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  3. [IC 2026] What sessions are available at this year’s event?

[IC 2026] What sessions are available at this year’s event?

Each year, Future Problem Solving offers exciting and interactive sessions for students and adults. We recommend that conference attendees choose sessions that enable them to explore new programs, deepen their learning, and meet problem solvers from around the world. Sessions are open to all registered International Conference participants (NOT Observers).

Looking for social events and competitions? You can see the full schedule here.

Last Updated May 18, 2026
All Times in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

Pre-conference session

Watch our competition topic webinar recording. Our very own Future Problem Solving Student Advisory Council hosted experts Lord Ameyaw, University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Natural Resources, Celine Colbert, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Daniel Coy, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and Lara Johnson, Virginia Department of Forestry.

Wednesday, June 10

WHENWHAT (Where)WHO
8:00 PM – 8:45 PMFirst Time to IC Adult Meeting
(Forest C-205)
In a meeting with Future Problem Solving Headquarters staff member Allison and a coach of IC champions, discuss your questions and prepare to navigate the International Conference. In this Q&A session, you will learn about campus and how to help students navigate conference activities.
Host: Allison Williams, HQ staff, and an IC Coach		Coaches
Parents
Chaperones
Other Adults

Thursday, June 11

WHENWHAT (Where)WHO
2:00 – 4:00 PMTools for Storytellers
(Forest C-205)
Come to this session to learn about a variety of story-planning tools for Storytelling and Creative Writing. Dr Ed Selby will share 5 tools for generating ideas and 5 tools for focusing ideas. Learn how these tools can be applied when you write a story. These tools have been used around the globe for decades with students and adults of all ages, in all academic areas and all problem solving arenas, to boost high-level problem solving!
Host: Dr Ed Selby		Creative Writers
Storytellers
2:00 – 4:00 PMCreative Writing – Celebration of Affiliate Champions
(Hodge Hall – 2075)
Creative Writers will share excerpts of their champion stories and discuss their creative process. Interested in hearing great stories and learning from Creative Writing champions? Join us! Are you an affiliate winner and interested in presenting? Email Allison@fpspi.org.
Host: Ariella Leeder, FPS California Affiliate Director		Creative Writers
2:00 – 4:00 PMParents’ Meeting
(Global International Studies – Shreve Auditorium (GA 0001))
Why FPS? Parents and guardians should join this meeting to gain information on the Future Problem Solving process and how it benefits your students. Parents of Future Problem Solving participants will walk you through the 6-step process with a practice future scene and discuss how the program has helped their students.
Host: Lisa Quintana, FPS Texas Affiliate Director, and Erwin Hosono, FPS Board of Trustees		Coaches
Parents
Chaperones
Other Adults
8:30 – 9:30 PMStudent Advisory Council session
(Forest C-205)
Senior division students are invited to attend a workshop with the official Future Problem Solving Student Advisory Council. Hosts from the current Student Advisory Council are excited to meet interested students and learn from the Future Problem Solving community.
Host: Current officers and members of the Student Advisory Council		Senior division

