JULIA GABOR

2024 Keynote Presenter

https://www.kid-grit.com/

KID-GRIT

Julia is an award-winning educator and keynote speaker. Born & raised in NYC; she comes from a diverse background. She is a passionate, youth development specialist, and the Founder of kid-grit, a vibrant social-emotional learning education company serving youth, educators, and leaders. She has trained thousands of educators across the US. In 2022, Julia won certification from the Women’s Business National Enterprise Council as a 100% Women Owned Business. She has received awards for her outstanding contribution to education across the nation from CAL STATE Fullerton, U.S. Representative for California, Lou Correa, and the BOOST Collaborative. Julia has presented and facilitated keynotes and learning sessions at over 100 conferences and for over 10,000 educators nationwide. She holds a master's in educational leadership from Antioch University.   

About kid-grit: 

• At kid-grit, our mission is to equip educators and students with knowledge and tools to build confidence, character, resilience, and self-care.

• We offer robust research-based programs that include curriculum, focused workshops, evidence-based professional development and coaching, leadership development programs and coaching, and workshops for families. Our offerings are anchored in themes that include emotional intelligence, mindfulness, wellness strategies, inclusion, self-awareness, digital literacy, and mastery of learning.

• PASSION → PERSEVERANCE/GRIT → SELF-CONFIDENCE → SUCCESS

Learn more about kid-grit here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS0Iv0ojGow 

MIKE ASHCRAFT

2024 Closing Presenter

https://www.childrens-choice.org/

CHILDREN’S CHOICE

Mike Ashcraft is a thought leader in the fields of positive child and youth development and out-of-school-time ( OST) programming. He is the Founder and Lead Learner of Children's Choice, a highly acclaimed and successful provider of OST programming in Albuquerque New Mexico, USA. Mike's mission in life is to continuously learn new and innovative theories and practices, passionately sharing them with others, and helping them benefit by developing their own competencies. He works with leaders, educators, & caregivers who want to have less stress, be more effective, & have more fun at work!

2024 CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

CONFERENCE OPENING  (7:30 am - 9:45 am)

Registration, Breakfast & Vendor Fair

(7:30 am - 8:30 am)          

Welcome, Land Acknowledgment, Sponsor Acknowledgement, and  SACDA Presentation

(8:30 am -8:45 am)

School Age Care Directors Association of Alberta

Keynote-KID-GRIT.

(8:45 am - 9:45 am) 

JULIA GABOR

Julia Gabor, the Founder of Kid-Grit, offers a personal and genuine glimpse into her upbringing on the streets of NYC, navigating life as a latchkey child in a challenging environment with a parent struggling with addiction. Her inspiring narrative is replete with qualities of resilience and tenacity. Julia seamlessly transitions her journey into an exploration of how her lived experiences shape her current work in the realm of social-emotional learning.

In this session, she not only shares her story but also provides insights for education leaders on adopting a holistic approach that can instigate cultural change within any educational community. Julia engages participants in discussions, weaving practical ideas for both schools and out-of-school time programs that attendees can readily implement. The session promises to be a refreshing, candid, and interactive experience.

SESSION ONE  (10:00 am - 11:15 am)                                                          

WORKSHOPS

Raise Them Up!

Focus: Everyone

Julia Gabor

Raise Them Up! The kid-grit approach to SEL! In this workshop, we will engage staff in addressing self-regulation in areas of mindfulness, healthy behaviors, tolerance and empathy, and digital/social consciousness. This workshop provides a BRAND-NEW approach to helping staff develop motivation, positive behavior, and resilience. We will provide team building and hands-on activities to implement in your organization as soon as tomorrow!

8 Habits of Highly Effective Afterschool Leaders

Focus: Everyone

Mike Ashcraft

How can you be more effective at leading others in the afterschool profession? Attend this event and explore the traits, passions, and habits required to be a highly effective afterschool leader. These 8 habits are essential for afterschool professionals in leading children. Come investigate these powerful elements and learn practical and useful approaches to enhance these traits and transform yourself and others into extraordinary afterschool leaders.

Reality-Based Leadership: Thriving in Change

Focus: Leadership / Director

Jennifer Bulmer

Revolutionize your approach to leadership with our transformative workshop on eliminating ego-driven behaviours and reshaping workplace dynamics.  In this dynamic session, we delve into the detrimental impact of ego-driven behaviours on personal and professional growth, offering practical strategies to help your team break free from the need for approval, defensiveness, and resistance to feedback.

