Jump Start 2026

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!

You do not need a gymnasium to get students moving. Physical activity can be seamlessly woven into your existing curriculum. Integrating physical activity into academic and enrichment programming is a fantastic way to boost engagement, improve knowledge retention, and support overall student well-being. When students move, they learn better. During this session you will develop a comprehensive guide to blending movement with learning, managing groups, and facilitating adventure-based teamwork.

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.

Can you come out to play? Join us for an interactive workshop powered by Playworks to experience the joy of games firsthand, and the power to leverage play as a vehicle for learning and well-being.We will explore the strategy behind purposeful play. You will learn specific, easy-to-implement games designed to actively support student learning, build inclusive communities, and foster personal growth. Why attend? You will walk away with a fresh toolkit of proven, low-resource activities and facilitation techniques to immediately transform your program's culture and keep kids engaged. Come ready to move, laugh, and harness the power of play!

When emotions run high, it’s easy to feel exhausted and make choices that don't lead to lasting happiness. But what if the key to navigating those moments starts with the habits we build every day? The healthy choices we model and encourage in children can shape their futures for years to come. Join us as we explore a holistic approach to health—connecting physical wellness, mental well-being, and meaningful relationships—to create positive habits and lifestyles where children can truly thrive.

After a long school day, the last thing kids want to do in an afterschool program is sit at a desk for more math. They want to get moving, play with friends, and burn off energy! But what if you could deliver high-quality math reinforcement without a single worksheet?This active, hands-on workshop will show you how to turn recess favorites and team sports into stealthy learning opportunities. You will discover practical ways to weave critical math concepts—like geometry, fractions, statistics, and estimation—directly into the playground games kids already love. Come ready to move, laugh, and learn how to bring fun and games to your program, completely by the numbers!

Did you know that you have the power to change a young person’s trajectory in just five minutes? In this interactive session, afterschool professionals will explore how Prevention Science and intentional interactions can significantly enhance protective factors such as resilience, belonging, and confidence in youth. Through motivational activities and thought-provoking reflections, participants will learn about the five simple steps to create little moments that lead to big outcomes. Making a difference in prevention efforts takes a village, and it can start with you. By the end of this session, you will be equipped with evidence-based strategies that you can immediately implement in your schools and communities.