Friday, June 12

WHENWHAT (Where)WHO
9:00 AM – 11:00 PMDiscover your Problem-Solving Style
(SPEA 167)
Join this session to learn about your problem solving style and how to enhance your teamwork by knowing and appreciating problem solving styles. Explore these styles, help your team better understand each other, and learn strategies for how to work effectively together.
Host: Dr Ed Selby		All competitors
Global Issues competitors
Community Projects competitors
9:00 AM – 11:00 PMProblem-Solving & Project Management
(Hodge Hall 2050)
This exciting, hands-on workshop will provide you with an introduction to project management and how it can be used to aid your problem-solving. By the end of the session, you will be able to identify project management concepts, understand how they relate to your everyday activities, and use them to address complex, global issues. Project management principles are helpful to competitors in all programs, so stop by and learn how project management can help you.
Host: Amber Buschmann and Rebecca McWhorter of PMIEF		Community Projects competitors
All competitors
7:00 – 9:00 PMInto the Woods: Where Ideas Grow Wild
(Eigenmann – Base)
Join us and learn from the real-world application of problem-solving skills you develop every time you participate in Future Problem Solving. Be ready to experience creativity, collaboration, communication and creative problem-solving!
Host: Jacob Cramer, alumni evaluator, and Kathy Frazier, evaluator and coach of IC champions		All competitors
7:00 – 9:00 PMImprov!
(Fine Arts 015)
Improvisation, or improv, is a form of live performance in which the plot, characters, and dialogue of a game, scene, or story are made up in the moment. Often, improvisers will take a suggestion from the audience or draw on some other source of inspiration to get started. Stretch your public speaking skills in front of an audience in this fun, collaborative session!
Host: Renée Hanscom and Bob Cattel, FPS Massachusetts Affiliate Directors		All competitors
9:30 – 10:30 PMSenior Division Forum
(Forest C-206)
Graduating in 2026 or 2027? Join this session to connect with peers from around the world, share experiences, and discuss future plans.
Host: Mackenzie Yaryura, FPS Board of Trustees and alumni		Senior division

Saturday, June 13

WHENWHAT (Where)WHO
9:00 – 11:00 AMArt of Storytelling
(SPEA 167)
Bringing your stories to life through Creative Writing and Storytelling allows you to create a story and tell it to an audience, themed after one of our annual topics. Learn how you can build strong communication skills through storytelling and develop your speaking skills. You will leave this session better equipped to confidently speak to others through stories.
Host: Renée Hanscom and Bob Cattel, FPS Massachusetts Affiliate Directors		All competitors
9:00 – 11:00 AMIU Woodland Campus Tour
(IMU – Biddle Hotel entrance)
Meet outside Biddle hotel doors.

Venture out on a tour that highlights IU’s natural heritage and the incredible biodiversity of the Midwest. On the tour, you will be led through a variety of different habitats such as forests, prairies, and wetlands. Learn the difference between native and invasive species and see firsthand the negative impacts that invasive species have had on Midwestern ecosystems. In this session, you will gain practical experience in ecological restoration and will be able to apply the skills you learn in future conservation initiatives!
Host: Amanda Genovese, FPS Board of Trustees and alumni		All attendees
9:00 AM – 12:00 PMTeam Creative Writing Experience
(Eigenmann – Base)
Writers will brainstorm, collaborate, and write a brand new group story based on an International Conference future scene. Like MAGIC, writing teams will be randomly formed when the session begins. This is not a competition. Come meet other writers and explore the Creative Writing program. Students from all programs are invited!		All competitors

Questions?

If you have any questions that are not answered by the information here, please fill out our IC help form.

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April Michele

April Michele Bio

Executive Director

A seasoned educator, April Michele has served as the Executive Director since 2018 and been with Future Problem Solving more than a decade. Her background in advanced curriculum strategies and highly engaging learning techniques translates well in the development of materials, publications, training, and marketing for the organization and its global network. April’s expertise includes pedagogy and strategies for critical and creative thinking and providing quality educational services for students and adults worldwide.

Prior to joining Future Problem Solving, April taught elementary and middle grades, spending most of her classroom career in Gifted Education. She earned the National Board Certification (NBPTS) as a Middle Childhood/Generalist and later served as a National Board Assessor for the certification of others. She was trained and applied the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) in Humanities, which helped widen the educational scope and boundaries beyond the U.S. In addition, April facilitated the Theory and Development of Creativity course for state level certification of teachers. She has also collaborated on a variety of special projects through the Department of Education.

A graduate of the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s in Elementary Education and the University of South Florida with a master’s in Gifted Education, April’s passion is providing a challenging curriculum for 21st century students so they are equipped with the problem solving and ethical leadership skills they need to thrive in the future. As a board member in her local Rotary Club, she facilitates problem solving in leadership at the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA). She is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) from the Project Management Institute and earned her certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Edyth Bush Institute at Rollins College.