Discover the power of reality-based leadership, guiding your staff to perceive the world as it is, free from distorted perceptions and personal biases. Accountability takes center stage as we explore coaching techniques that empower your team to solve problems effectively and take ownership of what they can control.

In this hands-on workshop, you'll gain invaluable insight into creating a workplace free from drama, fostering open communication, and building a positive culture that thrives on collaboration. Embrace a leadership mindset that goes beyond formal authority, influencing your team through competence, collaboration, and a commitment to shared success.

Join us for an engaging and practical workshop that equips you with the tools to challenge the status quo, inspire your team, and cultivate a workplace culture that encourages continuous learning and growth. Transform your leadership style and propel your organization toward success.

We Need to Talk- Positive Guidance

Focus: Front Line

Sharon Ness

You need to have a tough conversation and you have no idea what you are going to say or how to begin. Sound familiar? This workshop provides real-world examples, easy-to-follow strategies, and tips for resolving difficult situations. Participants will work through scenarios highlighting some of the most common and challenging conversations that leaders and team members need to have with the people they work with. They will explore strategies to ground themselves and be better prepared to navigate workplace difficulties with more confidence and success. During the workshop, the participants will:

• Reflect on current practice

• Develop practical, applicable skills that support best practices

• Build their professional development portfolio

• Network and share new ideas with peers

• Leave with new ideas that can be implemented right away

• Build professional peer relationships

• Promote professionalism

Building Trans-Affirming Spaces

Focus: Front Line

Amelia Newbert

In this session, participants will gain knowledge, skills, and confidence in being able to effectively support their trans and gender-diverse patients, colleagues, and community members in an inclusive and affirming way. We will review core concepts surrounding gender diversity; discuss the discrimination and barriers facing trans and gender-diverse communities; explore evidence-based practices and the foundational principles of gender-affirming care; and, provide and empower participants in the implementation of tangible actions they can act on to create more affirming spaces.

AB Active After School Guidelines 2.0: Inclusive Play Strategies

Focus: Front Line

Erynn Biggar

AB Active After Schools Guidelines have been updated! We've been busy providing in-person training and promoting our new online module; taking a deep dive into inclusive play strategies. In this session, you will get highlights from the latest training, along with new game ideas with a fresh outlook on inclusive play. Dress comfortably and prepare to move as this session is for everybody!

Cracker Barrel Sessions

In My World There Are No Bad Kids

Focus: Front Line

Melissa Bentley

Prevention is the best intervention! This session is designed to help front-line educators with challenging behaviors by bridging the gap between research and real practice. Through a process of collaboration, reflection, and active dialogue, you will learn why school age children behave the way they do, suggestions on how to prevent most challenging behaviors, and develop skills and attitudes that will enable you to respond effectively when challenging behaviors do occur (because let’s be real, we can’t prevent everything!).

Beyond the Playground: Supporting All Types of Play When You Go Outside

Focus: All Three- Supporting outdoor play comes from the leadership and trickles down!

Brittany Caldwell

Unleash the limitless potential of outdoor play with our stimulating workshop - "Beyond the Playground: Supporting All Types of Play Outside". Designed with educators and program leaders in mind, this workshop aims to equip you with the tools to foster diverse play styles among children - be it quiet reading, active physical play, or creative art activities. Recognizing that each child is unique, we've crafted a special learning environment that encourages their individual preferences, helping to nurture their physical, cognitive, and social abilities. Learn to create dynamic outdoor opportunities that not only facilitate active engagement but also promote a sense of adventure, curiosity, and imagination. Beyond physical games, it's about igniting passion and stirring creativity. With our workshop, you'll learn to stimulate the bookworms, challenge the energetic, and inspire the builders and creators. This all-rounded approach will ensure that every child makes the best out of their outdoor play experience. Join us in this enlightening journey, where we redefine the boundaries of traditional playgrounds and pave the way for a holistic child development program. After all, there's an entire world Beyond the Playground, waiting to be explored!

Lunch & Vendor Fair (11:30 am - 12:45 pm)                                    

Vendor Fair

Get your chance to visit any of our 15+ vendors and sponsors this year. Make connections, find something new to bring back to your program, or collect stamps to enter to win any of our fabulous door prizes!

