The cold winter months have given way to moderate temperatures over the last few weeks. Children and staff want to get outside, to run around, play games, and get some sun and muddy shoes. While we take in the warmer days, we know summer is not far away, fall remains off in the distance. Just as winter suddenly turns into spring, our program year somehow leaps over summer and the next thing we know August is here. Are we ready? Do we have plans laid out, supplies bought, interest areas designed? 

If the answer is no, you might regretfully think back to the spring and see some of the missteps you made in hindsight. How you didn’t want to bother the staff with giving the kids surveys to see what they wanted more of in the program, or, how it was a nice spring evening and the staff meeting turned into social gathering instead of learning about intentional planning, or how you wanted to hold a family night to get their input on what they needed from the program to help support them better but Wednesdays were the only day available and that was Little League night in town and you figured no one would come. Know that it is ok, and that you are reading this and can make the needed changes before the fall.

If the answer is yes, how did you gather information to inform your planning? If either way, consider the following questions: Did you use surveys to find out specific information to help grow program areas? Was your data based on conversations you’ve had with families, the children, or discussed at staff meetings? Did you put intentionality into what the children will be getting from the program? Are there connections to the organizational mission (such as service or supporting the community)? Do you have the right voices at the table to help you provide the best programming?

The early spring provides the perfect opportunity to test ideas that you want to develop further in the coming year. It is a time to re-engage staff and challenge them to bring their best thinking to the table to work with the kids to create programming that reflects their interest. This in turn increases the overall engagement in your program and moves toward the outcomes you are trying to attain. Allowing staff the autonomy to try something new, create a pilot program, or bring in something that excites them creates buy-in and retention. 

Knowing what you are planning ahead of time helps to develop marketing strategies for the coming months, create staff orientation plans, and best assign staff in the fall to meet the programming needs of the children and families. Springing forward with fall planning early allows you to plan for success and enjoy the summer, knowing that you are ready.