The children’s
program partner
We help children's program leaders, educators, and staff create impactful, engaging experiences through expert training, program consulting, and event planning—so you can focus on what matters most: inspiring young minds.
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Training
Virtual and in-person training for children’s program staff , volunteers, and managers
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Consulting
Available for program planning, team management, events, and children’s space design
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Event Planning
We facilitate extraordinary events for children of all ages-from planning support to event design and implementation!
Our Mission
At Cocoon Boom, we empower children’s programming staff with expert consulting, dynamic training, and event planning support. We believe that children’s programs should be child-led, inviting, and designed to nurture skills at every stage—fostering creativity and meaningful engagement. No matter your organization’s size or budget, our resources are designed to fit your needs.
Looking for a programming partner? Let’s create something amazing together!
Meet Bethany
Bethany Fort started Cocoon Boom in 2024 after 15 years of experience providing family programs and professional development in libraries, bookstores, schools, museums, and non-profit organizations.
She started Cocoon Boom from a love of community programs and a desire to create a space for children’s programming staff to learn together. Bethany has an M.A. in Children’s Literature from Eastern Michigan University and an M.S. in Library Science from the University of North Texas. She lives in Fort Worth, TX with her husband Ben, and their kids.
Training Specialties
We provide virtual and in-person training for children’s program staff and volunteers.
Every training is tailored to your organization’s unique needs. We will contact you before the training to make sure we are delivering the best information for your staff and volunteers.
Don’t see a training you need? We love a challenge! We have a team of professionals with a range of training expertise. Tell us what you need, and we will work to meet your unique needs.
Topics:
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This training was created for art museum programming staff and volunteers, but open to any organization! Reading picture books is an art form in itself, but how can we read in a way that invites children to view book illustrations critically and inquisitively?
We will empower you to incorporate visual thinking strategies and art-focused questions while reading picture books during family programs and field trips.
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Every storytime presenter starts at the beginning, and that’s where we meet you for this training. For interns, volunteers, and first-time storytime presenters, this training discusses the how and why of leading a high-quality, interactive storytime for young children.
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Did you know you can include natural play materials in ANY setting? Whether you are in libraries or galleries, inside or outside-there is a way to incorporate nature play. We will discuss the different methods and benefits of including nature play in your programming and how you can get started now!
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No more cutting out ladybug legs and eyes-it’s time to switch over to process art to benefit your families (and your staff!). Process art is budget-friendly, child-led, and will empower your families to see the true value of creating art together. This training will introduce the principles of process art and equip you with the confidence and information to get started at your program!
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Do families request puppets in your programs? Puppets can truly enrich your storytimes, encouraging engagement and interaction with young children. You don’t have to be a master puppeteer to start!
Conquer your puppet fears with this beginner training designed to help anyone confidently incorporate puppets into their programs!
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In an ocean of children’s books, how do you find the great ones? This training dives into a brief history of modern children’s literature in the US and equips you to identify and appreciate quality children’s books for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
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When people think about sensory play, they think of cleaning up a HUGE MESS- but you can incorporate sensory play in any program, in any space, for any age! Let me show you how in this fun training on sensory play!
“Bethany Fort is a delight to work with!
“We’ve collaborated on a number of projects and programs designed for early childhood and family audiences, and she brings a wealth of experience and creativity to her role. Consulting on books and reading strategies, creative materials, playful presentations, and sensory-rich learning experiences, Bethany is a true advocate for rich, developmentally appropriate opportunities for play.”
- Alli Rogers Andreen,
Manager of Family and Access Programs, Amon Carter Museum of American Art
Consulting
Do you wish you could have a partner to reach out to for planning that big event? Updating your children’s space? Help writing curriculum for programs and camps?
Programming can be isolating. We are here to be your partner! Reach out to us about your specific consulting project or topic!
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Planning events is similar to crafting a recipe-you need the right combination to make it memorable and successful for everyone. We will work with you to brainstorm and organize every aspect of an event-tailored to your audience, organization, and budget!
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We offer consultations for new children’s space designs or updates to existing spaces. Small or large-we want to help you create beautiful, sustainable spaces for families to engage with your organization.
Creating an inviting family space can increase your program attendance and enrich your community!
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If you feel like there is not enough time in the day, we can help you get ahead by creating custom program plans for your organization.
We will work with you to decide the direction/duration of the program and the target audience and craft high-quality curriculum plans for your staff. This will save you time and give your staff everything they need to implement a successful program!
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Whether you are a programmer who is stuck in a creative rut or a new team manager, we can work with you to design innovative, high-quality programs for your community. We love to partner with you to consider your outreach efforts, summer programs, marketing practices, and all the pieces that make your programs the best!
Event Planning
We love creating innovative experiences and events for children of all ages! Whether you need planning support for a large event or want us to design and host interactive exhibits and activities, we’ll make sure it’s a stand-out experience for everyone involved.
A few project we’ve worked on lately…
A librarian from Austin Public Library reached out with an exciting request—to launch a nature play program for families with young children and redesign her children’s space to promote open-ended play.
During our consultation call, we mapped out a clear direction for both projects. I then provided her with a curated list of recommended materials tailored to her budget and storage needs. Thanks to her dedication and leadership, families are now enjoying engaging play experiences, and attendance has increased!
I had the opportunity to join a brainstorming cohort at the Amon Carter Museum.
Through the cohort, we explored creative ways for the museum educator to connect gallery art with an early-learning audience. Our discussions sparked a variety of ideas, which she later used to shape her highly successful summer family programs.
I was thrilled when the Dallas Museum of Art invited me to train their summer interns!
I led The Art of Storytime workshop, and the feedback was fantastic. The museum educator shared that the interns "had never considered picture books as art forms" before the training—a clear sign that the session achieved its goal!
Contact Us
Contact us to discuss pricing and scheduling for trainings or consultations. We love a challenge!