Menus

Our menu provides choices for most dietary restrictions including dairy and gluten allergies. For further information, please contact us at schoolageconference@gmail.com.

SESSION TWO (12:45 pm - 2:00 pm)                                                           

WORKSHOPS

Slowing Down With Gratitude

Focus: Everyone

Julia Gabor

Reflecting and continuing with the content of the previous session, participants will share their wellness and healthy behavior accomplishments. In this session, we will explore gratitude as a tool for maintaining happiness and building relationships within yourself, with teams, and one-on-one. Participants will continue to develop healthy activities and accountability forums addressing — Mindfulness, Body Awareness, Community and Connection, and Digital and Social Media Consciousness in order to build new habits that promote learning, connection, and a sense of community.

Learning to Lead!

Focus: Leadership/Director

Mike Ashcraft

How can you develop a motivated, enthusiastic, high-performing staff team with a high level of commitment?  Attend this event! Oftentimes, people who work well with children become leaders and administrators of the program. The purpose of this session is to help those leaders be more effective at leading adults. Explore the complex systems of afterschool leadership, leaderly learning, and learn how to develop vision, and a culture of innovation, empowerment, and teamwork. Learn how to create dialog, how to learn the most from mistakes, and how to design a workplace that is safe for thinking and innovation. Learn the secret art of leading with love, servant leadership, and creating a learning organization.

Indigenous Allyship through a Child Care Lens

Focus: Front Line

Brandie Odenbach

Back due to popular demand from the 2023 SACDA Conference!

Have you ever wondered how you can be a better ally to the Indigenous community in child care but don't know where to begin on your allyship journey? Then this session is for you! In this session we will address how to confront and interrupt oppression, show up, and speak up; how to listen to marginalized people's lived experiences; learn and educate ourselves about privilege and structures of oppression; and be aware of how much space we occupy and how we can put Indigenous people and culture at the forefront of the work we do as an ally.

We know the environment you construct around you and the children reflects the image you have about the child, and our vision is to inspire Educators across Alberta to reflect on the image they have of Indigenous children and foster new ways of incorporating Indigenous culture into our programming and being a supportive ally to children from marginalized communities.

Mighty Transitions! Transitions that work!

Focus: Everyone

Tina Geers

Transitions can be either stressful or successful! It depends if we use our magic wand or not! And YES! There is a magic wand for successful transitions. Being intentional with our transitional activities, and ensuring they are responsive to the needs and interests of the children we work with is the key! Every transition doesn't work for every child, so we need a pocketbook full of quick, and sometimes longer, transitional ideas to help children feel successful when change is happening. Reducing stress, for both you and the children, and minimizing dysregulation during transitions are two of the main goals of successful transitions.

Let's look at all the obstacles and possible outcomes of mighty transitions as we work through a variety of tools and strategies that you can adopt and adapt to your OSC environment. Not only will we be brainstorming strategies, games, and tools that work, but we will also be trying out some of these strategies together!

Follow the Leader: A Practical Approach to Inclusive Leadership

Focus: Leadership / Director

Melissa Bentley

Come unlock your inner leader! Whether you are new to a leadership role or have a wealth of experience, join me for this fun, interactive, and highly motivating session to explore a practical framework of techniques that will help you reflect on your own leadership style and push you to step outside of your comfort zone to create an inclusive environment for your team. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to becoming a leader in our industry. Every center and community is different, and what works for you might not for others.

This session aims to provide you with industry-tested, research-driven tips and tricks that will help you incorporate inclusive practices into your day-to-day operations as a leader. Through a process of collaboration and active dialogue, you will learn what it takes to become an inclusive leader and find new ways of influencing and inspiring the teams you lead.

Remember, “People don’t leave bad jobs, they leave bad leaders!

Beyond the Bell: The Educator’s role in creating environments that foster connection, engagement and belonging in OSC

Focus: Front Line

Janice Comrie

Using current research on children in the middle years, this session emphasizes the vital role of connection in nurturing belonging, and in shaping positive environments. Through an interactive format, participants will consider their role in making these connections in both daily routines and planned activities, in ways that match children’s interests and needs. This workshop will provide real-life examples, while also providing links to research briefs and tip sheets for further learning.

