant-funded OST work in times of uncertainty—funding delays, shifting expectations, political roadblocks, and site capacity limits. Drawing from experience managing a rural, multi-site internship program funded by a federal NBRC grant, the presenter will share tools for staying compliant while remaining flexible and responsive to community needs. Topics include building in contingency plans, simplifying reimbursement tracking, supporting partners through administrative overwhelm, and maintaining morale when the rules change midstream. Attendees will receive adaptable templates, messaging strategies for internal stakeholders, and examples of how to protect program integrity under pressure. This session is ideal for anyone currently managing—or preparing to manage—federal or state grants in afterschool or youth-serving spaces.

In this interactive workshop, educators will explore practical, culturally responsive strategies for building strong partnerships with families to support math achievement. Participants will learn how to communicate effectively about math learning, foster positive mindsets, and design inclusive family engagement activities. Walk away with actionable tools to turn families into confident, empowered math partners.

Ignite your leadership journey in this hands-on session that turns big dreams into daily practice. Together we’ll unpack the “why” behind your program, crystallize it into a concise, guiding statement, and then reverse-engineer a roadmap you can start using Monday morning. Through rapid reflection prompts, peer coaching rounds, and a live “vision-to-action canvas,” you’ll leave with:

– A refined, organization-specific vision statement that energizes staff and stakeholders
– 3–5 measurable objectives aligned to that vision
– Two+ actionable practices to live the vision each day—ready to pilot “Monday morning”

Whether you’re a new director or a seasoned leader seeking fresh momentum, come ready to think, share, and build. Walk out with clarity, confidence, and a toolkit to keep your team moving forward—well beyond school hours.

Are you managing your program with a tangle of spreadsheets and outdated systems that don’t talk to each other? You’re not alone. Many afterschool programs juggle separate platforms for hiring, registration, scheduling, and reporting — wasting time and increasing the risk of errors. In this hands-on session, we’ll explore how to assess your current systems, choose accessible and flexible software, and build simple, sustainable connections between the tools you rely on. You’ll leave with a clear roadmap to streamline operations and reclaim your time.

Since launching in 2023, the EJS Project’s EmpowerU Mental Health Program has transformed our organizational culture—destigmatizing mental health for our youth, families, and community. In this interactive session, join our Founding Director Emanuel Dupree Jackson, licensed mental health clinician Darius Murray of ReAbleU Therapy, and EJS students and alumni as we share how we took safe spaces beyond conversation and into action. Learn how consistent therapeutic circles, strategic partnerships, and proactive planning can embed mental health support naturally into youth programming. Hear our journey—from building readiness through restorative practices, to overcoming challenges like finding relatable therapists, to creating a seamless pipeline from group circles to one-on-one therapy. Participants will leave with practical strategies and actionable steps to cultivate stigma-free environments where young people feel safe, supported, and empowered to seek help.

Telling your program’s story effectively is one of the most powerful ways to attract support, funding, and community engagement. In this interactive workshop, out-of-school time leaders will focus on two essential skills for sustainability: crafting a concise, compelling impact story and choosing the right channels to share it. Participants will use guided prompts and a simple storytelling template to highlight their program’s unique value, blending data with a human story. Through discussion and real-world examples, we’ll explore practical outreach strategies that require little to no budget. By the end of the session, each participant will walk away with a polished impact story draft, a short list of priority marketing channels, and the confidence to start sharing their message immediately to make their program’s value visible, memorable, and worth investing in.

Comprehensive, quality afterschool and summer learning programs need sustained funding and strong partnerships to achieve success for students. Learn how to fund and sustain quality out of school time programs through federal, state and local funding sources and partnerships, as well as about the role of advocacy to leverage new funding sources during a challenging federal fiscal environment.

In a rapidly evolving educational and workforce landscape, after-school programs must do more than provide safe supervision—they must prepare youth with the skills, resilience, and curiosity needed for the future. Yet across the U.S., these programs face critical challenges that threaten their effectiveness and reach, including staffing instability, funding gaps, access disparities, and quality inconsistencies.

