2026 SPARC National Conference

What can a children's construction show teach us about summer camps and after-school programs? More than you might think. In this interactive session, participants will explore how intentional program design creates stronger outcomes for children, greater value for families, and more sustainable auxiliary programs for schools and organizations. Drawing inspiration from Peter Gray's research on the developmental power of play, the Reggio Emilia approach to child-centered learning, and proven strategies for embedding life skills development into camps and enrichment programs, we'll examine how every program can be designed with purpose.

Auxiliary programs don’t become fragmented by accident, and they don’t get fixed without intentional leadership. Whether you’re stepping into a new role or have been in the seat for years, this session focuses on how to take control of your program and build systems that actually work. We’ll walk through how to evaluate what you’ve inherited, define what matters, and centralize operations across registration, staffing, finance, communication, and reporting. This session balances high-level leadership decisions with practical execution. For experienced directors, it’s about tightening control, improving alignment, and making confident decisions. For newer leaders, it provides a clear target and the steps to get there. You’ll leave with both a strategic framework and tangible, immediately usable systems to bring consistency, clarity, and accountability to your auxiliary programs.

This session explores next generation auxiliary programming within a broader strategic question: why now, and what does the market demand of independent schools? Rather than treating these efforts as add-ons, we will explore how to build intentional ecosystems of experiences that align with mission, strengthen brand, and generate revenue. Using case studies from Miss Porter’s School and The Cambridge School of Weston (CSW), presenters will share the evolution of their adult education initiatives, including program development, enrollment trends, and lessons from early experiments such as CSW’s adult summer camp program and Porter’s professional learning offerings. We will surface key questions around market demand, ROI, partnerships, and aligning programs with institutional strengths and brand. In this working session, participants will identify opportunities within their own schools, leveraging existing assets to reach new audiences. Attendees will leave with practical tools for launching, evaluating, scaling, or sunsetting programs - inspired to think expansively about their school’s future.

Discover fresh ideas from three schools that are rethinking what auxiliary programming can be. In this fast-paced, one-hour showcase session, each presenter will share a creative program or initiative that has made an impact on their campus, offering practical insights and lessons learned. Featured topics include "Birthday Parties Without the Pressure: Building an Inclusive After School Party" and "New Program Development: Global Welcome Week," along with “An Innovative Partnership that Strengthens Both Organizations”. Leave with new ideas, proven strategies, and inspiration you can adapt to your own school's programs.