Workshops – One-hour sessions about nutrition, program admin/operations, financial management, Head Start, Summer Food, Afterschool Meals, train the trainer and more. Multiple presenters are allowed and PowerPoints/handouts are required.

Speed Sessions - Thirty-minute information packed sessions that require a PowerPoint presentation. There's no Q&A, just concise and to-the-point content. Perfect for speakers who can deliver impactful information in a short timeframe.

Shop Talks – Unscripted, dynamic, and real, these are thirty-minute sessions that focus on specific topics like enrolling providers, fundraising, policy, handling conflict, parent engagement, and mobile meals. PowerPoints are not required and there is only one facilitator per session.

Academy –Two to three hour deep-dive sessions that allow attendees to understand the nitty gritty. Sessions take place pre and post conference with a limited group of registrants. Multiple presenters are recommended and PowerPoints/handouts are required.

The NCA Conference Committee will review all submissions and applicants will be notified of their status on a rolling basis throughout the Fall. We will continue to review applications until our program is full. Presenters who submit their proposal by August 14, 2026 will be notified of the status of their presentation by the end of August 2026.

Yes. Presenters are required to register to present at the 2027 National Child Nutrition Conference. Registration links will be shared with presenters mid-September to receive the lowest conference rate.

Your conference registration will include access to programming, networking, receptions, exhibit hall hours, and breakfast/lunch on Wednesday and Thursday.

Presentations are considered professional contributions to the child nutrition community, therefore, NCA does not pay an honorarium for speakers or any related travel expenses including conference registration, airfare, hotel, or meals.

NCA has limited spots for hybrid presentations and are unable to accommodate all hybrid presentation requests. Presentations that are selected to be in the hybrid track will be presented onsite and broadcasted to virtual attendees. If you’d like to present virtually at one of our events throughout the year then please email conference@cacfp.org.

Presenters will be offered standard audio-visual support which will include Wi-Fi, podium with wired microphone, clicker, projector and screen.

Your NCA-approved presentation will be preloaded on a laptop in your assigned workshop room. Please submit a complete presentation. NCA will not approve presentations with presenters listed as TBD. No changes or updates are able to be made to your presentation after the August 14, 2026, deadline.

Presenters will be notified in January of their presentation date and time. Be sure to add conference@cacfp.org as a safe sender to receive important conference updates.

A link will be sent to you to submit final PowerPoints and handouts by February 1, 2027.

Attendees do not sign up for sessions in advance. Prepare to be flexible! Meeting rooms will be set theater style and attendance may range from 25 to 300 depending on topic interest.

Yes! Feedback will be collected from attendees for each session and will be shared with you in the weeks following the conference.