NJSACC’s 2025-2026 Professional Development Opportunities
NJSACC offers a variety of engaging virtual and in-person professional development and technical assistance opportunities for all staff working in school-age child care, afterschool, and out-of-school-time (OST) programs.
Guided by the New Jersey Quality Standards for Afterschool (NJQSA), training topics include leading activities, behavior and inclusion, team building, leadership development, program planning/management, STEM, Social Emotional Learning (SEL), working with families, and so much more!
Check out the professional development opportunities being offered by NJSACC this year.
Register soon – space is limited!
Back for another year, NJSACC’s Behavior & Inclusion workshop series continues for 2025-26! Be sure to register for these grant funded, cost free evening offerings ASAP.
BEHAVIOR & INCLUSION SERIES – Supporting Social Emotional Literacy
Registration is though NJCCIS Event ID 149856
This training will ask participants to focus on the essential question: How do feelings and emotions impact children/youth? Join NJSACC and our trainer from Kids Included Together (KIT) for this virtual workshop that will explore strategies to help youth build social and emotional literacy skills to better understand and manage their emotions and behavior.
This grant funded, cost free workshop is appropriate for all levels of school age OST staff.
Tuesday, 2/10/26, 6:45-7:45pm
BEHAVIOR & INCLUSION SERIES – Planning Support for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Registration is through NJCCIS. Event ID 149857
Autism Spectrum Disorder influences the developmental skills of youth in a variety of ways that can impact their participation and relationships. Join NJSACC and our trainer from Kids Included Together (KIT) for this virtual workshop exploring strategies to support social interactions, communication, and the sensory processing needs of the youth in our care.
This grant funded, cost free workshop is appropriate for all levels of school age OST staff.
Tuesday, 3/10/26, 6:45-7:45pm
BEHAVIOR & INCLUSION SERIES – Meaningful Interactions
Registration is through NJCCIS. Event ID 149858
Positive relationships are the foundation for supporting youth, but making connections with every youth is not always easy, especially with youth who consistently show concerning or unsafe behavior. In this virtual workshop, led by our Kids Included Together (KIT) trainer, we’ll gain valuable tools and explore how self-reflection and acknowledgement can be used to build trust and positive relationships.
This grant funded, cost free workshop is appropriate for all levels of school age OST staff.
Tuesday, 5/5/26, 6:45-7:45pm
Youth Mental Health First Aid
The Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) certification course empowers participants to recognize, understand, and respond effectively to mental health and substance use challenges in youth ages 12–18. This valuable training supports staff, benefits the young people they serve, and promotes the well-being of the entire community.
Spaces are limited; register today to secure your spot!
For more information, please contact Patricia Pugliese at ppugliese@njsacc.org.
Summer by Design: Creating Culture, Community, and Moments That Matter
NJSACCÂ TRAINING
Tue, May 12, 2026
Join NJSACC for this unique summer camp training opportunity with national trainer Kim Aycock!
When the summer begins with little transition time, it is easy for programs to simply continue the school-year rhythm in a new season. Camp has the potential to feel fundamentally different — even when it happens in the same building, with the same staff, and many of the same young people. During our time together, we will look at how intentional choices shape a summer culture that feels distinct, energizing, and deeply relational from the very first day. Practical strategies for building belonging and community quickly through tone, rituals, expectations, and shared experiences will set the foundation before turning to the often-overlooked moments between scheduled activities where camp’s greatest impact often happens. From arrival to transitions to endings, discover how ordinary moments become the defining experiences that help summer stand apart from afterschool programming so that summer feels different, meaningful, and intentionally designed rather than simply an extension of the school year.
- This virtual training via zoom is most appropriate for leadership staff.
- Mini-Conference participants may attend FREE first come first serve, but must register to hold their place. Information to be sent to registrants as appropriate.
Trainer Bio: Kim Aycock, MST, equips emerging leaders with skills robots are unable to do. While blending the talents of a master teacher with the knowledge of a seasoned camp expert, Kim ignites learning for varying levels of camp pros worldwide through her interactive & innovative presentations. Kim speaks at regional/national conferences, contributes regularly to Camping Magazine and serves as co-chair of ACA’s Staff Recruitment & Retention Committee/Staffing Summit.
Mini-Conference for Summer Camp Leadership
It’s no big secret, the key to a great summer camp experience is a great staff team! Join us on May 14 for our statewide in person mini-conference specifically for day camp leadership. We’ll focus on components and training tips that help build high quality staff teams towards a high quality summer camp experience for all. This one day event will be held centrally in the state at BGC of Mercer County in Lawrenceville.
training tips that help build high quality teams
Coaching for Success in OST Using the GROW Model
NJSACCÂ TRAINING
Wed, May 20, 2026
Join NJSACC for this unique training opportunity with national trainers
Jeff Leiken & Allison Corey Miller!
The corporate world invests over $5 billion annually in coaching employees, but out-of-school time (OST) has barely begun to tap the potential of this potent tool. This highly interactive session will introduce the distinctions that differentiate coaching your staff from the more common and traditional approach of managing, counseling, and problem-solving. It will introduce the GROW Model (Goal, Reality, Options, Will) and demonstrate how applying this methodology with staff builds their skills, confidence, and independence.
·      This virtual training via zoom is most appropriate for leadership staff.
·      Mini-Conference participants may attend FREE first come first serve, but must register to hold their place. Details will be sent to registrants as appropriate.Â
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Trainer Bio: Jeff Leiken is a coach, trainer, and author with over 30 years of experience consulting with camps and youth development organizations worldwide. As the founder of Evolution Mentoring, he helps professionals and parents elevate their impact by fostering confidence, purpose, and authenticity in young people. Jeff’s work has been featured in USA Today in the article “There is an Urgency to Move Beyond Diagnosing: Instead, We Must Elevate Youth’s Mental Health,” highlighting his mission to help youth thrive beyond labels.Â
Trainer Bio: Allison Corey Miller is a veteran camp director with 28 years of experience and a board-certified coach who leads Summer Camp Coaching, a program designed to help camp professionals strengthen their leadership, management, and coaching skills. Before her career in camping, Allison worked as an attorney and served as Head of Human Resources for Sotheby’s, specializing in training and development. She is also an ACA Lead Visitor, a mentor in the ACA Mentorship Program, and the CEO of Happy Camper Live, a platform that brings the magic of summer camp to kids year-round.
NEW for 2025-26, NJSACC will offer 3 PLCs (Peer Learning Communities) that will meet virtually via zoom for networking, information sharing, and more! Space is limited for these grant funded free opportunities & is first come first served, so don’t miss out – register ASAP!
OST Leaders PLCÂ Now in its 3rd year, this PLC is open to all OST leaders in NJ & starts in October.
Young Professionals PLCÂ This new PLC is open to all OST leaders under age 30 to explore OST leadership from their unique perspective. This group will start in December.
Urban Communities PLCÂ This new PLC will explore the unique joys & challenges of providing OST in urban communities. This group will start in December.
More details can be found on the registration page below.
APPLICATION DEADLINE OCTOBER 20, 2025
Please Contact Quality Team Director Dagmar Wojcik at dwojcik@njsacc.org with any questions regarding this opportunity.
