Breakfast Club Blog
The BOOST Breakfast Club Blog is a curated space where bloggers from around the world contribute content on a continual basis about a variety of topics relevant to in and out-of-school time. The BOOST Breakfast Club blog is at the heart of an ongoing dialogue where expanded learning and education professionals share their personal thoughts and stories from the in and out-of-school time field. They also tell us what they ate for breakfast!
The BOOST Breakfast Club Blog is Brain Food for In and Out-of-School Time Leaders!
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Creating the Program Kids Want: Promising Practices to Boost After-School Attendance
Join us for an interactive workshop and opportunity to learn from and with other Expanded Learning leaders about what’s working and not working “yet” in their program. You’ll leave with concrete tools to increase student engagement and a clear plan for improving after-school program attendance that is place-based and focused on your students’ needs. Read More
Show Me the Money: Introduction to Grants World
Grants serve a critical role for schools and expanded learning programs; however, getting started can often seem daunting. This session will provide an overview to explore the various types of funding that after school programs and school sites are eligible for. The session will cover basic techniques that can easily be put into practice to strengthen participants’ skills around grant research, alignment to existing initiatives, and overall assessment of funding opportunities. Read More
STEM Identity Matters: How to Help Youth See Themselves in STEM (and Stay There)
In this interactive session, participants will explore a research-based framework for building STEM identity through four key pillars: belonging, capability, connection, and creativity. You’ll learn how to guide youth to see themselves as STEM thinkers and doers. Through role models, storytelling, and hands-on strategies, you’ll leave feeling empowered with practical tools to create inclusive programs where students don’t just participate in STEM, they discover it as part of wh... Read More
#iAmImpact Healing Circles
#iAmImpact Healing Circles are a restorative practice that invites participants into intentional dialogue. In this high-energy and engaging activity, participants will be challenged to explore what it means to be restorative in youth development work. Read More
TK-Tastic Adventures: Learning to Play (and Playing to Learn!) with Our Youngest Learners
Ever feel like your Transitional Kindergarten (TK) students are tiny, energetic, and curious little humans sent to teach you a whole new language? You’re not alone! Working with four-year-olds in an expanded learning setting is a delightful, yet unique, adventure. Join us for a joyful, jam-packed session that will turn your TK program into a developmentally appropriate, standard-achieving wonderland! We’ll stop guessing and start knowing exactly what makes these little explorers tick. Come prepa... Read More
Supporting Neurodiverse Students: Building Equity, Access, and Belonging in Expanded Learning Spaces
Expanded Learning programs play a powerful role in creating spaces where every student feels seen, supported, and capable of success. Yet, many traditional approaches to neurodiverse students still rely on deficit-based views of disability. This interactive session invites expanded learning professionals to reframe how they understand and respond to neurodiversity through an equity and access lens. Participants will explore the difference between the medical and social models of disability, exam... Read More
Connect, Collaborate, Celebrate: Build Lasting Relationships in Your After-School Program
Join us for an engaging workshop designed to empower after-school staff with the tools and mindset to connect, collaborate, and celebrate within their programs. Participants will explore strategies for understanding commitment, fostering active participation, and building strong relationships with students, families, and the community. Enjoy fun interactions while setting meaningful goals to enhance your after-school environment and culture. Read More
25 Fabulous Enrichment Ideas & Where to Get More
This is your time to remember what is it all about, having FUN with your children through intentional youth development! Get inspired and take your enrichment game to the next level as we explore a ton of fabulous ideas. We’ll also examine many low-cost and free resources to keep the fabulous ideas flowing once you are back home. A fast, interactive experience as you customize fabulous enrichment just right for your program! Read More
Let’s Make Wellness Work: Simple Steps to Big Impact
Join us for an energizing session filled with movement, mindfulness, and practical tools to support wellness for youth and staff. Explore Healthier Generation’s free Online Action Center – your go-to hub for ready-to-use resources that align with funding and sustainability goals. Designed for afterschool and education leaders, you’ll leave recharged, inspired, and equipped to lead lasting change in your program or school. Read More
Uncover Your Purpose: Discovering and Defining Your WHY.
Embark on a transformative journey to uncover the core of your motivation! This engaging workshop presentation invites participants to dive deep into their values, passions, and aspirations. Participants can expect to engage in the following: Interactive Exercises Values Assessment Drafting Your WHY Statement Sharing and Feedback Action Plan Development Presenter: Dwayne Wiggins, Jr., Owner/Founder, A Human. Being!, La Mesa, CA Read More
Coaching Through Chaos: Helping Staff Navigate in Uncertain Times
This informative session offers after-school leaders a practical guide to help staff navigate change and uncertainty. Through real talk, tools, and reflection, we will explore five strategies: Adapt, Anticipate, Act with Excellence, Achieve More with Less, and Manage Fear. Whether you lead a small team or a large site, you’ll leave with tools, ideas, and a renewed mindset to support your staff through tough times. Presenters: Ray Trinidad, CEO, !Mpact People/Players; Gabe Ogilvie, Co-Founder, !M... Read More
Cultivating Youth Voice through Entrepreneurship!
Education activist Paulo Freire once said that education should nurture our youth as agents of change—empowering them to transform the world they’ve inherited instead of conforming to it. Our IMCEO program is dedicated to supporting high school students in launching businesses that tackle pressing issues in their communities. Hear directly from our young CEOs as they share how they created impactful businesses that resonate deeply with their communities. Read More