Jump Start 2026: Full Schedule

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

11:00am MDT

Afterschool DANCE!! – Learning Principles for a Dance Arts Program

Friday October 9, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT

Limited Capacity seats available

You don’t have to be a dancer to provide highly engaging dance opportunities in your afterschool program. The arts are a great way to target at-risk youth to reshaping their paths to positively express themselves. Participants will move and groove in learning how a dance program can be designed and promoted to fully engage youth in afterschool. Backed up by the most recent arts in afterschool research, attendees will see how a dance program can impact youth and walk away knowing how to teach a routine, provide stage performance tips, understand the realities of the dance industry, how to get youth engaged in their community through dance, and how to positively expose youth to the dance world. Let’s dance!

Speakers

Kira Coelho

Afterschool Program Supervisor, Salt Lake County Youth Services

Kira Coelho has 15 plus years of afterschool programming experience creating lasting impact on multiple programs in California and Utah. Kira is a Afterschool Program Supervisor with Salt Lake County Youth Services. She received her Bachelor in Recreation Administration with an emphasis... Read More →

Friday October 9, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT
Grand Ballroom B

Healthy Eating and Physical Activity | Safety & Wellness, Program Planning and Development

STRAND Healthy Eating & Physical Activity
Program Serving Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
NAA Core Knowledge Skills and.... Program Planning and Development

1:30pm MDT

Classroom Management 101

LIMITED

Friday October 9, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT

Meeting Room 103

Limited Capacity seats available

Managing a classroom can feel quite overwhelming for newer professionals in Out of School Time. In this session you will learn top strategies for building classroom culture and norms. Attendees will walk away with easy tips to make your classroom feel calm and in control.

Speakers

Maggie DeSpain

Extension Assistant Professor, Utah State University Extension

Maggie Despain comes from a rich background of youth programming with her early beginnings working with residential camps. She started working with Salt Lake County in 2016 and has become a well seasoned Site Coordinator where her program shines with many best practices in staff and... Read More →

Danielle Latta

Afterschool Program Manager, Salt Lake County Youth Services

Danielle Latta has over 20 years of experience in the field of youth development and community programming. Her career in this field started at age 16, as a Youth Mentor in her hometown YMCA of San Luis Obispo, CA. Danielle received a BA in Recreation Management from the University... Read More →

Friday October 9, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT
Meeting Room 103

Developing High Quality Programs, Program Planning and Development

Program Serving Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8
NAA Core Knowledge Skills and.... Program Planning and Development

1:30pm MDT

The Math Behind the Magic: Using Illusions to Build Number Sense

LIMITED

Friday October 9, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT

Ballroom 3

Limited Capacity seats available

How can a simple deck of cards teach deep mathematical thinking? This hands-on workshop explores how elementary afterschool educators can use simple magic tricks to reinforce foundational math concepts in a high-engagement setting. Participants will analyze how card matrices and number puzzles serve as playful, concrete representations of abstract ideas like place value, operations, and pattern recognition.Rather than just learning tricks, you will discover how to guide young learners to look past the "magic" and use logic to explain how the math works. You will walk away with an interactive toolkit of easy-to-teach routines, printable resources, and differentiation strategies perfectly suited for the relaxed, high-energy environment of afterschool programs.

Speakers

Deborah Ivie

Associate Professor, Utah State University Extension

Deborah Ivie is an associate professor at Utah State University, working with formal and informal educators to create innovative activities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Over the past six years Deb has secured and implemented over 12 million dollars in STEM and afterschool... Read More →

Friday October 9, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT
Ballroom 3

STEM, Learning Environments and Curriculum

Program Serving Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
NAA Core Knowledge Skills and.... Program Planning and Development

2:45pm MDT

Beyond the Scoreboard: Using Physical Activity to Build Girls’ Confidence & Social-Emotional Skills

LIMITED

Friday October 9, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT

Grand Ballroom B

Limited Capacity seats available

Afterschool professionals working with girls ages 8–14 know the moment when a confident kid suddenly goes quiet, stops raising her hand, or lets a friend take the lead instead of speaking up. This session is for staff, coordinators and admin who want practical tools to reverse that trend. Using Girls on the Run Utah’s movement-based curriculum as a model, you’ll learn why physical activity is one of the most effective ways to build girls’ confidence, resilience, and emotional regulation, as well as how to bring that approach into your own program. Come ready to move, and to walk away with tools that make a real difference for the students you serve.

