Family Retreat Session Descriptions & Speakers
Sessions Include Youth Workshops, Parent Workshops, Whole Family Presentations, and Keynote Speakers
Please note, prior registration is not needed for Parent Workshops, only for Youth Workshops.
Keynote Presentations
Opening Keynote Address- Aligned and Authentic: Unmasking the Power of Being You
What would change if you stopped hiding your true self?
In this inspiring keynote, Sam Young invites gifted and twice-exceptional families to explore the transformative power of authenticity. Mr. Sam highlights the courage it takes to remove societal “masks,” the vulnerability involved, and the profound freedom that follows.
This empowering talk emboldens families to embrace their unique strengths, foster authentic connections, and navigate life with clarity and confidence.
Prepare to be inspired by stories of growth, resilience, and unmasking brilliance.
Sam Young, M.Ed.: Sam Young, M.Ed., is the Head of School at Young Scholars Academy, a strength-based, virtual enrichment program that supports gifted, twice-exceptional, and bright, differently-wired students to thrive!
Sam is a two-time Fulbright Scholar, TEDx presenter, Keynote speaker, and a neurodivergent person himself who has committed his life to supporting bright, quirky students to overcome the harmful deficit-based system and discover, develop, and lead strength-based, talent-focused lives!
Closing Keynote Address- Finding Your Fam: Kinship and Community for Gifted and Twice Exceptional Families
Families with gifted children often feel isolated, singled out, different. Families with gifted children who also have children with disabilities or whose gifted child is twice exceptional often feel even more isolated! In this interactive presentation, Dr. Fink will explore how to connect with other families to created sustainable and vital communities. She will also help families explore their own gifted/exceptional/dis/ability lineages. Beyond these labels, beyond the boundaries of the nuclear family, how can we create communities in which we can all thrive?
Dr. Jennifer Natalya Fink: Dr. Jennifer Natalya Fink is a professor of English and co-founder of the Program in Disability Studies at Georgetown University. Dr. Fink is the author of seven award-winning books, including All Our Families: Disability Lineage and the Future of Kinship. She has written about disability lineage and neurodiversity for the New York Times, the Atlantic, Teen Vogue, and many others. An equally committed teacher and researcher, Dr. Fink received the Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence and the President's Award for Distinguished Scholar-Teachers. A lifelong learner, she recently completed a certificate from the Washington Baltimore Center for Psychoanalysis. Dr. Fink is a 2024 recipient of the Fulbright Peer Specialist award, and is currently at work on Neuropsyches: Neurodiversity, Narrativity, and the New Psychoanalysis. First and foremost, Dr. Fink is a mother: the transformative experience of parenting her gifted autistic daughter is the center of her work. Photo by Damith da Silva
Youth Workshops
General Information for Family Retreat Youth Workshops
- At the Family Retreat, Youth workshops are for both Current Davidson Youth Members and Non-Member Siblings ages 5-18 only.
- Workshops are crafted to provide a fun and engaging self-discovery and growth experience for students with time to connect alongside like-minded peers.
- Workshops below will be offered in a various rotating basis during the two timeslots (Saturday AM and Saturday PM)
- During each time slot, workshops will be designated for either Youth (approx. ages 5-10), or Tween/Teen (approx. ages 11-18) ages to help differentiate who is joining during each time slot.
- Presenters may differentiate content as appropriately needed for each age group.
- Students can only attend one workshop in each timeslot.
- During workshops, parents may utilize the alternative spaces such as the Game Room and Arts & Crafts room if their student needs a break from their workshop. Parent supervision is required.
- Youth workshop signups will be released in February. Families who register for the Family Retreat prior to this release will receive an email notification with the signup link when available. Families who register after this release will have access to the workshop signup link in their confirmation email sent after the Family Retreat team verifies their registration. Families will choose their own workshops for youth directly through our form. Each workshop is capacity based, and reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Creating Your World: Community Building for Neurodivergent Students (for Youth & for Tween/Teens)
This interactive workshop empowers participants to explore community, authenticity, and story stewardship. Through engaging activities, participants will identify what they seek in meaningful connections and learn how to foster spaces where they and their peers can thrive.
Highlights include:
--> embracing authenticity
--> holding space for others
--> building the communities they’ve been searching for
Participants will leave with actionable tools to create supportive, inclusive environments that celebrate diversity and inspire thoughtful action.
