Inspiration Station workshops are 45-minute round table sessions and an informal way to bring together a small group to share perspectives about specific area(s) of interest. Facilitating an Inspiration Station workshop is a great opportunity to share best practices, discuss new ideas, get feedback through a focus group, or offer a Make-It, Take-It session. There is NO COST to facilitate an Inspiration Station workshop. Inspiration Station workshops can accommodate a maximum of 8-10 attendees and are held adjacent to the Convention Center lobby.

Participating in an Inspiration Station is an opportunity to learn something new, outside the traditional workshop setting, and to join groups of your peers who share similar challenges, questions, and ideas that you have. It's a great chance to build connections and create opportunities for collaboration. 

Our Inspiration Station application is closed.

Wednesday, April 29

10:30AM - 11:15AM

Station A

Strong Starts and Smooth Landings: Building a Behavior Support System for Your Before and After School Program
Shannon Hyde, Behavior Support Program Manager, Harmonium, Inc., San Diego, CA

The bell may ring, but the work of supporting social-emotional growth continues. At Harmonium, we have a unique opportunity to leverage a team of behavior specialists dedicated to supporting both students and staff within our before and afterschool programs. Join us to explore the systems we’ve implemented through our comprehensive behavior support program and discover how we create consistency, guidance, and success throughout the day.
PK, E, MLA, DS 

Station B

Tools for Today: Building Character and Connection One Kind Heart At A Time
Icle Freeland, MMCM, Director of Outreach and Partnerships, Two by Two Character Development, Dubuque, IA

Do you find kids struggling to make real connections away from a screen? This session will equip you with practical ways to teach empathy and community through play-based learning that develops real-life skills. Learn about the research and how using rescue-inspired stuffed cats and dogs, each with their own backstory and medical history, through Kindhearted Kids helps kids build character, deepen relationships, and engage with the world around them, one kind heart at a time.
PK, E, MLA, DS

Station C

It's Never Too Early to Dream Big!
Laura Garcia, College Readiness Advisor, Waukegan to College, Waukegan, IL

Waukegan to College is a national award-winning program that supports students from 5th grade through the college preparation process. Through our cohort and 1:1 advising sessions, we equip students and their families with the tools to build a brighter future. Join us to learn about our Individualized Student Success Plans, discover student and parent engagement techniques, and see what it’s like to be a Waukegan to College scholar.
M, H, MLA, DS

Station D 

Airbrush Action!
Leo Garrardo, Director of Arts, After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles, CA

Not an artist? Perfect — this workshop’s for you! We’ll cover the basics of airbrushing, from using the tool to building up your control and technique. You’ll get to play around with a variety of stencils, and we’ll provide both a practice T-shirt and a project cloth for you to work on. Whether you’re brand new or have some experience, this workshop is a great fit for all levels!

Perfect for anyone wanting to explore this awesome medium!
M, H, MLA, DS

Station E

Colorful Traditions, Powerful Messages: Youth Crafts with Purpose
Carol Coyne, Tobacco Use Prevention Program Manager, Corona-Norco Unified School District, Norco, CA

Engage youth through vibrant, multicultural crafts that open the door to meaningful prevention conversations. Participants will create projects like cascarones and sugar skull art inspired by Día de los Muertos while learning how to naturally weave prevention and healthy choice messaging into culturally responsive, hands-on activities. Leave with ready-to-use ideas that inspire creativity, connection, and positive decision-making.
E, M, DS

Station F

Building Belonging with Bots: Trauma-Informed AI Tools for Tutors Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness
Angelique Singh, Ed.D, Curriculum & Assessment Specialist, School on Wheels, Los Angeles, CA 

Learn how School on Wheels uses trauma-informed AI tools to help tutors build trust, belonging, and SEL support with unhoused students.
E, M, MLA, CB, DS

11:30AM - 12:15PM 

Station A

Word-Building Games, Activities & Learning Mats to Support Literacy, Reading, and English Learners in Afterschool Programs
Chandra Roughton, Administrative Program Director, Luminous Minds, Loomis, CA