Speakers

Girls on the Run Utah

At Girls on the Run Utah, teaching essential life skills is the cornerstone of our research-based programs. Trained volunteer coaches facilitate lessons that blend physical activity with life skill development, including managing emotions, fostering friendships, and expressing empathy... Read More →

Friday October 9, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
Grand Ballroom B

Healthy Eating and Physical Activity | Safety & Wellness, Program Planning and Development

Program Serving Grades 3-5, 6-8
NAA Core Knowledge Skills and.... Program Planning and Development
NAA Core Knowledge Skills & Co... Child/Youth Growth and Development

4:00pm MDT

From Story to Strategy: Creative Media as Youth Prevention Work

LIMITED

Friday October 9, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT

Meeting Room 101

Limited Capacity seats available

Our session centers the work of a group of Spy Hop's film students--a brief PSA called ""Orange Soda."" We will explore the various ways that making art together strengthens young people and provides them with the tools and opportunities to live healthy and productive adult lives. Join us to examine how the act of creating art together itself becomes a protective factor for young people and to consider how you can expand your own thinking about art as a protective tool.

Speakers

Steve Williams

Central 9th Youth Coalition Manager, Spy Hop Productions/Central 9th Youth Coalition

Steve Williams works for Spy Hop as the manager of the Central 9th Youth Coalition in Salt Lake City. He is a retired English teacher and school director. He enjoys good books, good music, and good friends. He also likes walking and skiing in the backcountry, hanging out with people... Read More →

Adam White

Development Director, Spy Hop Productions

Adam White is a nonprofit fundraising and operations professional based in Salt Lake City, and Development Director at Spy Hop Productions, a youth media arts organization. His work spans institutional giving, partnerships, revenue strategy, program management, and community engagement... Read More →

Adam Sherlock

In-House Programs Director, Spy Hop Productions

Adam Sherlock has worked with young people for over 25 years, both within the Juvenile Justice system, rehabilitation centers, and for the last 17 years at Spy Hop Productions, where he works with a cohort of teaching artists to provide award-winning multimedia arts programming to... Read More →

Friday October 9, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
Meeting Room 101

Developing High Quality Programs, Program Planning and Development

Program Serving Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
NAA Core Knowledge Skills and.... Program Planning and Development

1:30pm MDT

Best Practices for Afterschool Activities

LIMITED

Saturday October 10, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT

Meeting Room 102

Limited Capacity seats available

Designed for program staff working directly with youth, this interactive session utilizes facilitator-led modeling to demonstrate high-impact program delivery. Upon entering the room, participants will experience the session from the youth perspective as the facilitator actively models best practices in real time. Through this live demonstration, you will observe firsthand how to seamlessly integrate youth leadership opportunities, scaffold skill-building support, and facilitate intentional conversations before, during, and after activities. Come ready to engage in this dynamic, role-play-driven professional development experience.

