2026 SPARC National Conference

Take a deep dive into the financial and operational dynamics of running successful Auxiliary and Summer Programs. In this intensive 3-hour session, you’ll gain practical insights and hands-on experience designed to strengthen your business strategy and maximize program profitability.

We’ll explore essential financial principles and guide you through building a comprehensive budget using a SPARC financial template - yours to take back and implement at your school. The session will also examine key business drivers, including Marketing, Risk Mitigation, Program Development, and Operations.

By the end of the workshop, you’ll leave with a clearer understanding of how to manage auxiliary programs as a strategic business unit - positioning your programs for sustainable growth, stronger financial performance, and long-term operational success.

Key Takeaways:
- Auxiliary Financial Fundamentals: Understand the financial foundations required to build and sustain profitable programs.
- Budgeting 101: Learn how to develop, implement, and manage a financial plan using a practical budgeting template.
- Entrepreneurial Best Practices: Apply business-minded strategies to innovate, expand, and strengthen your auxiliary offerings.
- Strategic Business Management: Gain tools to effectively operate, evaluate, and scale auxiliary programs within your school.

As the SPARC National Conference begins, step into a relaxed, welcoming space designed to ease you into the experience with warmth, conversation, and connection. This casual evening session where all participants (new and returning) can wind down from the day of travel and gather around the shared purpose that brings us together: our passion for building impactful summer and auxiliary programs…and a good drink and some music! Think of this as your invitation to exhale, settle in, and light the path for the rest of the week.

This event is sponsored by ACTIVE Network.

"Let's get together (yeah yeah yeah)..." Great camps are built behind the scenes and in the moment. In this session, you’ll learn how to design a staff experience that’s intentional, meaningful, and uniquely yours, your camp’s “secret sauce.”

We’ll explore how to blend culture, skills, and values into training that sticks, using unseen learning, purposeful play, and connection-driven strategies. You’ll have to step out of the isolation cabin to build your own “artisan s’more,” a thoughtful mix of belonging and experience that keeps staff coming back!

Many auxiliary program leaders use spreadsheets as digital filing cabinets, places where data goes to rest. But what if your spreadsheet could actually do the work for you? This interactive session blends strategy and practice to help participants think like systems builders and design tools that actually support decision-making. Through a guided challenge, attendees will first tackle a real-world scenario, identifying what data matters and how to structure it. The session then introduces a practical framework for building effective systems in Google Sheets and Excel, followed by real case studies including multi-departmental budgets, payroll tracking, and enrollment dashboards. This session is ideal for leaders who want to move from reactive spreadsheet use to building streamlined systems that drive clarity, efficiency, and strategic insight. In this interactive session, we will move beyond basic data entry to transform spreadsheets into a powerful project management, data visualization, and decision-making tool.

Your program's website isn't just a digital brochure—it's your most powerful enrollment tool. But only if families can actually find it. In this session, we'll reveal the "secret ingredients" that push auxiliary and summer program websites to the top of Google search results—no paid ads required. We'll share real examples, including how one SPARC member built their site strategically and saw program enrollment increase dramatically in year one.

You'll walk away with a practical Website Health Check you can use immediately, plus data and language to build the investment case for your CFO or head of school—because getting budget approved for a website is half the battle. This session will change how you think about your school's most underutilized enrollment asset.

After full days of learning, networking, and innovation, Campfire Hour offers a warm, welcoming space to unwind, connect, and reflect. These one-hour evening gatherings at the SPARC national conference are designed to evoke the spirit of a traditional campfire— spaces where stories are shared, relationships are kindled, and moments of stillness are honored. Each Campfire Hour invites participants to decompress and engage in thoughtful, low-pressure conversations that nurture introspection, build professional bonds, and center personal purpose in the midst of an energizing conference. Whether you’re new to the field, seasoned in leadership, Campfire Hour is your chance to slow down and soak in the ”sparcs” of connection.

This event is sponsored by ACTIVE Network.

Are you overlooking the "hidden gems" in your own backyard? While many auxiliary programs stick to traditional campus-bound models, the most innovative revenue streams often lie in unique local partnerships. Using a real-world case study of a groundbreaking collaboration between Chadwick School and AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, this session explores how to identify and vet non-traditional partners that align with your school’s mission.

We will pull back the curtain on the "messy" side of innovation: navigating complex local governance, managing risk in unconventional environments, and—most importantly—winning over a skeptical Board of Trustees. Attendees will move beyond the theory of "networking" to learn a tactical framework for building partnerships that provide students with world-class experiences while diversifying the school’s auxiliary portfolio. Learn how to turn your local geography into your greatest programmatic asset.

Join the Dynamic Duo and explore the relationship between CFO and Auxiliary Director. Together we will discuss ways to approach new ideas, budgets, and more! Learn to speak the language of finance to secure the resources your programs deserve. Whether you are pitching a high-risk pilot program or refining your auxiliary budget, you will leave with a framework for interpreting data that aligns with your CFO’s expectations and have fun during the process!

Ever feel like you’re losing your mind trying to run an auxiliary program all by yourself? Step into our kitchen and discover how to turn the chaos into a well-balanced, crowd-pleasing recipe for success. This session is designed for after-school and summer camp professionals working as a “party of one,” and we’re serving up practical strategies with a fun, food-inspired twist. You’ll learn how to stay organized, reduce stress, and keep your program running smoothly. Expect a full menu of tips, tricks, and time-saving tools you can actually use.

After full days of learning, networking, and innovation, Campfire Hour offers a warm, welcoming space to unwind, connect, and reflect. These one-hour evening gatherings at the SPARC national conference are designed to evoke the spirit of a traditional campfire— spaces where stories are shared, relationships are kindled, and moments of stillness are honored. Each Campfire Hour invites participants to decompress and engage in thoughtful, low-pressure conversations that nurture introspection, build professional bonds, and center personal purpose in the midst of an energizing conference. Whether you’re new to the field, seasoned in leadership, Campfire Hour is your chance to slow down and soak in the ”sparcs” of connection.

This event is sponsored by ACTIVE Network.