The Why Behind the What: Seeing Behavior Through a New Lens
Discover how behavior reflects what youth may not be able to say in words. Learn to uncover root causes, use empathy, and redirect behavior in ways that preserve relationships. Gain strategies to provide support and respond to undesirable behaviors rather than reacting to them.
From Tension to Teamwork: Strategies for Managing Staff Conflict
Unaddressed conflict between staff members can undermine program quality, erode team cohesion, and create toxic environments that impact both staff retention and youth experiences. This session equips you with practical methods for identifying conflict sources, facilitating productive resolution conversations, and establishing team norms that prevent future discord. Participants will practice specific mediation techniques, communication tools, and team-building strategies designed to transform workplace tensions into opportunities for professional growth.
Am I Enough? A Personal Leadership Analysis
Self-awareness is integral to leadership as it allows you to understand your own strengths and weaknesses and the impact they have on your program and staff, but sometimes looking in the mirror can be hard. In this session we will conduct a personal leadership analysis to better identify areas for your own professional growth. We'll explore tools to help you identify your leadership style and how to leverage that to improve your practice.
Communication that Connects: Supervision Strategies for New Staff
Clear, supportive communication forms the foundation of effective staff development, yet many supervisors struggle to balance the necessary guidance with the autonomy needed to build staff confidence. This session introduces practical communication strategies that effectively convey expectations and deliver constructive feedback while maintaining staff motivation and engagement. Participants will explore proven techniques including structured check-ins and feedback models specifically designed to accelerate professional growth while building authentic connections with developing staff.
Start CourseCityspan Basics
Learn how to utilize and navigate Cityspan in order to accurately record youth enrollment, program activities, staff information, attendance, and more.
Pivot! Course Correction for When Activities Miss the Mark
Even the most carefully designed out-of-school time activities sometimes fail to engage youth or achieve intended outcomes, requiring staff to quickly recognize issues and adapt. In this session, participants will analyze real-world scenarios to identify early warning signs of activities going off track and develop strategic responses that preserve learning objectives while addressing engagement challenges. Through guided practice with specific course correction techniques and reflection tools staff will build the confidence and skills needed to transform potential program failures into successful learning experiences.
Model, Mentor, & Coach, Oh My! Paving the Way for Others
You are a leader of people, but how do we move beyond just managing staff to uplifting them so they too can grow and excel in their careers? In this session, we'll lean into the power of modeling, mentoring, and coaching to guide staff to advance their practice. Participants will explore practical frameworks for leadership approaches, including observation tools, structured mentoring conversations, and coaching techniques designed to build staff capacity while developing the next generation of out-of-school time leaders.
Culture by Design: Building an Environment Where Youth Thrive
Great program culture doesn't just happen - it's built step by step over time. This session shows you how to create a positive environment where youth actually want to be. You'll learn practical ways to discover youth interests and work together to create group norms to foster belonging and engagement. These elements help create a space where youth feel valued and want to participate.
Buying Time: Project Management When There Aren’t Enough Hours in a Day
The competing demands of out-of-school time (OST) program administration can often leave leaders feeling overwhelmed, with important projects falling behind while immediate crises consume available time and energy. This session introduces practical project management strategies for the unique challenges of OST environments, focusing on techniques that maximize efficiency without sacrificing quality or well-being. Participants will leave with prioritization frameworks and delegation strategies that transform seemingly impossible workloads into manageable systems, allowing leaders to accomplish more while maintaining balance.
Building from Day One: Setting New Staff Up for Success
A strong out-of-school time (OST) program starts with clear communication. The session provides a practical guide to help new staff quickly build the communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills that both employers and youth need. You’ll apply good communication behaviors to scenarios that new staff experience around program policies, safety protocols, and daily procedures.