Want to add engaging, hands-on reading activities to your afterschool program? Join this interactive session to play, practice, and create word-building mats for elementary students! These activities boost vocabulary, phonemic awareness, and foundational reading skills while making literacy fun and accessible for English Learners. Participants receive a Make-and-Take Kit containing a learning mat, a whiteboard pen, and vocabulary cards.
PK, E, DS

Station B

Unlocked: The Next Level You (Self Quality Improvement)
Christina Green, Afterschool Coordinator, Bay Area Community Resources (BACR), Oakland, CA

Unlocked: The Next Level You is an Inspiration Station centered on intentional self-care and personal growth. This session encourages you to pause, reflect, and invest in becoming the best version of yourself mentally, emotionally, and personally.
E, M, MLA, DS 

Station C

Make It A Game: Designing Programs Kids Want to Be Part Of
Adam Brody, President, Strategic Kids, Laguna Hills, CA

This Inspiration Station invites educators to explore how intentional gamification can transform entire programs—not just individual activities. Participants will see how games, play, and storytelling can be embedded into curriculum design, classroom management, and leadership moments to boost engagement and reinforce SEL. Attendees leave with strategies they can immediately adapt and scale in their own programs.
PK, E, MLA, DS

Station D 

Hope is Not A Strategy, But A Heart of Many
Jitendrapal Kundan, Executive Director and Research, Minneapolis, MN

Hope in itself is not a strategy, but Heart of Many, let's explore ways we can keep this heart beating toward individual and communal success as our Duty of Care. Participants will learn ways to reduce the gap between goal setting and goal achievement for self and their students. Hope without action is toxic positivity.
E, M, H, MLA, CB, DS

Station E

Easy-to-Teach STEM Projects for Afterschool | Make & Take!
Patti Pape, Training & Customer Relationships, Nature Watch STEM Kits for Afterschool, Agoura Hills, CA

Not a “Science” person? No problem! Here’s a way to make science fun and educational for children…and easy for you! Come prepared to make and take!

Many afterschool educators are reluctant to lead STEM activities ...we get it! Given the right hands-on materials and resources, teaching science can be EASY and FUN. Overcome the fear of leading science activities and see how to make the teaching and learning process hands-on while still being aligned to science standards.
PK, E, M, MLA, DS

Station F

Author Mindset: 3 Unexpected Ways to Help Kids See Themselves as Creators
Susie Harder, Author, Founder & CEO, Authorable, Clovis, CA

What if “author mindset” isn’t about perfect writing—but creativity, collaboration, and sharing ideas? In this interactive session, participants explore three surprising ways to unlock storytelling with students: discovering creative roles, building meaningful characters, and turning problems into stories. Walk away with ready-to-use activities that make creativity accessible, engaging, and fun for every learner.
E, MLA, DS

2:45PM - 3:30PM

Station A

Light Up & Chill: Electrical Engineering Meets Crafting
Kay Yang, M. Eng., Founder & Lead Tinkerer, Tinker the Robot, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 

Take a fun break from the BOOST bustle with Tinker the Robot! Explore basic electrical engineering as you craft a light-up purse charm featuring our adorable robot, Tinker. Infuse creativity, giggles, and hands-on tinkering as you sew, connect circuits, and tinker! Experience learning like a student, then take home your creation—and fresh ideas to spark curiosity and creativity in your own programs.
E, MLA, DS 

Station B

Maker Magic: How to Design a Creative, Low-Cost Makerspace Anywhere
Bill Albert, CEO, STEMfinity, Boise, ID 

Discover how to spark innovation through hands-on making—without breaking the budget. Join STEMfinity’s Bill Albert and Shawn Petty for a collaborative session on designing creative, flexible makerspaces for any learning environment. Explore layout ideas, low-cost materials, and strategies to empower students to invent, build, and explore in afterschool and classroom settings.
E, M, HS, DS

Station C

Bugs and Slugs: Jewels of the Night
Jan Zatloukal, Instructional Designer, PCS Edventures, Meridian, ID

