Program Design

“From the beginning, Melinda and Minh made everyone feel welcome, excited, challenged, and safe and those are all the things we want our youth to feel... Since the program ended, we have taken steps to make sure that we are centering youth voice and youth advocacy wherever we can.” -Jordan, Tutoring Plus, Inaugural Changemakers Cohort Participant

​​Positive youth outcomes are too important to leave to chance.  While each program is unique, the need for intentional program design is universal.  Programs should be developed from the perspective of the needs and well-being of youth and their families and directly connect program activities to the desired positive youth outcomes. OST programs designed and structured to incorporate age-appropriate youth development practices, equity and access, cultural responsiveness, learning styles, and quality will lead to achieving those youth outcomes. 

​​Click here to return to Training Workshops and Series. ​​

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Trainings & Workshops
​Brought to you by OST Learning Institute and STEAM Initiative

NEW for 2025-26
STEAM Lab!
Inspire. Create. Empower.
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Explore nature in partnership with Cambridge Youth Programs, explore STEAM Habits of Mind with hands-on workshops, and collaborate with other OST professionals in STEAM Communities of Practice.

Register Here

Register Here

All sessions will be on Wednesdays from 10am-noon.
● 11/12: Math identities… our young people’s and our own 
● 12/3: Equity-based math practices
● 1/7: Purposeful math questioning
● 3/25: Math equity practices in our own work
● 4/15: “Equity upgrades” for our math practices
● 5/20: Sharing and celebrating our growth, our practices, & the questions that remain ​

OST Math Equity Lab, 2025-26
Presented by the Cambridge STEAM Initiative.
Facilitated by Matt Dunkel.
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The OST Math Equity Lab is a space for members of the Cambridge Out-of-School-Time community to investigate, imagine, co-create, and expand new possibilities for equitable, high-quality OST math programming. 

The OST Math Equity Lab will focus on equity-based youth work practices that support young people to develop belonging, positive math identities, and mathematical agency. Over six sessions, the Lab will use both a Community of Practice model (where participants share and reflect on their experiences and practices) and a workshop model (where participants engage with new tools and practices).

All sessions are open to all members of the Cambridge OST community. With that said, you’ll get a lot more out of the Lab if you’re able to attend regularly. Please do all you can to arrive on time, and to stay for the entire session.

Past Introductory Trainings & Workshops

STEAM and Nature; Don’t Leaf your excitement at home! Getting to know your Neighborhood in Fall - 2025
Facilitated by Jeneen Mucci & Barb MacEachern
As part of our workshop, we will share activities and ways of engaging young people of all ages in nature through learning activities and play that will foster an appreciation and love of outdoor learning while also sharing the health benefits of being in nature. This workshop will focus on nature and outdoor exploration, opportunities to challenge and stretch learning and comfort with the outdoors and discuss ways to encourage young people to be caretakes of the earth.

I'm Nervous That My Young People Won't Do This - 2025
​Facilitated by Jeneen Mucci & Barb MacEachern
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Do you struggle with getting young people outside?  Are you bombarded with young people telling you “I don’t want to do this”? This learning and doing workshop is focused on creating fun, and challenging learning while also pushing the comfort level of both young people and staff to try new things, engage in the outdoors and transfer this learning to all aspects of programming.. Join us to see the outdoors as your new classroom.​

Learning and Living Environmental Justice- 2025
Facilitated by Jeneen Mucci & Barb MacEachern
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​Explore what it means to be connected and have access to the outdoors, its effects on our well-being, our rights to clean and safe spaces, and when the outdoors feels like a place for others.  Join us as we explore the “why” of environmental education and the role environmental justice plays in our lives on a local level.​

 Cardboard Box Arcade Workshop 2024
Facilitated by Greg Green

​A hands-on workshop where we'll unleash our creativity and explore the endless possibilities of cardboard! In this interactive session, participants will learn how to transform simple cardboard boxes into an exciting arcade filled with fun games and activities.

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Key Elements in Workshop Design 2024
Facilitated by Melina O'Grady 
Curious about how STEAM Projects help youth learn? There’s a lot of talk about STEAM, STEAM, STEAM in after school programming. This workshop will look at how Cambridge youth programs are building STEAM habits of mind in young people. We examined Engagement, Persistence, Exploration and Curiosity. We asked about Identity and Belonging. We have two years of research to share, and we want to share it with YOU! 

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Exploring the Power of Makerspaces 2024
Facilitated by Danielle Wright

Are you ready to boost your STEAM offerings and ignite creativity in your program? Join us for an exciting exploration into the world of making! Whether you're looking to introduce Makerspace concepts or enhance your existing programs, this session is designed to inspire and empower.

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Summer Planning Retreat For Program Directors 2024
Facilitated by Melina O'Grady and Melinda Barbosa 
Designed for Program Directors and other full-time youth workers, this retreat is a facilitated space for you to STRETCH (in more ways than one). Join fellow Program Directors/Staff Leaders to strengthen your practice in program design and planning & find inspiration from your peers.  Join us for a fulfilling half-day of learning, collaboration, and inspiration as we gear up for an enriching summer experience for our youth across Cambridge! 

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Intermediate Trainings & Workshops

Cambridge Changemakers: Youth Advocacy 
Facilitated by Minh Nguyen

In this in-person leadership development series, we are inviting teams of Youth Workers and Staff Leaders across Cambridge to build and co-create with a cohort of like-minded, passionate, and caring youth workers to encourage youth to have an impact in their communities and take charge of their own destinies.

Click here to return to Training Workshops and Series. ​