MSU Extension Fall Extension Conference

Below you find information on the sessions that will be held during Breakout Session 5 on Thursday, Oct. 22 from 11:00 a.m. - Noon.

1 Year, 4 Quarters, 52 Weeks, 365 Days: Planning for Success in 2027

Just as a successful program needs adequate planning time, so does a successful Extension year! Join your colleagues in a hands-on session to plan out your 2027 calendar. The goal is to get major events, programs, deliverables, professional development, and even annual leave.  Please come with your devices, calendars, schedules, planners, action plans, and major program dates for 2027.

This facilitated workshop will begin with participants identifying their key goals and programs for 2027. The facilitators will then give brief overview of key things happening in 2027 that may inform planning (key dates, programs, process, holidays, etc.). From there participants will be invited to begin carving out time on their 2027 calendar for the key obligations they identified, including time for planning and reporting/reflection.

The session will close with participants reflecting on their plans and sharing key dates in 2027 with the groups, including ways for colleagues to connect into that program. This is a great session for teams to attend together.

Creativity Isn’t Just for “Creative People”

Everyone is capable of being creative. Yes, even you.

Have you ever made a Halloween costume, substituted an ingredient in a recipe, figured out a workaround when something didn’t go as planned, or solved a problem where the solution wasn’t immediately obvious? Guess what, that’s creativity.

The challenge is not whether we are creative, it’s whether we are able to bring those skills into other parts of our life and work.

In this interactive 60-minute session, participants will explore how creativity can improve educational outreach, presentations, classes, videos and social media content. Drawing inspiration from art, comedy, storytelling and marketing, we’ll look at practical ways to create content that is more engaging, memorable and human-centered, without needing to become a designer, performer or professional creator.

This session is a launch point for educators, instructors, communicators and outreach professionals who want to step outside their comfort zone, connect more effectively with audiences and rethink how they share information. Participants will leave with practical ideas, creative frameworks and renewed confidence to experiment with new approaches in their own outreach efforts.

Elements of Effective Feedback: Praise, Criticism, and Self-Esteem

Using the principles from The Parent Talk System, this session will focus on the differences between evaluative, descriptive, and appreciative praise used for encouraging children, youth, and adults.  We will also apply similar principles to giving corrective feedback.  Participants will use case studies to practice using language techniques.

Gray for a Day: Experiencing Aging through a New Lens

We interact with older adults every day through our programs, community outreach, workplaces, and personal relationships. Gray for a Day is a hands-on simulation that helps participants better understand the sensory and functional changes that can accompany aging. This interactive experience builds empathy, increases awareness, and provides practical insights for creating more age-inclusive programs, services, and communities.

Learning from the Field: Extension Needs Assessment Approaches, Challenges, and Lessons Learned

Needs assessments are key for developing responsive, evidence-informed Extension programs, yet approaches vary widely across program areas and audiences. Sometimes it’s hard to identify when a needs assessment is worth the time and effort. In this interactive panel session, MSU Extension colleagues will share examples of needs assessment methods, discussing what worked well, what challenges they encountered, and the lessons they learned along the way. Participants will explore different approaches, techniques, and available resources for designing and conducting effective needs assessments. Attendees will leave with ideas they can adapt to strengthen their own needs assessment efforts to more closely align programs with community needs and priorities.

Place-Based Education: Informing our MSUE Mission and Work

Do you feel it is important to connect learning to where you live?  Of course you do - that is what Extension is all about. Come learn more about Place-Based Education (which you are probably already doing) and what it can offer for your programming.

Planning Full Day Events: Strategies for Success

Are you considering hosting a full-day educational event, but not sure where to start? Join Consumer Horticulture Educators Lindsey Kerr and Melanie Fuhrmann as they share practical strategies, lessons learned, and their experiences from organizing successful full-day conferences. Topics include developing planning timelines, recruiting and scheduling speakers, sponsorships, marketing and promotion, managing registration and participant communications, coordinating volunteers, handling day-of logistics, and evaluating the participant experience. Learn how to navigate challenges of event planning and how to create a positive experience for participants and presenters alike.

Presenting the Conservation Stewards and Michigan Naturalist Programs!

While Conservation Stewards Program is celebrating its 20th year, Michigan Naturalist is just a fledgling at seven years in operation. Join us to learn more about these signature programs and how they offer complimentary, yet distinctly different in-depth curriculum on Michigan’s natural resources. During the session we will compare and contrast the programs, discuss the role of Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Michigan Sea Grant and local partner organizations in the delivery of the programs, and share success stories. Be ready to practice nature interpretation techniques and explore Michigan’s Natural Communities through fun and games during the session.

Teaching for Learner Variability: Supporting Neurodiverse Learners in Extension Settings

Extension programs bring together learners with varied strengths, preferences, and challenges. Learners might struggle with attention, processing information, organization, language and literacy, sensory distractions, reading, social interaction - or other barriers to learning. This session explores designing to overcome possible barriers to learning and applying practical strategies for supporting neurodiverse learners.

Yes, Extension Does That! Becoming a Strong Ambassador for MSU Extension

How do I explain MSU Extension in a simple, clear way? What should I say when someone isn't familiar with Extension? How can I help more people discover the programs and resources we offer?

Every day, MSU Extension staff answer questions about their programs and build new relationships people in their communities. Yet many of us have experienced that moment when someone asks, “What exactly is MSU Extension?” and we're not quite sure where to begin.

In this interactive session, participants will learn how to:

• Feel more confident explaining MSU Extension to a variety of audiences
• Connect their work to the organization's broader mission and impact
• Embrace their role as an ambassador for MSU Extension

You'll also learn more about the ongoing “Extension Does That” visibility campaign and how it can help you tell Extension’s story across Michigan.

Whether you're new to MSU Extension or have been with the organization for years, you'll leave with practical language, new connections with colleagues and strategies you can use right away.