NorthernRecharge2025

This engaging keynote addresses the critical importance of mental health in schools, providing a dynamic and creative approach to fostering emotional well-being among students, educators, and communities. Through a blend of powerful storytelling, short edutainment films, and interactive conversations, participants will explore essential mental health topics such as depression, anxiety, suicide awareness, body image struggles, and overcoming PTSD. The session focuses on breaking the silence surrounding mental health by dismantling stigma and empowering individuals to prioritize psychological safety in school environments. Participants will gain practical tools for creating open, supportive cultures, along with strategies for effective communication, building resilience, and encouraging peer and staff engagement.

Looking for an engaging, creative activity that fosters connection, emotional growth, and teamwork? Create Perspective is the perfect workshop to inspire after-school programs. Designed to inspire students’ imaginations, this session uses visual arts and storytelling to explore empathy, relationships, and emotional awareness.
Through hands-on projects, participants use images and symbols to express themselves while building essential life skills like communication, conflict resolution, and teamwork. Mindfulness and positive psychology are woven into every activity, helping enhance focus, develop self-esteem, and implement healthy boundaries.
What you can expect:
Inspiring projects that drive engagement and creativity.
Practical tools for self-expression, wellness, and communication.
Evidence-based self-care strategies.
Activities that promote communication skills and foster a sense of community.
This workshop is designed to be fun, empowering, and impactful. This is a wonderful opportunity to express your stories, build confidence, and connect with others in meaningful ways!

Do you know what your work personality is? Ever wonder why there might be communication challenges amongst your team? This session will provide a Work Personality Questionnaire, with in-depth discuss to increase effective communication for the individual and the team. Attendees will learn strategies in managing communication by each work personality type and know how to communicate when under stress to avoid the five dysfunctions of a team. Through an engaging discussion, attendees will enjoy knowing their communication strengths and increase effective communication and confidence within your afterschool team.

This session is designed for leaders, managers, and educators who work with youth and multi-generational teams. Participants will explore strategies to leverage the unique strengths of Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z, fostering an inclusive and collaborative workplace culture. Through real-world examples and actionable insights, attendees will discover how to bridge generational divides, align diverse perspectives, and create innovative environments where all team members feel valued and motivated. By understanding generational dynamics and communication styles, you’ll gain practical tools to enhance teamwork, reduce conflict, and inspire shared success. Join us to transform workplace challenges into opportunities for growth, innovation, and unity.

This session is designed for afterschool staff, educators, and program administrators who are seeking effective strategies to prevent and overcome burnout. Participants will explore practical, hands-on techniques to manage stress, set boundaries, and create sustainable work-life balance. Attendees will learn how to implement self-care practices, build supportive team cultures, and recharge their passion for youth work. Walk away with actionable strategies and resources that can be immediately applied to enhance personal well-being and improve program outcomes. Join us for a session that will leave you energized and equipped to handle the challenges of afterschool programming with renewed focus and resilience.

Participants will explore how collaboration leads to better outcomes for children and families by addressing the common challenges faced by children, families, and educators both in and out of the classroom. Through a live survey, we will gather insights on the support needed for educators, parents, and children.
Following this, an open discussion will allow us to co-create a plan to strengthen community partnerships among ECE professionals, K-5 educators, leaders, and parents. This session is designed to help early childhood professionals—including K-5 educators, early intervention specialists, Head Start and childcare directors, and afterschool professionals—build meaningful partnerships that enhance learning outcomes for all children.

We will also discuss common barriers and their impact on children, families, educators, and school systems. Participants will leave with valuable contacts and resources to support their efforts in fostering stronger, more effective collaborations

In Part Two of this leadership track session, we will explore new dimensions of effective team collaboration, building on the foundational concepts from the first session. This time, we dive into everyday leadership—the idea that leadership isn't limited to formal roles but can be demonstrated by anyone, at any level, every day. We'll also tackle the concept of creative tension, exploring how tension in teams, when managed effectively, can spark innovation, problem-solving, and growth. Discover how focusing on proactive behavior, clear vision, and win-win thinking can transform your team into a high-performing unit. As with Part One, the session will include insights from our expert panel—Erica Andino, Riannon Olsen, Kam Portillo, and Holly Phillips—who will share practical applications of these concepts in their own work. A lively Q&A will wrap up the session, giving you the chance to address specific challenges and walk away with actionable strategies for empowering your team and enhancing your collective performance.

Attention all frontline employees! We’ve created a series of fun, interactive sessions tailored to the incredible work you do teaching youth. These sessions will help you prepare for upcoming observations and support overall and continuous quality improvement. Join this immersive session diving into the transformative world of STEM education through the lens of the 5E Model. Explore the dynamic stages of Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate, and discover how this evidence-based approach fosters active learning and deepens student understanding. Uncover practical strategies, real-world applications, and unleash the power of the 5E Model to create meaningful and memorable learning experiences for your students. Elevate your teaching journey and ignite curiosity in your youth with this enlightening session. Our Quality Improvement Best Practices sessions can be taken as a series or individually.

Attention all frontline employees! We’ve created a series of fun, interactive sessions tailored to the incredible work you do teaching youth. These sessions will help you prepare for upcoming observations and support overall and continuous quality improvement. This session will be directed at program staff. We will discuss the differences between Reflection and Feedback as well as tangible methods. More information to come.Our Quality Improvement Best Practices sessions can be taken as a series or individually.

This session is for leaders, educators, and youth-serving professionals looking to bridge generational gaps and foster a more inclusive workplace. With over 25% of Gen Z being children of immigrants, they bring unique cultural insights and a commitment to equity. Building on the latest research from Cornell University’s DEI certification, this session will explore how to merge the strengths of different generations—including Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z—to create a collaborative environment where every voice is valued. Participants will gain practical strategies to integrate DEI practices that promote mutual understanding and respect across generations, enhancing communication and team cohesion. Attendees will leave equipped to create a unified, innovative work culture that embraces diversity and empowers all generations to thrive together.

Do you want to run a seamless program with strong outcomes for kids while you and your team are growing together? This session will guide current and up-and-coming leaders through essential practices in communication, effective planning, and general best practices in building strong relationships and establishing the best team. Attendees will leave with strategies that can be implemented right away. This session is geared towards current admin and direct service staff serving all ages.