2026 Annual Afterschool Conference

This year’s focus is afterschool quality and the ongoing process of defining our quality goals and refining our practices.  Our workshops will support your efforts to provide quality relationships, partnerships, environments, programming, structure, professional development, organization, and sustainability.

In addition, we will have a full line up of vendors in our Exhibitor Hall providing resources, partnerships, and innovative solutions; an interactive welcome event; and delicious meals.   Join other afterschool professionals from across the state to learn, network, and inspire. See you in November!

Click here to view or download the conference catalog.

Schedule of Events (subject to change)

Registration Fee

• Early Bird Registration (before September 4th): $100.00/person
• Regular Registration (after September 4th): $125.00/person

Registration to the annual conference includes a National AfterSchool Association (NAA) Membership – If you’re not a current paid NAA member and live in Connecticut, our state affiliation and conference registration make you eligible for a free NAA membership (typically $25-150 when purchased directly through NAA). By checking yes on the registration form, you’re granting permission for us to share your information with NAA so they can create a membership for you.

Registration deadline is Friday, October 30th.

Workshop Selection

Once you are registered, you will receive a confirmation email. An additional email will be sent with a link to the Workshop Selection Form to choose your workshops. To view the full list of workshops descriptions, click on the individual sessions below:

• Session 1
• Session 2
• Session 3

Keynote

Nichelle Harris, Ten Speed Consulting – Engineering Afterschool: Designing Programs for the Future – Change is constant and unavoidable, and doing “business as usual” is no longer enough to serve our youth and communities effectively. To build truly resilient programs, leaders must actively design for adaptation rather than standing still. In this interactive keynote, Nichelle uses the 4 C’s of engineering as a framework to help afterschool professionals embrace continuous shift, redefine quality, and engineer forward-thinking programs that rise to today’s challenges.

Presenters

Learn more about our 2026 presenters.

Payments & Deadlines

• Registration deadline is Friday, October 30th.
• We accept check/money order, and credit card via the online registration process.
• You may request an invoice upon registration.
• Payment by Check – Make check payable to Connecticut Network for Children and Youth and send payment to Connecticut Network for Children and Youth, PO Box 1409, Hartford, CT 06143.

Delay, Cancellation, & Refund Policy

• Due to inclement weather (snow, ice, flooding, etc.) or other emergencies, events may be delayed or canceled. Participants are responsible to check the CTNCY Facebook Page for delay or cancellation notices.
• Refunds will be granted to registrants who cancel their registration in writing by email to Marla Berrios no later than Friday, October 30th.
• Refunds will not be provided to registrants who neither cancel before Friday, October 30th nor attend the event. Confirmed registrants who are unable to attend the event may send a substitute in their place at no additional cost. Substitution information must be received by the Connecticut Network for Children and Youth no less than two business days before start of the event.

Questions

• For any general conference questions, contact Monica Whalen, Conference Coordinator.

• For any conference registration questions, contact Marla Berrios or via phone at (203) 483-1846.

Terms of Registration

Submission of your registration authorizes the Connecticut Network for Children and Youth to publish in any format and use for promotional and educational purposes your name and any photos, videos, and audio recordings taken of you at this event. It also authorizes the Connecticut Network for Children and Youth to contact you by mail, phone, or email. Please note the following

Media Release.

Consent to Photograph, Film, or Videotape Participants for Non-Profit use (e.g. educational, public service, or health awareness purposes)

As a conference participant, I acknowledge and grant permission to the Connecticut Network for Children and Youth to use my image (photographs and/or video) for use in Connecticut Network for Children and Youth publications including videos, email blasts, recruiting brochures, newsletters, and magazines and to use my image in electronic versions of the same publications or on the Connecticut Network for Children and Youth website or other electronic forms of media.

I hereby waive any right to inspect or approve the finished photographs or electronic matter that may be used in conjunction with them now or in the future, whether that use is known to me or unknown, and I waive any right to royalties or other compensation arising from or related to the use of the image.