Jump Start 2026

Data collection can feel like one more thing on an already full plate, but what if it could actually make your job easier? If collecting attendance, registration, or reporting information feels overwhelming or inconsistent, this session is for you. Join fellow afterschool professionals for an interactive discussion about what's working, what's not, and how small changes can make a big difference. You'll leave with practical ideas to improve data quality, simplify processes, and spend less time fixing problems and more time supporting youth.

Little moments can create big outcomes when youth feel seen, heard, and connected. This session is for after-school leaders, site coordinators, and front-line staff who want simple, engaging ways to strengthen youth voice, family connection, and positive peer interaction. Participants will explore how Discovery Hunt-style activities can turn everyday program moments into meaningful opportunities for belonging, skill-building, reflection, and recognition. Walk away with practical ideas for creating quick challenges, family engagement prompts, and youth-led activities that support resilience, confidence, and connection for ages 5–18.

This training is meant to help afterschool professionals identify blind spots in their program development in a way that feels tangible. Oftentimes, creating programs can be overwhelming because you have so many people to think about, on an individual level. This training will help bring a collectivist mindset in our planning to help decrease feelings of anxiety when planning for various people from a wide range of backgrounds. Come and be a part of the discussion and create an intersectional framework that works for you.

We’ve all been there: a classroom left messy, a forgotten gym key, or a miscommunicated student incident that derails a relationship. This session is a sanctuary for Utah youth workers to talk about the real-world friction of school partnerships—and how to fix it. We will blend deep relationship-building with practical communication strategies, giving you the tools to co-create boundaries and build unshakeable trust with your school-day partners.