Cracker Barrel Sessions

Bushcraft Basics: For Mental Health & WellBeing

Focus: Leadership / Director

Melissa Pearce

Bushcraft Basics Outdoors: For Mental Health & Wellbeing. What is mental health? This is a broad term that rests within a continuum we all exist on. This changes day by day, and through different life experiences & challenges. It encompasses our psychological, social, and emotional well-being while it impacts our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and physical experiences. What would it look like if we could support these needs in the outdoors? How could teaching basic bushcraft be used as a valuable tool in doing so?

Join Melissa to discuss what being outdoors does to our cortisol levels, and how emotional well-being can be improved in outdoor settings that promote resiliency, perseverance, safe risk-taking, and empowerment.

Art and Mindfulness for Mental Wellness

Focus: Everyone

Jaymee Polowick

Incorporating art as a tool for mindfulness offers numerous benefits for children, fostering their holistic development and enhancing the educational experience. There are several ways in which art positively impacts children in schools, from supporting the development of motor skills, enhancing cognitive development, supporting emotional regulation, and cultivating executive function skills. For many children, art is one of the most effective forms of non-verbal communication and can open the door for social connection, Mindful focus, and enhanced self-esteem.

By integrating art into the school curriculum, educators can create a more comprehensive and enriching learning environment that nurtures the intellectual, emotional, and social development of children. The creative process not only enriches their developmental experiences but also provides a platform for self-reflection and personal growth. By the end of this workshop, you will reach a better understanding of the impact art has on the developing child, and the importance of our role as educators. As students learn about art, we not only provide a vehicle for self-discovery, learning, and personal growth, but open the door for future skills of mindfulness and wellness, thereby contributing to their healthy, happy, and resilient futures.

SESSION THREE (2:15 pm - 3:30 pm)                                                        

WORKSHOPS

Mindful Conflict Resolution Solutions

Focus: Leadership/Director

Julia Gabor

Disgruntled, disengaged, and disconnected staff have your head spinning? Searching for mindful and safe communication strategies to utilize when having hard conversations with staff? Then, this session is for you! Join us and explore non-threatening and inclusive, simple-toimplement communication strategies. These activities support your work as a leader in order to build a perfectly productive team and a positive work culture. Leave with new ideas for building a collaborative and cooperative team!

Sneakin’ In S.T.E.M.: S.T.E.M. Is AWESOME!

Focus: Everyone

Mike Ashcraft

You don’t have to be a teacher to include STEM after school. Buckle your seatbelts! In this fast-paced, hands-on STEM session we will share our most popular science and engineering activities that you can explore with your kids. Featuring: Puff Car, Engineering Provocations, Rainbow Polymers, Oobleck, Color Chromatography, Stop Animation, Seltzer Rockets, Diaper Science, Slinky Science, Sharpie Science, and more!

ADHD: What Educators Need to Know

Focus: Front Line

Tanya Keto

What Educators Need to Know The classroom environment can pose challenges for a child with ADHD. The very tasks these students find the most difficult—sitting still, listening quietly, concentrating—are the ones they are required to do all day long. Perhaps most frustrating of all is that most of these children want to be able to learn and behave like their neurotypical peers. Neurological deficits, not unwillingness, keep kids with attention deficit disorder from learning in traditional ways. Educators play a key role in setting these students on a path to success!

HIGH FIVE® (in a Nutshell): Canada's Only Quality Standard for Children's Recreation Programs

Focus: Everyone

Jen Goers

HIGH FIVE® is Canada's only quality standard for children's recreation programs. It ensures staff have knowledge and expertise in healthy child development, empowers organizations to provide quality programming, and helps caregivers make informed choices.

Through this national certification program (aligned with NCCP, Sport for Life, and Canadian Women in Sport), recreation and sports staff learn about the five Principles and three Design Guidelines that ensure every child has a quality experience by understanding their role in leading the program, the power of social connection, ways to build play into every activity, ensure participants experience mastery, and the importance of participation as well as how we make activities developmentally appropriate, safe, and welcoming of diversity.

Learn how your staff can become some of the thousands of staff who are certified in HIGH FIVE® across Alberta each year!