This station will highlight how to blend science, art, and active play to spark creativity and critical thinking. Engage in career-connected learning as you do the job of an entomologist to investigate the fascinating adaptations of fireflies! Engage in observation and exploration, test out your firefly communication skills, and share your discoveries with an artistic creation.
E, MLA, DS

Station D

Effective Reinforcement Systems That Work!
Jennifer Fairburn, Strategic Quality Business Partner, KinderCare Education - Champions, Summerville, SC

Get ready for a hands-on, high-energy Inspiration Station designed to transform how you motivate kids! Participants will create and implement a positive reinforcement system right at the table. Plan to leave with a clear, practical system tailored to your students and your space. Explore what drives positive behavior, how to reinforce it consistently, and how to make your system fun. Participants will receive ready-to-use tools and resources to inspire their program or classroom!
E, DS

Station E

Let's Get Phygital! How to Use No-code Tech to Pair Analog and Digital Learning for Media Literacy Outcomes
Karen Darricades, Founder and CEO, LitKit, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 

In this hands-on workshop, explore how no-code tools can blend analog art with digital layers to boost media literacy. Create your own augmented reality postcard to take home—no experience needed, all materials provided. Learn to tap into the digital abundance through free image libraries to teach search, sourcing, and critical thinking skills in ways that sneak vital digital literacy skills into creative play. Remix images, videos, and sounds for artworks that will wow learners and colleagues.
M, H, HE, MLA, DS

Station F

From Nostalgia to Now: Breaking Up With “We’ve Always Done It This Way”
Lori Woodley-Langendorff, Founder/Chief Visionary Officer, All it Takes, Simi Valley, CA

Many caring adults still teach to the world they grew up in, not the one students actually live in today. This Inspiration Station offers an honest, supportive look at why staff resist 21st-century practices and how attachment to “we’ve always done it this way” holds students back. You’ll gain language, strategies, and conversation moves to loosen that grip on old practices and spark mindset shifts that serve all students now.
M, H, ULA, MLA 

Thursday, April 30

10:00AM - 10:45AM

Station A

Beyond the Pages: Exploring Hands-On Science with Interactive Science
Terri Johnson, M.Ed., Owner/Developer, Creative 3, LLC-Quirkles and Fuddlebrook School Science Series, Springfield, MO

Are you tired of hearing "I am bored" or "How much longer?" from your students? This won't happen when you use the Quirkles and/or Fuddlebrook programs in your sessions. The lessons are already created for you. All you have to do is watch the kids have fun as exciting stories and hands-on science come alive. Yes, eggs will fly, spoons (Fred) will stick, and perhaps a mess will be made, all while bringing literacy and science together in a way students can relate to.
PK, E, MLA, DS 

Station B

Transform Student Behavior Through the Power of Connection
Tiffany Burns, University Instructor & Co-Founder Connecting Through Conversation, Ashland, OR

Everyone knows connection matters, but this session shows you exactly how to use it to create real change in student behavior. You’ll learn practical strategies to de-escalate students, stay calm under pressure, avoid power struggles, and respond with greater confidence. This fast-paced session is packed with real-life examples and back-pocket strategies you can use immediately.
PK, E, MLA, CB, DS

Station C

Bigger Than Play! - Get in the Game to Experience How Play Inspires & Why Play Matters
Janelle Matthews, Regional Partnerships Manager, Playworks,  Oakland, CA 

Learn how Play does more than improve students' physical health. Experience new, inclusive games and activities that focus on SEL. Take away key strategies to run a fast, smooth program. Play benefits the whole child (physically, emotionally, academically, and socially) and also supports adult interactions & relationships.
E, MLA, DS

Station D 

Gifts of Inspiration
Elle Essenmacher, Account Executive, Harmony Academies At National University, San Diego, CA

Participants will paint inspiring words on glass stones and write messages of encouragement on note cards. Small gift bags will be provided to hold stones and notes. Participants will be encouraged to trade bags with each other to share their "gifts of inspiration."
PK, E, CB, DS

