MINDSPARQ®️ PRESENTS

INDOOR RECESS® SUMMIT

A VIRTUAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR PROJECT MANAGERS
ONLINE: November 5th & 6th, 2026

Not Your Average Virtual Conference

Whether you're looking to sharpen your leadership skills, streamline your processes, or adapt more seamlessly to changing environments, the Indoor Recess® Summit is tailored just for you. But this isn’t your average conference. We’re mixing rigorous learning with massive amounts of fun and networking to ensure you leave with actionable tips and inspiration.

Set in a virtual format, we offer a flexible, engaging, and comprehensive learning experience. From engaging keynotes to interactive workshops and unique networking opportunities, every aspect of Indoor Recess® is designed to reignite your excitement for project management and elevate your professional game.

2026 Indoor Recess® Headline SPONSOR

Battle Plan Strategic Consulting is a Black woman-owned boutique consulting firm founded in 2020. We partner with nonprofits, foundations, coalitions, social impact organizations, and associations to turn strategy into execution — building the governance, operational, financial, and project management systems that help organizations plan with intention, execute with discipline, and prove their impact.

This Year's Topic

What's NOT in the PM Playbook

Let’s tackle the gray areas that show up when the framework can only take you so far, and experience and professional judgment have to take it from there.
Write your awesome label here.
Write your awesome label here.

WHY ATTEND?

Because knowing the framework is only part of the job. Indoor Recess® gives project professionals space to explore the conversations, decisions, and gray areas that don’t always fit neatly into a methodology—while learning, connecting, and having a little fun along the way.
Empty space, drag to resize

Professional and Personal Growth

This summit isn’t just about collecting PDUs. It’s about growing in ways that textbooks and traditional online events don’t cover. We focus on the leadership skills as much as the technical skills, ensuring you’re well-rounded and ready to lead.

Engaging and Practical Insights

Our sessions are interactive, practical, and designed to turn theory into action. You'll leave with strategies and tools you can implement immediately.

Real-World Project Challenges

Projects don’t always unfold the way the framework says they should. Explore real-world situations that require you to assess the circumstances, make informed decisions, and determine the best path forward.
I’m just starting as a new PMP, and this event was like heaven for people like me! I’ve already connected with amazing individuals with whom I hope to have long-lasting relationships! I learned so much, and most of all, as a PM, I appreciate how Crystal stuck to a schedule and how organized it was. Thank you. I can’t wait until the next one!

The Ideal Investment in Your Professional Journey

Project management doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and professional growth shouldn’t either. Indoor Recess® is an opportunity to step outside of the day-to-day, strengthen how you think through real project challenges, and invest in skills that continue working long after the summit ends.
Write your awesome label here.

Strengthen Your Decision-Making

Frameworks give you a foundation. Indoor Recess® helps you explore what happens when the answer isn’t obvious, giving you new perspectives for navigating complex situations with greater confidence.

Learn From Real-World Experience

Go beyond theory by learning from practitioners who understand what project management looks like in practice, including the challenges, judgment calls, and lessons that don’t always make it into the playbook.

Invest in Skills That Travel With You

The ability to communicate, adapt, assess a situation, and make sound decisions matters across projects, teams, industries, and roles. These are skills you can take wherever your professional journey leads.

MEET YOUR HOST

Crystal Richards, PMP, PMI-ACP, CSM
I train people to be better project managers

Supporting public and private sector clients for 20+ years in healthcare management and project management has been an exciting challenge. Through it all, I have experienced the highs of success and the lows of stress and overwhelm.

My focus is to help overwhelmed teams improve their project management skills (traditional and agile) so they can lead projects with clarity, courage, and confidence.

The Indoor Recess® Summit is designed to help you master your craft and implement more efficient project management techniques so you can spend more time on the things that matter to you.

If you would like to become a partner in Indoor Recess®, sponsorship opportunities are available.   → Learn More.

Special offer

Early Bird Pricing Is Here

Save $100 when you register by October 19th. 
Join us for two days of practical learning, real-world project management conversations, and the gray areas you won't always find in the playbook.
Indoor Recess® 2026
$297 Regular Price
Two days of live virtual learning
November 5, 2026 | 12 PM- 4 PM ET
November 6, 2026 | 10 AM–2 PM ET
7+ PDUs anticipated
Indoor Recess® + Playdate Recordings
$359 Regular Price
Everything included with your Indoor Recess® ticket, plus access to the Playdate recordings so you can keep the learning going.

What Are We Learning?

Project management frameworks provide the foundation, but real-world challenges don't always follow the playbook. This year at Indoor Recess®, we're exploring the gray areas of project management, from navigating difficult conversations and making strategic decisions to building a career beyond certifications. Let's talk about what the textbooks leave out.