The Need for Nature: How Outdoor Programming Helps Build Connection & Better Mental Health

Focus: Leadership / Director

Sarah Reader

Contact with nature is essential in our day-to-day lives - it connects us to ourselves and each other and increases our physical and emotional health. Being outdoors helps build compassion and kindness, improves social bonds and relationships, impacts our personal development, and allows us to feel lighter and happier. While out in nature we engage all our senses; we can fully immerse ourselves in the experience which helps to recover from cognitive fatigue. Since the beginning of the pandemic, children and youth have been experiencing more mental health challenges, particularly those in vulnerable groups such as those with pre-existing mental health challenges, those with physical disabilities, and racial and ethnic minorities. Research shows that spending regular time in nature helps you to become more creative, a better problem solver, have increased focus, and improve your ability to build resilience to handle stresses in your life. Join Sarah as she talks about the social, emotional, and mental health benefits of spending time and playing in nature and gives you practical tips on how to bring nature back into your life, classrooms, and programs.

Process Art for the School Age Child

Focus: Front Line

Brittany Caldwell

Unleash the creativity within every child! Join our workshop: 'Process Art for School Aged Kids', specially structured for educators working in after-school care settings. Instead of focusing on a final product, we shift the emphasis to the creative journey, transforming the most resistant students into enthusiastic creators. This hands-on workshop will allow you to test drive some fun process art activities and find joy in the materials yourself. You will then be able to transfer your knowledge of these new materials and practices to your programs! Learn unconventional approaches to engage students in a non-judgmental, open-ended exploration of materials. Develop techniques to nurture independence and artistic dexterity among students, inspiring them to leave their comfort zones and dare to experiment.

CRACKER BARRELS

Defiance or Stress Response? Reframing Challenging Behaviour to Support Regulation and Participation

Focus: Front Line

Gina Blank

Using key concepts from the Neurorelational Framework, educators will explore important paradigm shifts to reframe their understanding of, and approach to responding to, challenging behavior. This workshop will consider the stress responses children may experience, which can position educators to proactively co-regulate with children, as well as support children’s self-regulation skills over time.

A Children's Rights Approach to Practice

Focus: Everyone

Dr. E. Henderson Dekort

In this interactive session, participants will be introduced to the UNCRC and consider how they might incorporate a child rights approach to their practice. This will include practical strategies and tools for incorporating a child rights approach to practice and curriculum planning. Participants will also learn how to work with children so they understand their rights, and how to build awareness and education for parents and community members about children's rights.

Mindful Conflict Resolution Solutions Disgruntled, disengaged, and disconnected staff have your head spinning? Searching for mindful and safe communication strategies to utilize when having hard conversations with staff? Then, this session is for you! Join us and explore non-threatening and inclusive, simple-to-implement communication strategies. These activities support your work as a leader to build a perfectly productive team and a positive work culture. Leave with new ideas for building a collaborative and cooperative team!

CLOSING PRESENTATION - (3:30 pm - 4:30 pm)

Games That Build Community F.A.S.T.

Hosted By Mike Ashcraft

Learn games that help kids and staff learn how to handle making mistakes.  Learn “in case of emergency” games to use when your group has to wait for the next thing to happen. Learn name games, get-to-know-you games, circle games, silly low-stress games, team-building challenges, and more.  This is a hands-on experience and a time to share some favorite proven games and activities perfect for afterschool programs, summer camps, or staff team building events. 

Wrap-up

Door Prize Draws Presented by the 2024 Conference Committee

Certificate of Attendance

You deserve credit for your professional development experience! Take a moment to complete your SACDA evaluation form (link found in your conference book) and trade it in for your Certificate of Attendance. Because you're worth it!

REGISTRATION NOW

SOLD OUT!

HOW TO REGISTER

1. CLICK the REGISTER HERE button above.

2. Decide which workshops you would like to attend and a backup for each session in case your first choice is full. You can download the Workshop schedule and information HERE.

3. Fill out your Conference Session choices and click REGISTER to purchase your Registration.

4. Once finished, you will be sent a confirmation email. If your chosen workshop is already full, our committee will add you to your next choice of workshop.

5. THAT’S IT! You're all ready to go! We are excited to see you on March 9th, 2024!

   Registration includes breakfast, lunch, coffee, and tea, plus workshops and access to the Vendor and Exhibitor fair.

   Attendees must be registered individually.

Not sure if your organization is a SACDA Member or not? Email calgarysacda@gmail.com or purchase a membership HERE!