This session bridges the urgent needs of today’s after-school programs with the principles of Next Gen Leadership—adaptive, strategic, and equity-driven thinking designed for leaders navigating complex systems. We’ll explore practical, future-focused strategies to overcome systemic barriers and build sustainable, high-impact programs. Attendees will walk away with tools to elevate their leadership capacity, strengthen partnerships, and align program outcomes with the evolving needs of students, families, and communities.

More than two decades of academic research suggests that there are two types of skills – constrained and unconstrained – that are essential for success in school and life. Each has distinct developmental pathways. Most children reach relatively high levels of proficiency in constrained skills. It’s the unconstrained skills that limit further progress and are largely responsible for pervasive and persistent achievement gaps. This insight (known as Constrained Skill Theory) is well-known within academia but has not made its way into mainstream PK-12 education circles or the broader afterschool and summer learning movement. In many ways, it is analogous to where we were on research about summer learning loss 30 years ago. Join us for a cutting edge conversation about skill development that can happen beyond school hours.

Tutoring we know but what’s all the buzz lately about “High-Intensity Tutoring” and can it really work in out-of-school-time programs? Out-of-school-time programs have the potential to make significant impacts on student academic gains–if they’re implemented correctly. This workshop will help attendees determine if high-intensity tutoring is a good fit for their program; what adjustments can and can’t be made; if they should target afterschool, summer or both; and what results to expect. Participants will help design an on-the-spot tutoring program and receive recommendations for related resources.

Young people are the most powerful advocates for out-of-school time programs—but are we equipping them to share their stories? In this interactive 30-minute session, participants will learn how to harness youth storytelling as a tool for program sustainability. We’ll explore how student voices can strengthen grant applications, connect with donors, and influence community support. Attendees will leave with a simple and ethical framework for guiding youth to share their experiences with confidence and authenticity, as well as a template to start building their own youth-led storytelling initiative.

Relationships are the foundation of this program. Whether it’s the partnership provided by Enrichment City, the hands-on engagement with the Virginia Air and Space Science Center, Enrichment Providers or the family partnerships. —every relationship nurtures growth, inspiration, and lasting program success. This session speaks directly to the strand by demonstrating how Hampton City Schools leverages community partnerships and family engagement to deepen student support, expand learning opportunities, and create a network of impact that extends beyond the classroom.

Launched in partnership with the MLB Players Trust, MLB Players STEM League is a baseball-inspired program for students in grades 4-8. The program brings to life the energy of the sport through a board game and curriculum that cultivate students’ math and social-emotional skills. The program is FREE for youth-development organizations and schools of all types, helping young people build new skills, confidence, and a passion for learning through a fun and engaging program rooted in sport.

Struggling to recruit or retain students in your after-school program? Having trouble engaging your students? Spending too much time striving to facilitate social and emotional learning? Esports may be the solution – as it has transformed our after-school programming. Esports blends education and gaming, enhancing skills like problem-solving, teamwork, and strategic thinking.
During this session, participants will discover how esports could revolutionize their programs by boosting engagement, fostering STEM interest and teamwork, and preparing students for diverse careers. Whether you are new to eSports or have an existing program – this presentation has next steps for you!

This interactive workshop explores how storytelling can be a powerful tool when advocating for our programs. Participants will learn how to guide themselves and program staff in crafting personal narratives using nationwide data that inspires action and drives social change. Through real-world examples, hands-on activities, and reflection, attendees will gain practical strategies to amplify their voices and connect stories to advocacy goals. Whether you’re working in education, nonprofits, or community programs, this session will equip you to support various youth program advocates in making their experiences matter and their voices heard. Leave with tools to turn lived experiences into collective impact.

In just 30 minutes, we’ll break down what makes school-community partnerships work, and what causes them to stall. This fast-paced, interactive session gives you tools to build stronger relationships with families and community partners. We’ll explore ways to align goals, keep communication flowing, and create structures that lasts. You’ll leave with a simple self-check tool, real-world examples, and one clear action step to take back to your school or program.