Sam Young, M.Ed.: Sam Young, M.Ed., is the Head of School at Young Scholars Academy, a strength-based, virtual enrichment program that supports gifted, twice-exceptional, and bright, differently-wired students to thrive!
Sam is a two-time Fulbright Scholar, TEDx presenter, Keynote speaker, and a neurodivergent person himself who has committed his life to supporting bright, quirky students to overcome the harmful deficit-based system and discover, develop, and lead strength-based, talent-focused lives!
Sensory Explorers: Understanding your bodies sensory needs and tools to support those needs (for Youth)
In this session we will explore all 8 senses (yes, 8) and why they are so important to support regulation and learning. We will explore your personal sensory system through hands on work, exploring how to listen to your body and what your body needs. We will also be creating a body tool of your own to support your regulation at home and school.
Allie Ticktin: Allie is an occupational therapist specializing in sensory integration. Allie is the founder of Play 2 Progress and the author of the book, Play to Progress: Lead Your Child to Success Using the Power of Sensory Play. Allie uses the science of child development and the joy of play to boost childrens’ confidence and enhance development within all areas of their life, from social and emotional to physical and academic.
Fun with Creating Characters (for Youth)
Students will learn how to create a character using voice, body and emotion, and practice with games and activities. As a group, Ms. Jackson and students will put together a "show" using fairy tales. With Ms. Jackson as the narrator, volunteer actors will perform and shine on the "stage." There will be much silliness and laughter!
Kirsten Jackson: Teaching, performing for children as “Queen of Theatre,” or directing “Ms. Jackson’s Theatre!,” Kirsten Jackson facilitates imagination and confidence using silliness and laughter to create a safe place where students shine. A widow who raised three 2E children on a small farm surrounded by animals, she believes creativity is key to authentic self-awareness. Jackson has 27 years teaching experience and 15 years directing experience. She currently teaches theatre and writing for Outschool and Young Scholars Academy.
Building Confidence Through Improv (for Tween/Teens)
Students will learn how to create a character using voice, body and emotion, and practice with games and activities. In small groups students will play "Expert Interview" where students take turns being an expert while the others are reporters interviewing them. Time permitting, students will also have an opportunity to prepare and perform a skit with their newly developed "expert" characters. There will be much silliness and laughter!
Kirsten Jackson: Teaching, performing for children as “Queen of Theatre,” or directing “Ms. Jackson’s Theatre!,” Kirsten Jackson facilitates imagination and confidence using silliness and laughter to create a safe place where students shine. A widow who raised three 2E children on a small farm surrounded by animals, she believes creativity is key to authentic self-awareness. Jackson has 27 years teaching experience and 15 years directing experience. She currently teaches theatre and writing for Outschool and Young Scholars Academy.
Kid Power: Confident Voices (for Youth)
In this engaging and dynamic workshop, young students will unlock the power of their voices and learn to speak persuasively with confidence. As a group we will examine logos, pathos and ethos, the structure of an organized argument, and complete a group activity where students can demonstrate essential communication skills, build self-esteem, and learn the art of advocacy.
Professor Jennifer Hughes: Professor Jennifer Hughes is a retired criminal, international and family court attorney with over 20 years of experience. She is a former Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and has taught in both face to face classrooms and online for multiple age groups. Her teaching certification is at the High School and Middle School levels, and she currently teaches various government, history, economics and speech and debate classes. She coaches Speech and Debate for both the National Speech and Debate Association and Tournament of Champions Circuits. Professor Hughes is also the creator of the Self Confidence Project Program for Teens and Pre-teens, and she contracts with Probation Departments around the US teaching CyberSafety Workshops to students as an alternative to criminal charges, or for those families that want to proactively safeguard their loved ones. She lives in New York with her husband, children, many now adults, and grandchildren, and absolutely loves to swim, anime, axolotls and Corgi's.
Taking the Lead: Self-Advocacy Strategies (for Tweens/Teens)
Join us for an empowering workshop designed to help teens develop the skills and confidence to advocate for themselves in various aspects of their lives. This interactive session will cover essential self-advocacy techniques, including effective communication, goal setting, and understanding personal rights and responsibilities. Through engaging activities, discussions, and real-life scenarios, participants will learn how to express their needs, make informed decisions, and stand up for their rights in school, at home, and in their communities. Let's build a generation of confident, capable, and resilient teens who know how to use their voices to create positive change.
