2026 Annual Afterschool Conference: Session 1

1A.  Venting Vampires: Protecting Your Energy & Encouraging Positivity – This interactive training helps early childhood and school age educators and administrators recognize how chronic venting, complaining, and gossip can drain energy, damage relationships, and contribute to burnout. Participants will explore the difference between healthy venting and toxic negativity, often referred to as “venting vampires”—patterns of communication that pull individuals and teams into stress and survival mode. Participants will learn how emotions spread, why adult regulation matters, and how to provide boundaries that protect both connection and professionalism. Through real-life scenarios, reflection, and hands-on practice, educators will gain practical tools to redirect conversations, reduce emotional overload, and maintain a positive, supportive workplace climate.  Tracy Cheney, Three Cheers Consulting with TLC Elementary School, Supervision/Management, Take It and Run

1B.  The Active Classroom: Theater Tools for K-12 Student Engagement – The Active Classroom: Theater Tools for K-12 Student Engagement is an interactive professional development workshop designed to transform traditional afterschool programs into dynamic learning environments. Educators will discover how to seamlessly integrate improvisation, physical storytelling, and creative drama into daily lessons to boost collaboration and critical thinking. By using these high-energy theater techniques, participants will learn practical strategies to captivate K-12 students, reinforce academic concepts, and foster a supportive classroom community. This workshop provides actionable, low-prep tools that immediately turn passive listening into active, joyful learning. Anthony DePoto, innerAct Theatre LLC All Ages, Fine Arts/Music/Drama/Dance, Take It and Run, Play-Based Learning

1C.  Step up to the MIC: Making, Invention & Collaborating – In this hands-on workshop we will experience Invention Education as an enrichment pathway to support student voice, reinforce academic learning, and nurture a positive, collaborative afterschool environment. Our theme today highlights how we can help youth see, know, and feel that their ideas matter. We will engage in activities that help students build life-long, future-ready stills like confidence, persistence, STEM interest, and an entrepreneurial mindset. Andrea Dulac, National Inventors Hall of Fame Elementary School, Middle School, STEM, Social Emotional Learning, Youth Voice and Choice

1D.  Building Organizational Readiness in Afterschool: Practical Leadership for Stronger Programs – Successful afterschool programs depend on more than good intentions. They depend on organizational readiness: the people, practices, communication, structures, and leadership supports needed to deliver high-quality programming consistently. This session will help leaders in LEAs and community-based organizations think about how to strengthen the internal conditions that support staff effectiveness, program quality, and long-term sustainability. Participants will explore practical leadership strategies that build stronger alignment, clearer expectations, and better readiness for implementation and growth.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify key elements of organizational readiness in afterschool settings
• Reflect on leadership practices that support stronger implementation, communication, and staff alignment
• Apply practical strategies to strengthen program readiness, consistency, and quality

Douglas Fetchin, Ed.D., All Ages, Supervision/Management

1E.  Best Me I Can Be – Active Games That Build Health Knowledge and Skills – We will explore a variety of health topics including nutrition, hygiene and disease prevention, personal body safety, and safe use of medicines through active games. A focus will be on the development of health skills, including decision making, developing healthy habits and interpersonal communication. Come ready to play and to consider how these activities might be adapted to include other health information or topics relevant to your students.  Amanda Amtmanis, Middletown Public Schools Elementary School, Middle School, Diversity Equity Inclusion, Active/Nutrition, Play-Based Learning, Take It and Run

1F.  The Connection Lab: Building Social Skills Through Play and Therapy Dog–Inspired Strategies – Afterschool programs thrive when children feel connected and part of a community. In this highly interactive workshop, participants will experience simple, play-based activities that build social skills, communication, and executive functioning through small, repeatable moments inspired by therapy dog principles. Every strategy is low-prep, easy to implement, and designed to strengthen relationships while reducing the need for constant behavior management. Participants will leave with practical ideas they can use immediately to create a more engaged and supportive program culture. Cara Zelas, Big World of Little Dude Elementary School, Behavior Management, Social Emotional Learning, Take It and Run, Play-Based Learning