Registration is Open for Synergy 2026!
Registration is officially open for Synergy 2026! Join North Carolina’s most forward-thinking afterschool leaders for two days of collaborative learning. Whether you are an afterschool provider, a business leader, an educator, or a policymaker, your voice is essential to shaping the future of our youth.
Why Attend?
When you attend the Synergy Conference, you’ll:
- leave with 2–3 ideas you can apply immediately to your program or community.
- build a deeper understanding of how afterschool programs contribute to North Carolina’s workforce development.
- learn more about North Carolina’s afterschool deserts (and how we can make sure all children and families can access afterschool).
(Want to come to Synergy, but you need to pay by check? Or you need a PO or invoice? We’ve got you. Email Elizabeth Anderson, NC CAP Director, for help signing up.)
Synergy Workshop Strands include: Supportive Environments, Building Strong Organizations, Academic Support, STEM, College and Career Promise, and Collaborations/Partnerships/Community Engagement.
Our annual Synergy Conference brings together afterschool providers, informal educators, community stakeholders, students, business leaders, politicians, and others from all around North Carolina to focus on afterschool and summer learning. We will have an exciting line-up of engaging workshops and vibrant speakers, unique networking opportunities, special recognition and awards, and meaningful professional development.
This year’s conference theme is Afterschool At Work: Paving the Way for North Carolina’s Future! This theme highlights the ways in which afterschool and out-of-school time programs are a workforce solution for North Carolina.
Afterschool Programs in North Carolina:
- Are good business. In fact, lack of afterschool costs U.S. businesses up to $300 billion per year in lost productivity. Every $1 invested in afterschool saves at least $3 by increasing kids’ earning potential, increasing kids’ school performance, and decreasing juvenile crime and delinquency.
- Help youth build skills employers need such as teamwork, critical thinking, communication and leadership. 84% of NC parents say it’s their child’s afterschool program that helps them gain teamwork, critical thinking, and leadership skills.
- Support working families. 92% of NC parents say that their child’s afterschool program helps them keep their job, and 85% say having access to afterschool boosts their productivity at work.
Join us for Synergy 2026, November 19-20, 2026, at the McKimmon Conference and Training Center in Raleigh.
Join us as a Synergy Vendor!
Share about your organization with hundreds of summer and afterschool professionals. Vendors receive:
- Conference registration for one attendee (additional attendees must register and pay registration fees separately)
- Exhibit Booth
- Company/organization name and contact information will be included in directory of vendors on our website and in the Conference Program on the Whova App
Conference Details
When: November 19-20, 2026
Where: McKimmon Conference and Training Center, Raleigh, NC
Cost: $400 (bulk discounts available when registering 10+ attendees – contact Elizabeth Anderson)
Registration opening May 2026.
Hotel Block information will be released in May 2026 when registration opens.
Conference Schedule
Hotel Accommodations
Synergy hotel blocks are available at two hotels close to our conference venue. Reserve now, as space is limited! Last day to book using the block rate will be October 27, 2026.
- Start Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2026
- End Date: Friday, November 20, 2025
TownePlace Suites Raleigh – University Area
3771 Thistledown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606
- $158.00 per night plus tax for a Studio King Suite or Studio Double Queen Suite
- Book online at TownePlace Suites Raleigh – NC Center for Afterschool Programs Synergy Conference Group Rate
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites at NC State S.W.
3741 Thistledown Drive Raleigh, NC 27606
- $150.00 per night plus tax for a King or Double Queen Room
- To Make Reservations:
- Call: 919-854-0001 ext 1 (reservations) or 1-800-HOLIDAY – Mention group code: ASC or NC Center for Afterschool Programs Synergy Conference
- Book online at Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites at NC State – NC Center for Afterschool Programs Synergy Conference Group Rate
Online reservations may not be available on mobile devices.
Cancellation Policy: Reservations can be changed or canceled without penalty until 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 17, 2026 (one day before arrival).
2026 Synergy Sponsors
AB Studios is a story-powered enrichment platform built for afterschool and out-of-school time programs. The platform gives staff access to 300+ cinematic video starters, ready-to-run activity guides, and an AI-supported planning tool — so they can lead engaging sessions in STEM, leadership, digital literacy, culture, and more without spending hours on prep. It’s designed for the realities of afterschool: mixed-age groups, varying staff experience, and not enough time in the day. Learn more at abstudios.com.
NAA Membership
Registering for Synergy also qualifies you for a FREE membership with the National AfterSchool Association (NAA)!!
NC CAP is the North Carolina Affiliate of the National AfterSchool Association. NAA and its State Affiliates share a mutual purpose and agreement to support, develop, and advocate for Out-of-School Time professionals and the profession. NAA and its State Affiliates build connectivity among stakeholders and create opportunities for engagement to ensure a vibrant future for the Out-of-School Time profession.
OST professionals who are not paid NAA members and live in North Carolina, our state affiliation, and a Synergy Conference registration makes you eligible for a free NAA membership. If you prefer, NAA membership may be purchased directly from NAA on a sliding scale from $25 to $150. For more information, visit naaweb.org/page/Membership.