Station E

Prompt with Purpose: Play, Prompt & Create Hands-On STEM with AI
Shelia James, Manager, STEM Next / Teen Science Cafe Network, Conway, SC 

Explore how AI can be a simple, supportive co-pilot for hands-on STEM in OST and early learning. In this interactive roundtable, participants will test ready-to-use prompts, share ideas, and explore how to plan activities, support facilitation, and build confidence. Walk away with a free prompt pack and access to a supportive community to continue learning.
PK, E, DS

Station F

Interactive Notebooking That Transforms Class Culture
Sandi Howard, Education Consultant, Authorable, Ocean Springs, MS

Learn how to use Interactive Observational Journaling to transform your class culture and change behavior management from reactive to proactive.
PK, E, M, CB, DS

11:00AM - 11:45AM

Station A

Inner Coaching for Educators: Designing SEL Lessons from the Heart Outward
Sena Lee, Co-founder, MILLU, La Mirada, CA

Discover how to design SEL that truly makes a difference. In this hands-on workshop, educators will explore a simple framework for turning everyday moments into immersive, play-based lessons that pass on vital life lessons, build character, and nurture confidence, empathy, and authentic connection—helping every student feel seen, valued, and inspired to grow.
E, M, MLA, DS 

Station B

GKI STEAM: Everyday Science, Extraordinary Learning
Raynee Russell, Operations Manager & Lead Teacher, Global Kindness Initiative, San Francisco, CA

Step into a world where science feels simple, creative, and alive. GKI STEAM makes discovery accessible for all learners—using everyday materials to spark big ideas, real-world connections, and joyful learning experiences. Join us for a hands-on STEAM session and experience how accessible, everyday learning can inspire innovation.
E, M, MLA, CB, DS 

Station C

Building Confidence Through Play
Jamie Limberg, Account Manager, Speed Stacks, Larkspur, CO

In this interactive Inspiration Station, participants will explore how movement-based play can strengthen social-emotional skills and create positive program culture. Through simple stacking challenges, attendees will see how goal-setting, perseverance, cooperation, and self-confidence naturally emerge when students are given the right tools and encouragement. This session delivers quick inspiration and practical ideas to energize students of all ages and abilities.
E, M, MLA, DS

Station D 

Lights! Camera! Action! Easy Stop Motion Animation
Marisa Miller, Consultant, Afterschool Publishing, Santa Barbara, CA  

Have you always wanted to do Stop Motion Animation in your program? Come have fun making awesome animations! Using a powerful and simple free app you will learn five styles of animation in minutes. Then we'll examine exactly what you need to know and to have to be able to make a wildly successful Stop Motion Animation program happen at your site(s). You'll walk away with a whole new skill and a full implementation plan specific to your needs. Come be the creative filmmaker you already are!
E, M, MLA, DS

Station E

From Plan-and-Prep to Plug-and-Play
Negar Yaghoobi, CEO, Enrilo, New York, NY

This interactive small-group workshop invites after-school leaders to explore a core question: how can we make enrichment more consistent in the real rhythm of after-school? Together, we will examine why enrichment often breaks down when it depends on extra planning and prep, what a plug-and-play model can mean in practice, and how leaders can reduce operational burden while creating more meaningful daily experiences.
E, MLA, DS

Station F

Make Music Anywhere: Creative, Low & No-Cost Tools for Bringing Music to Afterschool Programs
Lauren Casserly, Program Specialist, Elevo, San Diego, CA 

Looking to bring music into your afterschool program without stretching your budget? In this hands-on session, participants will explore DIY instruments, learn how to integrate STEAM through music, and discover free, ready-to-use music resources. Learn how to implement engaging music experiences in afterschool programs using low- and no-cost resources and share the strategies that have worked for you. Leave with practical tools to expand access to music in any program setting.
E, M, MLA, CB, DS

1:15PM - 2:00PM

Station A

How About a Feel-Good Pause?
Daniel Hatcher, Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships, Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Washington, D.C

Join a play-based Inspiration Station designed to help you pause, breathe, and reset. Together, we’ll create simple “Feel-Good" Plans. You’ll leave refreshed with a back-pocket resource. And yes, there will be lots of stickers!
M, H, MLA, DS

Station B

Show the Impact, Protect Your Budget: Making the Case for Expanded Learning
Rod Hsiao, CEO, InPlay, San Mateo, CA 

End-of-summer presentations can determine the future of your expanded learning programs. Will you be ready to make the strongest possible case?