Professor Jennifer Hughes: Professor Jennifer Hughes is a retired criminal, international and family court attorney with over 20 years of experience. She is a former Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and has taught in both face to face classrooms and online for multiple age groups. Her teaching certification is at the High School and Middle School levels, and she currently teaches various government, history, economics and speech and debate classes. She coaches Speech and Debate for both the National Speech and Debate Association and Tournament of Champions Circuits. Professor Hughes is also the creator of the Self Confidence Project Program for Teens and Pre-teens, and she contracts with Probation Departments around the US teaching CyberSafety Workshops to students as an alternative to criminal charges, or for those families that want to proactively safeguard their loved ones. She lives in New York with her husband, children, many now adults, and grandchildren, and absolutely loves to swim, anime, axolotls and Corgi's.
Discovering Your Strengths & Shaping Your Future (for Youth)
In this dynamic workshop, students will explore who they are by uncovering their unique strengths, interests, and values. Through reflection and creative activities, they’ll gain insight into what excites and motivates them, helping them shape a life they’re genuinely excited to live. By understanding their authentic selves, students will feel empowered to grow into the amazing people they’re meant to be.
Dr. Jade Ann Rivera: Dr. Jade Rivera, Director of the Strength-Based Assessment Lab at Bridges Graduate School, empowers students, families, and educators to create positive, collaborative learning environments for g/2e/neurodivergent children.
Charting Your Own Course: Emotional Navigation Skills (for Youth)
Your emotional landscape is as unique as you are. This workshop helps you become your own expert navigator through challenging feelings and complex relationships. Learn to read your emotional compass, understand your personal patterns, and craft strategies that actually work for you. Using the Dignity Framework, you'll develop tools to navigate conflicts with confidence and stay true to yourself in difficult moments.
Megan Saxelby: Megan Saxelby is on a mission to transform how we think about adolescence. As the founder of Wild Feelings and a veteran educator with 17 years of classroom experience, she reframes adolescence from a time of crisis into an extraordinary period of possibility and potential. Drawing from cutting-edge research on adolescent development, Megan has collaborated with leading voices including bestselling author Rosalind Wiseman and dignity expert Dr. Donna Hicks, while developing foundational curriculum for #halfthestory, the world's leading digital wellness non-profit. Through Wild Feelings, she equips parents with evidence-based tools and fresh perspectives that transform the journey through adolescence from something to be survived into an opportunity to be embraced. By bridging groundbreaking research with practical wisdom, Megan helps parents build lasting connections with their teens and create home environments where both generations thrive.
The Dignity Toolkit: Skills for Difficult Conversations (for Tweens/Teens)
Arguments with parents? Friend drama? This workshop isn't about avoiding conflict – it's about handling it differently. Learn how to express your needs without starting a fight, set boundaries that stick, and turn disagreements into opportunities for better understanding. Using the Dignity Framework, you'll discover how to stand up for yourself while keeping relationships intact. Perfect for anyone tired of feeling misunderstood or stuck in the same old conflict patterns.
Megan Saxelby: Megan Saxelby is on a mission to transform how we think about adolescence. As the founder of Wild Feelings and a veteran educator with 17 years of classroom experience, she reframes adolescence from a time of crisis into an extraordinary period of possibility and potential. Drawing from cutting-edge research on adolescent development, Megan has collaborated with leading voices including bestselling author Rosalind Wiseman and dignity expert Dr. Donna Hicks, while developing foundational curriculum for #halfthestory, the world's leading digital wellness non-profit. Through Wild Feelings, she equips parents with evidence-based tools and fresh perspectives that transform the journey through adolescence from something to be survived into an opportunity to be embraced. By bridging groundbreaking research with practical wisdom, Megan helps parents build lasting connections with their teens and create home environments where both generations thrive.
Parent Workshops
Morning Option #1: Navigating Neurodivergence
Neurodivergence is extremely common in the gifted student community. Yet the label can feel alienating, frightening, othering. What is 'neurodivergence', anyway? What kinds of community does the neurodivergent world offer families of gifted children? What tools exist to help families navigate the world with their gifted neurodivergent child? What tools do we need to create? Dr. Fink will demystify neurodivergence, using the most up-to-date neuroscientific and social science research. She will offer her own journey as the gifted parent of a gifted neurodivergent child, and provide resources and opportunities for connection.
