Training
NJSACC offers training workshops throughout the year at locations across the state. In addition, we can also provide on-site training at your workplace.
See NJSACC calendar for upcoming training events »
Some of the topics we cover are:
- Hands-on Science
- Adventures in Peacemaking (conflict resolution)
- Ages and Stages (child development)
- Inclusion of Special Needs Children
- Team-building
- Imagine: After School Space that Works!
- That's a Family
- Let's Get Real
- Programming for Tweens or Middle School
- The ABC's of Playground Safety
- Program Planning
- Ages & Stages
- Make it, Take it Crafts
- Hurry Up & Wait! & Fantastic Finales
- Hands on Science
- Promoting Positive Behavior
- Games ,Games , Games
- 21st Century Afterschool Science Project
- Celebrate Afterschool! Outdoors in the Garden State
- Summer 101
- Celebrate What’s Right with the World
- And much more...
We can also work with you to design training sessions to meet your particular needs. For information about programs and fees, contact Jessica Heiberg at 908-789-0259 email Jessica.
NJSACC Calendar
Training Topics
Adventures in Peacemaking
In this conflict resolution workshop, participants will be provided with tools and skill development that will help children to deal with conflict effectively and without violence.
Imagine: Afterschool Space that Works!
This interactive workshop will explore the components of quality indoor space design for afterschool programs. Participants will be exposed to a variety of resources and techniques. This workshop is based on the book Imagine: Afterschool Space That Works, written by Mav Pardee and published by NJSACC.
That's a Family
In this workshop, based on the groundbreaking video That's a Family, you will see the many different shapes that families take today. Designed especially for elementary-school children, the video takes you in to the lives of children in a variety of family situations, explaining concepts like birth mom, mixed race, guardian, gay and lesbian and step dad. The film's message of inclusion and respect for all is a crucial one for children and adults to learn.
Let's Get Real
This workshop, featuring the documentary Let's Get Real, will give you information and insight into how to open up a dialogue with young people on name-calling and bullying. The film features middle-schoolers talking honestly about the bullying that goes on in their schools and draws a connection between bullying and other forms of prejudice.
Programming for Tweens or Middle School
Developing activities for Tweens - children ages 8 through 14 - is both rewarding and challenging. Important aspects of doing this successfully include hiring and training appropriate staff, planning multiple week activities with youth making presentations or final products, communicating with parents and keeping them excited about attending. This workshop will be geared to both new and existing programs.
The ABC's of Playground Safety
Using the National Program for Playground Safety Safe Supervision Kit, you will learn how to analyze the playground for potential problems and hazards; how to recognize unsafe play; how to effectively monitor play areas; how to develop methods of communication for use in emergency situations; and how to develop an effective supervision plan to reduce injuries and promote safe play.
Program Planning
Quality Programs offer activities that are fun, enriching and educational. This workshop will provide strategies for staff to develop activities and programming that are enriching, educational and age appropriate. Staff will be introduced to best practices for quality in school age programs. Participants will explore implementing best practices into programming and discuss and share ideas.
Ages & Stages
After school programs are not pre-school programs with bigger chairs and more food. Learn how to design a program that meets the cognitive, physical and motional needs of the children you serve.
Make it, Take it Crafts
Staff leading crafts have more success leading activities and getting child participation when they have experimented with a project and have a sample to show the children. Participants will make craft projects to have samples to bring home. All projects are low cost and creatively made from items around the home, inexpensive and leftover craft items.
Hurry Up & Wait! & Fantastic Finales
How many times has your group rushed to get ready for their next activity only to have to sit and wait for it to start? Participants will learn quick games to play with school-age children while you are waiting for the bus, filling up a few extra minutes in between activities or when you just want to have some quick fun. You've almost made it-it's the last ten minutes of the day. Everything I put away but you still have several children waiting to get picked up. What do you do? Reach for Fantastic Finales. These activities will keep your children entertained and challenged for those last few minutes with little or no supplies.
Hands on Science
Afterschool programs are a great opportunity to reinforce skills and information learned during the school day in a fun way. Participants will use common household items to explore scientific operations that are gooey, slimy and exciting for kids to experiment with, all while learning basic scientific principals that make connections to the school day.
Promoting Positive Behavior
Afterschool programs have a great "out of school" challenge when it comes to children's behavior. Kids want to have fun and often cross the line with negative behaviors. This workshop will explore reasons for negative behavior and discuss establishing a framework that promotes positive behavior and constructive discipline.
Designing and Implementing an Inclusionary Afterschool Program.
Learn how to provide support services and collaborate with school staff, counselors and parents to develop a plan for offering an Afterschool program to children with IEP's and other disabilities.
21st Century Afterschool Science Project
Infusing Science in Afterschool Programs through an Inquiry-Based "Water" Curriculum
This workshop will provide afterschool staff with a free science curriculum funded by the New Jersey Department of Education. The curriculum is designed to enrich student learning through inquiry-based, interactive science experiences using every day materials. Participants will receive an overview of the 21 lessons and have the opportunity to experience activities included in the program. This fun and engaging “water” curriculum is easy to implement and reinforces NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards in science, literacy, and math. Join us for an introduction on how you can bring science into afterschool. All participants will receive a copy of the curriculum.
Summer 101
Getting ready for summer made easier with this workshop that will cover Basic Summer necessities like Playground Safety, Sun & Water Safety, Planning and Programming, Discipline and working with families. 2 hours jam packed with information that would be helpful to any new summer staff member or even as a refresher for returning staff. Great for planning for the end of the school year as well.
Games, Games, Games
All about playing games. Many where no one is eliminated, many with limited materials, all active, engaging and fun. Come dressed to play!
Academic Enrichment in Afterschool
This training will look at afterschool programming through an academic enrichment lens which will support school day learning by addressing individual student needs and interests.
Team Building
It's true, a team that plays together stays together. Teambuilding with staff and kids can be challenging, but should be fun. You will leave with easy teambuilding activities to bring to your staff and kids. Come to this hands on workshop dressed to play and have fun.
Celebrate What's Right with the World
This inspirational, best-selling training program utilizes stunning photography and powerful dialogue to help viewers approach their lives with celebration, confidence, and grace. Need to refresh staff and overcome burnout? Do you just need to re-energize your enthusiasm for Afterschool?
In Celebrate What's Right With The World, Dewitt Jones asks: Do we choose to see possibilities? Do we really believe they’re there? He assures us that there is always more than one right answer. Celebrating what's right with the world helps us recognize the possibilities and find solutions for the challenges before us.
Celebrate Afterschool! Outdoors in the Garden State
NJSACC: The Network for New Jersey’s Afterschool Communities is promoting the value of making the connection between nature and children through a campaign, Outdoors in the Garden State. Discover the importance of outdoor play as well as resources for hands-on activities to bring the outdoors in.
