Spark LEADERSHIP
What happens when kids are given a challenge and trusted to figure it out?
What is Spark Leadership?
Spark Leadership is a hands-on experience for kids 8+ built around games, movement, teamwork, and real-world challenges.
There’s no script to follow and no single “right” way to lead. Kids have to notice what’s happening, communicate, try an idea, listen to others, adapt when things change, and keep going when their first plan falls apart.
Along the way, they discover something bigger: leadership isn’t about being the loudest person in the room. It’s about knowing when to step up, when to listen, and how to help a group move forward.
Less sitting and talking about leadership.
More doing, figuring it out, and becoming the kind of leader who can handle what comes next.
How exactly does my kid learn leadership?
We play first.
Kids learn leadership by doing, not by sitting through a lesson about it.
They might find themselves:
- Trying to communicate without talking.
- Building a LEGO sculpture with their teammates.
- Solving a challenge while someone is blindfolded.
- Figuring out how to flip a giant tarp without stepping off.
- Getting a ball into a bucket using a collection of objects.
- Discovering that everyone has been given different rules.
- Building something that might—and probably will—collapse.
Then we pause, reflect, debrief, and connect the experience to real life.
Kids start to notice things like:
Being loud isn’t the same as being heard.
Being useful isn’t the same as being in charge.
Getting frustrated doesn’t mean you have to give up.
And a different idea isn’t necessarily a bad idea.
Because the game is only half the experience.
Kids don’t just do the challenge. They learn to recognize what happened, make meaning from it, and carry those lessons with them—to school, friendships, sports, family, and everyday life.
Who is Spark Leadership For?
Curious kids.
The ones who are always asking why, spotting patterns, or noticing things other people miss.
Big thinkers.
Kids who love solving puzzles, dreaming up ideas, or finding a different way to make something work.
Natural helpers.
Kids who bring people together, encourage their teammates, or notice when someone is being left out.
Quiet leaders.
Kids who don’t need to be the loudest in the room—and may have more to say, contribute, and lead than they realize.
Kids still figuring it out.
Because leadership isn’t a personality type. It’s a set of skills every kid can build.
And that’s what Spark Leadership is all about.
What will my child learn in Spark Leadership?
They won't go home with a finished project. They'll go home with something they can use.
A better understanding of themselves.
They’ll discover their strengths, notice where they get stuck, and learn how they can contribute to a team.
A better understanding of themselves.
They’ll discover their strengths, notice where they get stuck, and learn how they can contribute to a team.
The confidence to try again.
They’ll learn that getting stuck, being wrong, or having an idea fail isn’t the end of the story. It’s information—and a reason to try something different.
More comfort with frustration.
They’ll practice staying engaged when things feel hard, unexpected, or unfair.
A stronger sense of how groups work.
They’ll learn to notice different personalities, perspectives, and strengths and understand how they can help a group move forward.
These are the things they take with them.
Into the classroom. Onto the field. Into friendships. Around the dinner table. And, eventually, into the bigger challenges life brings.
What makes Spark Leadership different?
LEARN BY DOING
No lectures about leadership. Kids experience it through games, challenges, movement, and teamwork.
REFLECT, THEN TRY AGAIN
The challenge isn’t the whole lesson. We pause, talk about what happened, and help kids connect the experience to real life.
EVERY KID CAN LEAD
Leadership isn’t about being the loudest, most confident, or most outgoing. Kids discover different ways to contribute.
TAKE IT WITH YOU
The goal isn’t a great afternoon at Spark. It’s skills and insights kids can use at school, at home, on teams, and with friends.
Spark Leadership Schedule:
October 2, 9,16 & 23
Fridays | 5:30–7:30 PM
$45 per class / $160 for all 4 classes
Each week, we’ll: Introduce a leadership skill.
Make it real through games, challenges, and hands-on experiences.
Pause, reflect, and connect so kids can put words to what they discovered.
Send home a Quick Growth Guide with simple ways to keep the conversation and the growth going.
CURIOSITY → COMMUNICATE → COLLABORATE → COMMIT
WEEK 1: CURIOSITY
You can’t act until you notice. Kids practice slowing down, paying attention, and seeing people, patterns, problems, and possibilities they might otherwise miss.
WEEK 2: COMMUNICATION
A clear message matters more than a loud one. Kids explore what it really means to listen, be understood, share an idea, and help a group communicate clearly.
WEEK 3: COLLABORATION
Leaders don’t control people; they empower them. Kids discover how different strengths, perspectives, and roles can come together and how great teams make room for everyone to contribute.
WEEK 4: COMMITMENTS
Leaders know how to start and how to follow through. Kids explore what it takes to turn an idea into action, keep a group moving, adapt when things change, and stick with something until it’s done.
What happens for each two hour class?
ARRIVE + CONNECT
Get settled, meet the group, and get ready to jump in.
↓
PLAY + CHALLENGE
Games and hands-on challenges that put leadership skills to work.
↓
PAUSE + REFLECT
What happened? What worked? What didn’t? What did you notice?
↓
TRY AGAIN
Kids apply what they discovered to the next challenge.
↓
TAKE IT HOME
A Quick Growth Guide gives families a simple way to continue the conversation.
What might I notice at home?
You might hear your child say:
“Wait, I have an idea.”
“What if we tried it another way?”
“I was frustrated, but I kept going.”
“Everyone had a different job.”
“I didn’t agree with them, but I listened.”
This is where the intangible benefit becomes visible to parents.
And it makes the whole promise of Spark Leadership feel real.
Who will be teaching Spark Leadership?
Jessica Errington
Jessica was born and raised in New York and now calls the Lehigh Valley home. She earned bachelor’s degrees in Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology from Lehigh University, followed by a Master of Education in Higher Education from the University of Delaware, where she served as a Graduate Intern in the Office of Educational Assessment.
Jessica founded Starling Leadership with a simple belief: people thrive when they have the language, tools, and perspective to understand who they are and the confidence to decide how they want to live, lead, connect, and contribute.
She’s also a mom of three, a cyber homeschooler, and a longtime believer in the power of community. When she joined the Nazareth Area MOMS Club, she was thrilled to find the proverbial village. Over the past eight years, she has served as President, Membership Vice President, and in a variety of coordinator roles.
Spark Leadership brings all of that together: Jessica’s background in human behavior and leadership, her experience building community, and her firsthand perspective as a mom who wants her kids to grow into capable, thoughtful, resilient people.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a drop-off program?
Yes. Spark Leadership is designed as a drop-off program so kids can focus, build independence, and fully engage in the experience. However, if you prefer to stay, we have a separate waiting area for parents and caregivers.
Do kids need experience?
What do we need to bring?
Just themselves, a water bottle, and a snack. Come ready to move, try new things, work together, and have some fun.
What is the age range?
Spark Leadership is designed for kids ages 8 and up. Kids are grouped with others at a similar age and developmental stage so the challenges feel engaging, relevant, and appropriately challenging.
What is your cancellation policy?
Cancellations 24+hrs receive credit or make-up. Less than 24 hrs and no shows are not eligible.
Does my child need to attend all four classes?
No! Kids can attend individual classes, but we strongly suggest and recommend attending all four.
Then explain why the full series is valuable.