“Sparking Innovation, Shaping Futures: Creative Strategies for Next-Generation Youth Engagement” is a 75-minute in-person workshop for the Beyond School Hours conference theme, Education Evolved: Future Themed. Led by Jenna Kmitch of The Curious Creators’ Club, this session equips afterschool professionals with evidence-based strategies to foster creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration, essential skills for youth in a dynamic future. Participants will engage in hands-on activities, including designing a future-focused project (e.g., community mural or storytelling showcase) and small group discussions to tailor strategies. Addressing challenges like engagement and limited resources, the workshop provides tools to build family-community partnerships. Backed by research, including a 20% increase in youth-reported belonging from The Curious Creators’ Club programs, attendees will receive a printed toolkit to implement sustainable, future-ready programming that evolves out-of-school time education.

Staffing is one of the biggest challenges facing afterschool and out-of-school time programs today. In this interactive 75-minute workshop, we’ll explore practical, people-centered strategies to attract and retain the team your program needs to thrive. From crafting compelling job postings and building inclusive pipelines, to developing internal growth pathways and keeping staff connected to purpose, this session is packed with real examples and hands-on tools. Participants will also have time to reflect on their own staffing systems and leave with ready-to-implement ideas that work in both school- and community-based settings.

This session will focus on the STEAM-to-Careers program that is operating at two high schools in San Diego County. We will describe how United Way partners with over 30 organizations and businesses to create an afterschool program and a summer paid career exploration cohort where students learn how to get on a pathway to high-paying jobs here in San Diego. The session will highlight the importance of collaboration to help create pathways for students who have historically been held out of these jobs that pay a living way and help students become thriving San Diegans. You will leave this session understanding how you can partner with local organizations to create experiences that engage students and prepare them for the workforce by creating a comprehensive collaborative approach that includes school, community, and corporate partners.

Unlock the potential of your afterschool program with strategic planning that empowers your team and drives sustainable improvement. This interactive workshop introduces the fundamentals of strategic planning using a hands-on SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis approach tailored for the unique needs of expanded learning organizations. Participants will work collaboratively to identify internal program strengths and challenges, explore external opportunities and threats, and create realistic action steps for immediate impact. Through practical exercises, resources, and peer feedback, attendees will leave with a completed SWOT analysis, a user-friendly template, and fresh strategies for leading effective planning sessions in their own programs. This session equips site coordinators, directors, and frontline staff with tools to facilitate goal-setting, align teams, and make data-informed decisions ensuring ongoing growth and resilience in today s dynamic educational environment.

This workshop explores the role of student volunteerism in fostering meaningful community engagement and strengthening local partnerships. Participants will learn how youth-led service projects benefit both program participants and the broader community. The session will share practical methods for integrating volunteerism into youth programming, with a strong emphasis on incorporating student voice in planning and implementation. Attendees will engage in hands-on activities that mirror the approaches used in our program, leaving them equipped with tools and strategies to build authentic, lasting community connections through youth involvement.

Innovation isn’t a one-off project—it’s a strategy. In this hands-on workshop, participants will experience The Innovation Equation: a practical framework that blends strategic leadership, STEM-rich programming, and long-term sustainability. As teams solve real-world challenges using programmable bots, they’ll unlock key principles of innovative program design—one puzzle at a time. Led by STEMfinity’s Chief Innovation Officer, this session empowers leaders to move from reactive programming to future-ready systems. Along the way, attendees will explore high-impact STEM tools, emerging tech (like AI & Robotics), and funding strategies to support innovation with purpose. Each stage of the activity deepens understanding and builds toward a take-home Innovation Action Plan. Whether you’re a site coordinator or a statewide leader, you’ll leave this session with fresh ideas, a few laughs, and a strategic playbook for building resilient & sustainable afterschool programs that inspire.

Eye to Eye National was founded 25 years ago with the mission of improving the educational experience and outcomes of students who learn differently. Our direct-to-student and learning community programming raises awareness of the neurodiversity movement and creates a more equitable and inclusive society for all learners.
In 2020, Eye to Eye National created The Neurodiversity Alliance (ND Alliance), our club-based school program designed and led by neurodivergent students. During this workshop, we will discuss the ND Alliance club model and share data about how the program impacts positive youth development, builds safe spaces and welcoming environments, mobilizes civic engagement, and offers college and career readiness and basic life skills. Additionally, attendees will deepen their understanding of The Neurodiversity Alliance’s other programs that support and empower neurodivergent students. Participants will learn how these programs help support students, develop leadership skills, and increase self-advocacy and positive identity.