Dr. Jennifer Natalya Fink: Dr. Jennifer Natalya Fink is a professor of English and co-founder of the Program in Disability Studies at Georgetown University. Dr. Fink is the author of seven award-winning books, including All Our Families: Disability Lineage and the Future of Kinship. She has written about disability lineage and neurodiversity for the New York Times, the Atlantic, Teen Vogue, and many others. An equally committed teacher and researcher, Dr. Fink received the Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence and the President's Award for Distinguished Scholar-Teachers. A lifelong learner, she recently completed a certificate from the Washington Baltimore Center for Psychoanalysis. Dr. Fink is a 2024 recipient of the Fulbright Peer Specialist award, and is currently at work on Neuropsyches: Neurodiversity, Narrativity, and the New Psychoanalysis. First and foremost, Dr. Fink is a mother: the transformative experience of parenting her gifted autistic daughter is the center of her work. Photo by Damith da Silva
Morning Option #2: Managing Emotional Labor and the Mental Load
Centered on the research explored in her book Fed Up, Gemma Hartley shares how to recognize the mental load and emotional labor that comes with raising an exceptional child. From tireless advocacy work to managing high emotions, there are added challenges that often fall to the default parent in families with highly gifted students. This session will teach participants how to make the invisible visible, as well as co-create plans for managing emotional labor and the mental load.
Gemma Hartley: Gemma Hartley is a freelance journalist, writing coach, and author of Fed Up: Emotional Labor, Women, and the Way Forward and the forthcoming No One Loves An Angry Woman. She has spoken on the topic of emotional labor and the mental load around the world, from corporate conferences to festivals at the Sydney Opera House. She is passionate about creating a more equitable world in which invisible labor is valued and supported by both personal partners and public policy alike.
Morning Option #3: Supporting the Mental Health of Gifted and 2e Learners in Our Complex World
Gifted and twice-exceptional (2e) learners often experience the world with heightened intensity and awareness, making them particularly susceptible to today's increasing pressures and rapid changes. Their unique cognitive profiles and emotional sensitivities can amplify both challenges and opportunities in managing mental health. During this session, we'll explore practical strategies tailored to these learners' distinct needs, focusing on how to leverage their strengths while supporting their vulnerabilities. Learn how to recognize early warning signs, foster resilience, and help gifted/2e students process complex emotions while maintaining their characteristic curiosity and drive.
Emily Kircher-Morris, LPC: Emily Kircher-Morris, LPC, is the host of The Neurodiversity Podcast. She is the author of several books for parents and educators related to the development of children and teens who are neurodivergent and cognitively gifted, including "Raising Twice-Exceptional Children: A Handbook for Parents of Neurodivergent Gifted Kids" and "A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children: A Resource for Caregivers and Advocates." She started her career in education and now works as a mental health counselor in private practice outside of St. Louis, Missouri.
Morning Option #4: From Power Struggles to Partnership: Seeing Your Child Beyond the Conflict
Power struggles with profoundly gifted children can be intense, but they’re also opportunities for growth. In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn communication tools to recognize your child’s full experience, understand what’s driving the conflict, and use a collaborative framework for problem-solving. Through role play and personal reflection, you’ll explore perspectives on power, autonomy, equity, and choice—helping you move from control battles to connection and cooperation.
Allyn Miller: Allyn Miller is the owner of Child Connection and a Master Trainer with the Jai Institute for Parenting. With a Master’s in Early Childhood Education and 10 years of global classroom experience, she’s spent four years coaching parents to embody conscious parenting through nervous system education. Based in Milwaukee with her husband, two kids, and a lively puppy, she’s on a mission to help exhausted moms thrive through every meltdown—their child’s or their own.
Afternoon Option #1: Twice Exceptional, Twice Blessed: Navigating the Blessings and Challenges Beyond the Multiple Labels
In the popular imagination, 'gifted' means you're a supergenius who is exceptional at everything. In reality, gifted children often have 'co-morbid' diagnoses, and may have deficits and challenges along with their gifts. In this interactive workshop, we will explore both the blessings and challenges of this doubleness, both for the child and his/her/their family, and in navigating their communities, schools, and social circles. How do we reimagine and redefine giftedness to include the full complexity and humanity of our doubly exceptional children? Dr. Fink will offer her own journey as the twice exceptional parent of a twice exceptional child, and provide resources and opportunities for connection.