In this interactive session, participants will plan for their presentation to the Superintendent, cabinet, and board by identifying key messages, data, and stories that demonstrate impact. Share strategies with peers and gain practical guidance from a former district board member and consultant for expanded learning coordinators.
E, M, H, ULA, MLA

Station C

Universal Mental Health Screening in Schools
Theresa Nguyen, LCSW, Chief Research Officer, Mental Health America, Alexandria, VA 

Mental Health America is piloting and launching a universal mental health screening tool in Fall 2026. This station will be a focus group and discussion about school-based mental health needs, including design and access to the following resources: mental health education in and out of school time, mental health screening, administrative data collection needs, linkage to specialty mental health care clinics, and best practices for leveraging data for grants.
M, H, ULA, CB

Station D 

Playful Strategies for Consistent Student Engagement
Sean Keelan, Regional Partnership Manager, Playworks, Oakland, CA

This interactive workshop explores playful strategies to get kids excited and involved in ANY program area. From attention getters and icebreakers to minute movers and grouping games, staff will learn play-based tools to energize, refocus, and engage kids throughout your programming.
E, M, MLA, DS

Station E

Station F

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Click the map below to view the Inspiration Station workshop space in a larger format. Inspiration Station locations are marked in yellow.

Inspiration Station Workshops contacts:

Inspiration Station Workshop FAQS

Who can host an Inspiration Station?

To be eligible, you must be registered for the conference and your account must be paid in full. Once you have registered and paid, you are eligible to apply. Please note we are only able to accept one application per organization/agency/company.  The annual due date to submit your Inspiration Station workshop application is December 31st. 

How much does an Inspiration Station cost?

There is no cost to host/facilitate an Inspiration Station workshop.  

Do I have to register for the conference to host an Inspiration Station?

Where and when do Inspiration Stations take place?

Inspiration Station workshops take place in the lobby adjacent area at round tables on Wednesday and Thursday during the conference. Please view the map above to see where Inspiration Station tables are located.

What are PROMISING PRACTICES for Inspiration Stations?

Successful Inspiration Station workshops start with a shared interest. Are you a Middle School leader looking for inspirational ideas to engage your students? Do you work with students with special needs and need strategies for making your program more inclusive? Are you developing a measurement and evaluation plan for your organization? Use your Inspiration Station to collaborate with other organizations on the same mission. 

Inspiration Stations are also an opportunity for BOOST Conference presenters to continue the conversation from their workshop, whether it be more in-depth on the topic of their workshop or another area of expertise you can offer BOOST Conference attendees.

For BOOST Conference exhibitors, Inspiration Station workshops are a great way to receive feedback on user interest in their product. With the help of BOOST Conference attendees, you can develop more ideas for possible or existing products and strategies for using the product more effectively. Please note that Inspiration Stations are a learning and connection-focused opportunity. No sales of products or services are permitted. 

An Inspiration Station workshop's intent is a small, intimate learning session. No sales of products or services are permitted. 

Please note that facilitators are not able to move/add tables or chairs and must abide by the Fire Marshall Code. 

How are Inspiration Stations selected?

Once we receive your application, we will confirm that your registration and your account are paid in full. We will then review your application to ensure it aligns with our goals and the intent of Inspiration Station workshops. We will then schedule your Inspiration Station workshop at your preferred time slot, subject to availability. Please note we are only able to accept one application per agency/organization/company. 

What A/V is provided for Inspiration Stations?

We do not provide A/V for Inspiration Station workshops. Since Inspiration Station workshops are intimate sessions, you are required to facilitate your session in a way that does not require any audio-visual equipment. Note: There is no electricity provided at Inspiration Stations.