Winter Blast

February 19 - 22, 2026

Facilitated by Play Pathways Initiative,
Hosted by Powell House

How do you play? Are you a collector, a competitor, an artist, or a director? Are you an explorer, a joker, a kinesthete, or a story teller? Perhaps you’re like us and identify with more than one of these playful personalities! 

The Winter Play Intensive aims to reflect that which naturally occurs on the playground: exploration into the unknown, the absence of fear and judgement, risk-taking and resiliency, curiosity, bravery, and the freedom of imagination. This experience supports the integration of a “Play Mindset” into your everyday life by providing a space to practice in and a community to practice with. 

Throughout the intensive, participants are provided with opportunities to reconnect to their sense of play in an effort to empower creativity, innovation, and leadership through vulnerability. This process is guided by Play Pathways’ “Buoys and Anchors”- a Pedagogy of Play carefully developed by cofounders Malia’Kekia Nicolini and Christopher Beaulieu and inspired by the research of Dr. Stuart Brown (founder of the National Institute for Play). 

It is through the presence of community that we discover what makes us unique, reveal our gifts and talents, and pave the way for a future that celebrates the diversity of humanity. Join us February 19-22, 2026, as we reinforce the importance of living a play-FULL life!