• Outdoor Exploration: Enhancing Learning through Outdoor Play

    Now that summer is here, it is prime time to take advantage of the warm weather and get the kids outside to play and explore. In this session, we will look at what high-quality outdoor environments look like, the benefits of outdoor play, and practical ways to engage children in learning outdoors. Presenter: Sarah Hansen

  • Parent and Family Engagement

    It is important to build up positive relationships not only with the children, but their families as well. In this session, we will be discussing why this is important, strategies for positive communication, and ways to increase family involvement in the program’s day to day. Presenter: Sarah Hansen

  • Let the Space Do the Work: Creative School-Age Environments

    This interactive training examines how intentional environmental design influences child behavior, safety, engagement, and curriculum in school-age settings. Participants will analyze environmental philosophies and apply practical strategies to reduce behavior challenges, increase independence, and create developmentally appropriate learning opportunities. Presenter: Lesley Lawrence. This session will not count for OCFS training credit.

  • Let the Space Do the Work: Creative School-Age Environments

    This interactive training examines how intentional environmental design influences child behavior, safety, engagement, and curriculum in school-age settings. Participants will analyze environmental philosophies and apply practical strategies to reduce behavior challenges, increase independence, and create developmentally appropriate learning opportunities. Presenter: Lesley Lawrence. This session will not count for OCFS training credit.

  • Parent and Family Engagement

    It is important to build up positive relationships not only with the children, but their families as well. In this session, we will be discussing why this is important, strategies for positive communication, and ways to increase family involvement in the program’s day to day. Presenter: Sarah Hansen

  • Building Healthy Habits: Promoting Nutrition in After-School

    Promoting health and nutrition is vital to children developing long-lasting, healthy habits. In this session, participants will learn about current food guidelines from the USDA and CACFP, discuss how mealtime structures can lead to healthy food attitudes, and discover ways to incorporate cooking and food preparation activities in their program. Presenter: Sarah Hansen

  • Professionalism: The Cornerstone of Quality Programming

    This professional development course helps school-age staff strengthen their professionalism by aligning decisions with child development knowledge, setting career goals, and participating in ongoing education. It emphasizes creating respectful workplace relationships, resolving conflicts cooperatively, and advocating for the needs of school-age children within the community. The training focuses on fostering collaborative, high-quality environments and building...

  • Regulations 101

    Navigating New York State child care regulations can feel overwhelming—but regulations are designed to support children's health, safety, and well-being. This highly interactive training introduces participants to the structure and purpose of NYS School-Age Child Care Regulations (Part 414), teaches strategies for locating regulations quickly, and provides opportunities to apply regulations to realistic program situations....

  • Professionalism: The Cornerstone of Quality Programming

    This professional development course helps school-age staff strengthen their professionalism by aligning decisions with child development knowledge, setting career goals, and participating in ongoing education. It emphasizes creating respectful workplace relationships, resolving conflicts cooperatively, and advocating for the needs of school-age children within the community. The training focuses on fostering collaborative, high-quality environments and building...