LEARNING TRACKS - SUMMER 2026

This isn’t just a brainstorming session—it’s a high-level creative workshop designed for staffers who want to push the boundaries of visual and verbal storytelling. This track is strictly limited in enrollment to ensure experience for every team.

This track is uniquely taught by two National Yearbook Advisers of the Year. You’ll have direct access to the most decorated minds in student journalism, receiving personalized direction and high-level strategy that you simply won’t find anywhere else.

Ideal for: Editors, theme teams, creative directors

Limit: 4 per school

Extra Fees Apply: $40

Being an editor isn’t just about having the best design eye in the room — it’s about setting the tone, managing people, and turning big ideas into an actual plan. This Learning Track is built for Editors-in-Chief, Section Editors, and rising leaders who want to run a confident, organized, low-drama yearbook room. If you’re ready to lead with clarity instead of chaos, this is your lane.

We go beyond software and into the real stuff: how to build a year-long roadmap, create a theme-driven ladder that strengthens coverage, establish workflows that actually work, and give clear, compassionate feedback that makes your staff better. You’ll practice leadership strategies, build systems for staying on schedule, and leave with daily routines that support both big goals and small wins — all while keeping the creative energy high.

Ideal for: Editors-in-chief, section editors, team leaders

Design isn’t just about making it look good — it’s about making it mean something. In this Learning Track, you’ll plan your storytelling before you ever open the software, so your spreads are built with intention from the start. We’ll break down how content, hierarchy, and structure work together to highlight the strongest stories of the year — not just fill a template.

Then we go deep. Color theory that actually sets a mood. Typography pairings that feel cohesive, not chaotic. Strategic coverage tools like mods, infographics, and man-on-the-street features that eliminate awkward white space and get more students in the book. You’ll leave knowing how to design spreads that feel polished, purposeful, and fully aligned with your theme — not random or recycled.

Ideal for: Designers, advanced staffers, returning editors

Whether you’re just learning your camera or already shooting in manual, this Learning Track is about leveling up your eye — not just your settings. Beginners will build real technical confidence, master action shots, and learn how to capture authentic candid moments that actually feel alive. We move beyond “point and shoot” into intentional storytelling — so every photo says something.

For advanced photographers, this is where things get serious. You’ve mastered the shutter — now it’s time to master the story. We focus on high-impact, emotionally driven photojournalism that defines a school year and elevates your entire book. This isn’t basic how-to content — it’s elite-level visual storytelling designed for photographers who want their work to stand out, win awards, and actually matter.

Ideal for: Photographers of all levels

This track is the ultimate “bootcamp” for students new to the world of yearbook. We’re going to pull back the curtain on how a blank page becomes a permanent piece of school history. You’ll learn The Art of the Interview & why brainstorming Coverage is important, captions that pop, and design foundations. You will leave camp with the knowledge to be a valuable member of your yearbook team.

Ideal for: First-year yearbook students

Whether you’re stepping into the journalism room for the first time or you’ve been advising for twenty years, this Learning Track is about building systems that work — and protecting your peace while you do it. We’ll map out your first 30 days of instruction (and what comes after), so you know exactly what to teach, when to teach it, and how to get your staff deadline-ready before the first bell even rings. No guessing. No scrambling. Just a clear plan.
We’ll also build a production schedule that actually fits your school using backwards mapping from your final ship date. Along the way, we tackle the real stuff: staff culture and management, working effectively with editors, navigating the grading dilemma, and mastering deadlines without burnout. You’ll leave with structure, strategy, and a calmer year ahead — not just more notes in a binder.

Ideal for: New and veteran advisers