Workshops & Webinars
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & NETWORKING
MAKING CONNECTIONS ACROSS WYOMING
Youth professionals and community organizations across Wyoming are innovating and finding ways to bring learning to life for young people where it happens. Our goal is to empower the people and organizations who care about young people’s growth so, together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of Wyoming youth.
By working and learning together, we can help youth and families navigate the world around them, mapping the terrain so all young people find meaningful paths to adulthood and – as a consequence – foster greater community vitality.
Time to Thrive Conversation Series Inspires & Connects
Join WYEN and other organizations for the Time to Thrive conversation series to inspire and connect adults who work with or engage young people to grow in after school, on weekends, during the summer, and in every space where learning happens.
This series is for anyone working with young people or who wants to grow more opportunities for youth success. Together, we’ll explore how organizations and adults can deepen developmental relationships, build adult capacity to mentor and inspire youth, and create connected, career-relevant pathways.
Conversation Lineup | Each Session Held from 11:00am-12:15pm
- December 2: Engaging Adolescents: Insights from 10 to 25 by David Yeager | See details below | Register Here
- December 9: Career-Connected Learning Across Young People’s Development | Register Here
- December 16: Elevating Youth Voice in Local Decision-Making | Register Here
Learning happens everywhere—and it’s time to create the conditions where every young person in Wyoming can grow, belong, and contribute.
Time to Thrive Book Study
One of our first community-building events will be a book study held in partnership with the Wyoming State Library of “10 to 25: A Groundbreaking Approach to Leading the Next Generation—And Making Your Own Life Better” by developmental psychologist David Yeager, PhD.
Register Here | Or contact Kate Foster, katefoster@wycf.org to sign up!
“10 to 25” is a must-read for educators, mentors, parents, and coaches that explores the science of motivating young people in the 10-25 age range. Learn more about the book: simonandschuster.com.
Engaging Adolescents: Insights from ”10 to 25″ by David Yeager
Join us Tuesday, December 9 at 11:00am. Click here to register. David Yeager’s “10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People” explores what drives adolescents and young adults—roughly ages 10 to 25—to learn, persevere, and pursue meaningful goals. Drawing on developmental psychology, neuroscience, and large-scale educational research, Yeager argues that motivation in this age range is not built through rewards or pressure but through a sense of purpose, belonging, and belief in one’s potential to grow. He explains how young people seek respect, autonomy, and relevance—and how educators, parents, and mentors can create environments that affirm their agency and ignite “forward-facing” mindsets. The book emphasizes that adolescence is a critical window for identity formation and that motivational strategies must align with youths’ natural desire to contribute to something larger than themselves. By combining scientific evidence with practical strategies, Yeager offers a framework for helping young people not just comply—but truly thrive.
Featured Speakers
Kelly Bryant, 4-H Educator from the University of Maryland: Kelly is the 4-H educator in Charles County, Maryland. Her expertise spans from positive youth development, natural resources/environmental science to neurodiversity and regenerative agriculture. Kelly will share how she is using the 10 to 25 to change the way she thinks when engaging with youth in her programs and community.
Mitch Craft, Founder of CRAFTED Consulting: Crafted Consulting is an independent firm that works with school leaders and not for profit organizations throughout the West. Prior to his work as a consultant, he served as assistant superintendent for Sheridan County School District No. 2 (SCSD2), an award-winning district where he oversaw curriculum, assessment, intervention programs, and professional development. He was also a National Distinguished Middle School Principal and beloved high school English teacher.
Strengthening Partnerships to Expand Enrichment Opportunities
“Strengthening Partnerships to Expand Enrichment Opportunities” was held on Tuesday, November 18 and featured educational thought leader Terry Peterson along with two dynamic Wyoming innovators: Liz Cassiday, Sheridan County YMCA CEO, and Jenn Beckstead, Natrona County Library Youth Services Manager. They shared ways that they are growing partnerships across their communities in ways that cultivate connections in and across communities to benefit youth.
Featured Speakers:
Terry K. Peterson, PhD: Dr. Peterson has been a long-time leader in the development of national and international strategies and partnerships for education reforms and expanded learning opportunities. While holding federal and state level executive education positions, Terry helped develop numerous education policies including helping to formulate the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, E-rate, GEAR-UP, Family Involvement Partnership, the Arts Education Partnership and teacher and technology quality grants. At the state-level, his work encompassed major initiatives in early childhood education, teacher recruitment, performance pay programs, innovation funds for teachers and schools, accountability systems, and the arts in the basic curriculum. Dr. Peterson serves as co-chair of the National Afterschool Alliance board and is Senior Education Advisor for the CS Mott Foundation and for former Governor and US Secretary of Education Dick Riley. Learn more about the “Godfather of Afterschool” from furman.edu.
Liz Cassiday, Sheridan YMCA CEO: Elisabeth Cassiday is the CEO of the Sheridan County YMCA, where she works to strengthen access, improve operations, and align programs with real community needs. With more than 18 years at the Y, her focus centers on returning to simple, intuitive youth and community work—programs that are not complicated, grant-driven, or costly, but rooted in doing what’s right for families. She prioritizes straightforward, accessible offerings and partnerships that share this approach, keeping the Y grounded in service that truly meets people where they are. Learn more at sheridanymca.org
Jenn Beckstead, Natrona County Library Youth Services Manager: Jenn draws from her extensive experience spanning fourteen years as the Teen Librarian. She currently serves as a member of the Wyoming Enrichment Network’s Expert Advisory Board, is co-chair of the Soaring Eagle Book Award committee as a member of the Wyoming Library Association and other professional library associations and is a Leadership Casper graduate. Jenn coordinates Wyoming Reads for Natrona County and Wyoming. Jenn earned a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wyoming, studying her first two years of coursework at Central Wyoming College. Jenn balances work and family life in Casper with her husband and their three kids, who span across elementary, middle, and high school. Learn more at natronacountylibrary.org.
Mission: We bridge the gap between Wyoming’s out-of-school programs and the communities they uplift, fueling them with resources, support and opportunities that inspire lifelong learning, growth and connection.
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