Dr. Jennifer Natalya Fink: Dr. Jennifer Natalya Fink is a professor of English and co-founder of the Program in Disability Studies at Georgetown University. Dr. Fink is the author of seven award-winning books, including All Our Families: Disability Lineage and the Future of Kinship. She has written about disability lineage and neurodiversity for the New York Times, the Atlantic, Teen Vogue, and many others. An equally committed teacher and researcher, Dr. Fink received the Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence and the President's Award for Distinguished Scholar-Teachers. A lifelong learner, she recently completed a certificate from the Washington Baltimore Center for Psychoanalysis. Dr. Fink is a 2024 recipient of the Fulbright Peer Specialist award, and is currently at work on Neuropsyches: Neurodiversity, Narrativity, and the New Psychoanalysis. First and foremost, Dr. Fink is a mother: the transformative experience of parenting her gifted autistic daughter is the center of her work. Photo by Damith da Silva
Afternoon Option #2: Centering Self-Care and Sharing Invisible Labor
Building on the topics explored in Managing Emotional Labor and the Mental Load, Gemma Hartley will spearhead a discussion on the importance of self-care for parents of highly gifted students. Beyond its importance for mental health and avoiding burnout, participants will learn how to build a foundation of support that creates room for self-care. This session will teach participants strategies for engaging with real self-care and lightening the mental load.
Gemma Hartley: Gemma Hartley is a freelance journalist, writing coach, and author of Fed Up: Emotional Labor, Women, and the Way Forward and the forthcoming No One Loves An Angry Woman. She has spoken on the topic of emotional labor and the mental load around the world, from corporate conferences to festivals at the Sydney Opera House. She is passionate about creating a more equitable world in which invisible labor is valued and supported by both personal partners and public policy alike.
Afternoon Option #3: Difficult Conversations, Deeper Connections: Building Resilience in Gifted & 2e Children
How do you discuss challenging topics with a child who thinks deeply, feels intensely, and asks complex questions? This session provides parents of gifted and twice-exceptional children with practical strategies for navigating sensitive conversations about mental health, loss, and other difficult subjects. Learn how to balance honesty with age-appropriate explanations, validate intense emotions while building coping skills, and create safe spaces for processing complex feelings. Discover techniques for transforming challenging discussions into opportunities for emotional growth, deeper parent-child connections, and increased resilience.
Emily Kircher-Morris, LPC: Emily Kircher-Morris, LPC, is the host of The Neurodiversity Podcast. She is the author of several books for parents and educators related to the development of children and teens who are neurodivergent and cognitively gifted, including "Raising Twice-Exceptional Children: A Handbook for Parents of Neurodivergent Gifted Kids" and "A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children: A Resource for Caregivers and Advocates." She started her career in education and now works as a mental health counselor in private practice outside of St. Louis, Missouri.
Afternoon Option #4: From Conflict to Connection: Using Authentic Communication to Speak Heart to Heart
When parents disagree about decisions for their profoundly gifted child, tensions can rise fast. This interactive workshop introduces a simple Nonviolent Communication framework to help you express yourself honestly, listen with empathy, and move beyond judgment and assumptions. Through practical tools, role play, and personal reflection, you’ll learn to transform conflict into meaningful connection—so you and your partner can navigate parenting decisions with greater clarity and trust.
Allyn Miller: Allyn Miller is the owner of Child Connection and a Master Trainer with the Jai Institute for Parenting. With a Master’s in Early Childhood Education and 10 years of global classroom experience, she’s spent four years coaching parents to embody conscious parenting through nervous system education. Based in Milwaukee with her husband, two kids, and a lively puppy, she’s on a mission to help exhausted moms thrive through every meltdown—their child’s or their own.
Whole Family Presentations & Sessions
Family Values Session: Coming Soon!
The whole family should join in for this important presentation.
Check back later to check out the exciting details for these presentations!
Signature Family Vision Board Reflection Activity: Coming Soon!
The whole family should join in for this important presentation.
Check back later to check out the exciting details for these presentations!
Morning Family Movement: Yoga
Each morning, families can start their day with a morning movement option of yoga or an intention setting walk around campus. Forego both and just enjoy extra time to get ready and have breakfast as a family.
Rise and shine with gentle movement in this feel-good morning yoga session. Durning this hour, we'll connect to our breath, set our intentions for the day, and wake up the body with stretches and sun salutations. This is a family-friendly yoga flow that will help clear the mind and energize the body, preparing you for the rest of the day.
Sara Kwasna: Sara Kwasna earned her 200-hour yoga teaching certificate in May of 2022. She’s been trained in vinyasa yoga, trauma-informed yoga, accessible yoga, and is a Level 2 Reiki practitioner. Sara believes that yoga should be made available to all people regardless of gender identity, race, size, age, socioeconomic status, or physical ability. This year, she will complete her 300-hour YTT.