Published by the National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC)
April 3 – 6, 2024 I Saint Paul, MN
Experience The National Service-Learning Conference® – the largest and most comprehensive global convening for service-learning educators, nonprofit leaders, administrators, students, and more! This annual event is inspiring and engaging, and will rejuvenate your passion, encouraging you to take action to make meaningful change happen.
You are invited to move from passion to action as you experience:
Networking, connection, and team-building opportunities with hundreds of educators, students, nonprofit leaders, afterschool professionals, and more
Opportunities for innovation by attending Lightning Talks, Student Showcases, and Exhibitor Showcases
A service-learning field trip to enrich your understanding of service-learning
The latest trends and research in quality service-learning programming
The Power of Young People Youth Leadership Summit including interviews with youth leaders, Q&A sessions, and expert panels
Opportunities to experience guest speakers, authors, special events, and entertainment that will inspire you to create change
You will leave the conference with the tools and resources, ideas and inspiration to return home to improve your practice, your school, and your community!
Workshops are the heart of the conference, providing professional development opportunities for youth and adults alike. Workshops are designed towards teaching and learning in an interactive environment. A workshop presentation is 75 minutes long.
Proposals will be assessed on content quality, creativity of delivery, and audience participation. We strongly encourage proposals from young people. Workshops that involve audience interaction are also strongly encouraged. Presenters may apply for a workshop, lightning talk and a Showcase.
60-minute Lightning Talk Sessions will occur in the main hall at tables set for 8 (including the presenter, so max 2 presenters). Presenters will talk for 5-10 minutes and have 10-15 minutes for questions and interaction, for a total of 20 minutes per table. After 20 minutes, the presenters remain at the table, and participants move on for two more rounds. Presenters may be selected to give their Lightning Talk on one day or both.
There are two types of Lightning Talks: Skill/Idea Share and Program/Product Preview. A skill/idea share is not just mentioning a few ideas; presenters must get to the core of the topic and discuss something substantial. “Is there something innovative about what you do? Does your work have direct impact on the organization or on a community? Have you achieved remarkable results, or learned something really significant? Present your key idea early in your talk.” (UNICEF Knowledge-Exchange).
A program/product review allows you to promote your product (curriculum, program, or service) for an additional charge of $150 (one Roundtable session) or $300 (two Roundtable sessions). Complete the normal Lightning Talk application and note that you are interested in this option and we will be in touch.
Review Process Proposals will be assessed on content quality, target audiences (broader is better this year), and creativity of delivery. We strongly encourage proposals from young people. The Review Committee will be looking for a slate that balances the variety of audiences and topics given the space and time available. More guidelines on creating a successful talk will be provided if selected.
Do you have a high-quality project you would like to highlight at the conference? Not ready for a full workshop session but have a powerful message to deliver? Then consider being part of the showcase. The Showcase highlights high-quality projects from across the country and around the world, and is an opportunity to connect with people and share how a project was implemented, how it was connected to curricular goals, and what made it effective.
Click here to submit a presentation application. Applications are due October 20, 2023.