Youth Development Educator Professional Development

What We Offer

Supporting educators with practical, meaningful learning rooted in youth development best practices.

We provide professional development for youth-serving educators and afterschool professionals that is engaging, relevant, and grounded in real-world practice. Our sessions center the relationships, skills, and systems that help young people thrive, while honoring the realities educators face in their daily work.

All professional development offerings are STARS Approved through the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and can be applied toward annual training requirements.

Our workshops are designed to:

  • Strengthen youth-adult relationships

  • Build educator confidence and capacity

  • Support quality, equity, and belonging in learning environments

  • Translate theory into practical, usable strategies

  • Create space for reflection, connection, and shared learning

Topics span youth development foundations, program quality, equity and belonging, facilitation skills, leadership, and educator well-being.

Workshops

  • Go Wild with Outdoor PLearning supports youth development educators and afterschool providers in using play-based, outdoor learning strategies to engage young people in exploring the natural environment. Participants experience activities firsthand, then reflect on how to intentionally apply them in youth settings.

    This 2-hour STARS Approved training is designed as an immersive playtime experience; encouraging movement, experimentation, and connection, while modeling developmentally appropriate practices that align with youth development and program quality principles.

    Workshop focus areas include:

    • Using play as a learning strategy in outdoor environments

    • Engaging youth in natural sciences, ecology, and conservation

    • Supporting curiosity, observation, and inquiry through movement

    • Creating inclusive, accessible outdoor learning experiences

    • Connecting youth to place, land, and stewardship

    Learning Outcomes

    Participants will be able to:

    1. Identify key principles of PLearning (play-learning) and how they support youth development.

    2. Demonstrate at least three outdoor, play-based activities that support learning about the natural environment.

    3. Adapt outdoor PLearning activities to meet the needs of different age groups, abilities, and settings.

    4. Apply strategies for facilitating safe, engaging, and inclusive outdoor learning experiences.

    5. Describe how outdoor PLearning supports youth engagement, physical activity, and environmental stewardship.

  • Flexible, expert advice when you need it. Book hourly support across a range of topics—from planning to problem-solving. This focused consultation will help clarify your goals, map out next steps, and identify opportunities for growth.

  • Flexible, expert advice when you need it. Book hourly support across a range of topics—from planning to problem-solving. This focused consultation will help clarify your goals, map out next steps, and identify opportunities for growth.

  • Flexible, expert advice when you need it. Book hourly support across a range of topics—from planning to problem-solving. This focused consultation will help clarify your goals, map out next steps, and identify opportunities for growth.