Speakers

Verlina Adame

School-Age Child Care Specialist, Utah Afterschool Network

As a School-Age Child Care (SACC) Specialist with UAN, Verlina "V" Adame supports childcare programs throughout the state through coaching, training, and technical assistance. She brings 14 years of experience to the child care and afterschool field, including 11 years as an instructor... Read More →

Saturday October 10, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT
Meeting Room 102

Developing High Quality Programs, Program Planning and Development

Program Serving Grades K-2, 3-5
NAA Core Knowledge Skills and.... Program Planning and Development

1:30pm MDT

Don't Quit. Pivot: How Resilience Turns Setbacks into Your Next Opportunity

LIMITED

Saturday October 10, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT

Meeting Room 101

Limited Capacity seats available

Success rarely follows a straight path. This session is designed for young adults (ages 18–22), educators, mentors, and leaders who want to help the next generation develop resilience in the face of setbacks. Participants will explore why many young adults are quick to quit when challenges arise and learn practical strategies to shift from a fixed mindset to one of adaptability, perseverance, and growth. Through real-world examples and actionable tools, attendees will leave equipped to navigate obstacles with confidence, embrace failure as part of the learning process, and build the resilience needed to thrive in school, work, and life.

Speakers

Trina Christensen

Co-Director, Sistema Utah - American Preparatory Academy

Trina Christensen is the Co-Director of Sistema Utah, an award-winning nonprofit that provides free afterschool music and academic enrichment programs for more than 500 students annually. A lifelong educator and arts leader with nearly 30 years of experience, she is passionate about... Read More →

Saturday October 10, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT
Meeting Room 101

Emerging Leaders, Professional Development and Leadership

Program Serving Grades Emerging Leaders
NAA Core Knowledge Skills and.... Program Planning and Development

2:45pm MDT

Supporting Teen Literacy in Afterschool

LIMITED

Saturday October 10, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT

Meeting Room 202

Limited Capacity seats available

Afterschool professionals can have a lasting impact on teens' relationship with reading—without becoming reading teachers. This interactive session explores how to distinguish between skill-based and motivation-based reading struggles, create welcoming reading environments, and foster literacy through relationships, choice, and authentic engagement. Participants will leave with practical, research-informed strategies for building a positive reading culture, supporting struggling readers within their role, and helping young people see themselves as lifelong readers.

Speakers

Marlin Taylor

SACC Specialist, Utah Afterschool Network

Marlin Taylor is a School-Age Child Care Specialist with the Utah Afterschool Network, where she conducts statewide quality observations and coaching. Her background spans linguistics research and university-level teaching, preschool education with a focus on project-based STEAM learning... Read More →

Janelle Gutierrez

Afterschool Consultant, Utah Afterschool Network

Janelle Gutierrez is an Afterschool Consultant with the Utah Afterschool Network. Holding a degree from BYU Idaho in Child Development, she is a dedicated youth development professional with more than 20 years of experience serving children and families through early childhood and... Read More →

Saturday October 10, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
Meeting Room 202

Developing High Quality Programs, Learning Environments and Curriculum

Program Serving Grades 6-8, 9-12 | TEENS
NAA Core Knowledge Skills and.... Program Planning and Development

2:45pm MDT

Making Math Groove: Teaching Numbers Through Rhythm, Song, and Movement

LIMITED

Saturday October 10, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT

Ballroom 3

Limited Capacity seats available

Unlock the hidden math in every melody! This hands-on workshop equips afterschool educators with dynamic, "stealth math" strategies to teach foundational math concepts through high-energy music activities. Instead of worksheets, you will learn to use rhythm, song, instruments, and dance to reinforce learning naturally. Participants will actively jump, drum, and sing their way through interactive lessons. By the end of this session, you will have a ready-to-use toolkit of active musical experiences that make math feel like play.

Speakers

Nicole Rich

Afterschool Site Specialist, Utah State University Extension

Nicole Rich is a trained educator and USU Extension afterschool site specialist in Salt Lake County. She has many years' experience working in both formal and informal education. Music is one of Nicole's great loves, and she is excited to share her experiences.

Saturday October 10, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
Ballroom 3

STEM, Learning Environments and Curriculum

Program Serving Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8
NAA Core Knowledge Skills and.... Program Planning and Development

11:00am MDT

1:30pm MDT

1:30pm MDT

2:45pm MDT

4:00pm MDT

1:30pm MDT

1:30pm MDT

2:45pm MDT

2:45pm MDT

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