The Data Was Right There
The risk register was complete. The earned value reports were accurate. Yet the project was still in trouble. Explore how to interpret project data, recognize warning signs, and make informed decisions when the numbers reveal problems that demand immediate action.
Empty space, drag to resize
DAY ONE
The Conversation We Weren’t Taught to Have
The project manager knew something was wrong but delayed a difficult conversation with her sponsor. Explore how to communicate challenging news, influence decisions without formal authority, and manage stakeholder relationships when timing, trust, and professional judgment matter most under pressure.
Empty space, drag to resize
DAY ONE

The Strategic Blindspot
Six months into the project, the agency's priorities changed, but the original plan remained untouched. Explore how organizational strategy influences project decisions, why context matters, and when following an approved plan can become a serious liability rather than an advantage.
DAY ONE


What the Playbook Left Out
Now the full story comes together. Revisit the project's critical decision points, connect lessons from all three PMI Talent Triangle domains, and consider what you would do differently. This facilitated discussion turns one project's failure into valuable practical professional insight.
Empty space, drag to resize
DAY ONE
Beyond Credentials: How PMs Get Noticed, Selected, and Promoted
Your PMP may demonstrate your qualifications, but what helps you stand out? Hear a recruiter's perspective on professional visibility, career positioning, and selection decisions. Explore what employers notice, what candidates overlook, and how to communicate your value beyond your credentials.

DAY TWO
They Wrote the Book on It: Authors Panel
Four authors share why they wrote their books, the gaps they wanted to address, and what professional experience taught them beyond certification guides. Join this moderated conversation for candid perspectives, practical lessons, and opportunities to directly ask your own questions.

DAY TWO

What Now: Your Next Move
Two days of conversations mean more when they lead to meaningful action. Reflect on the lessons that challenged your thinking, identify what the playbook left out, and choose one practical step to carry into your next project or career decision.
Empty space, drag to resize
DAY TWO
DAY ONE: BEYOND THE FRAMEWORK
What happens when a certified PM follows the playbook and still loses the project? Follow one case study across all three PMI Talent Triangle domains: Ways of Working, Power Skills, and Business Acumen. Examine the missed signals and critical decisions.
Empty space, drag to resize
DAY TWO: BEYOND THE CERTIFICATION
Your credentials tell only part of your professional story. Explore what recruiters value, hear authors discuss lessons learned through experience, and reflect on your next move. Day Two focuses on visibility, career decisions, and applying what you have learned together.
Bonus session:  Certified And Still Second Guessing
Many certified, experienced project managers still feel behind, because real project work rarely looks like the textbook. This session reframes that gap through tailoring and the project management mindset, showing PMs how to separate what they must know from what is situational and move from holding the credential to owning the work with confidence.
SPECIAL SESSION TIME:  DAY ONE AT 7PM ET

MEET EXPERIENCE SPONSOR

ANU Consulting is a PMI Premier Authorized Training Partner helping professionals launch and advance their project management careers. We offer PMP, CAPM, PMI-ACP, and CPMAI certification training, coaching, and corporate training, plus hands-on, resume-backed project experience that bridges the gap between certification and the job. Through our PM Mastermind community, PM staffing services, and consulting, we connect skilled project managers with the organizations that need them.


WE ❤️ OUR SPONSORS

Don't just take our word for it; hear from those who have experienced the magic of Indoor Recess®

Happy Monday everyone! Before this day ends, I wanted to give a shoutout to Crystal Richards for hosting an awesome #IndoorRecess 2023 Event. I have been checking off my to do list since the event ended last Thursday...  Thank you to all the presenters who took the time to share their knowledge.

Don't just take our word for it; hear from those who have experienced the magic of Indoor Recess®


I am always the first person to say “𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦” 😩⁣ BUT yesterday 🖥️ YESTERDAY 🔥 and Wednesday gathered me all the way up! Pushed aside that imposter syndrome and left me thinking “ohhhhh I can do this, I AM DOING THIS.”⁣
🤜🏽 𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙚!! 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙚

Don't just take our word for it; hear from those who have experienced the magic of Indoor Recess®

My mind is still spinning from the jewels I received at the 2-day 2023 Fall Indoor Recess® Summit! 🤯✨So many “aha” moments written in the pages of my notebook…✨Powerful sessions with several awesome PM speakers…✨Energetic interactions and connections created during breakout sessions…Thank you Crystal Richards for the vision and flawless execution of the summit! 

The Indoor Recess® Summit begins in...

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does the event start and end? And are there breaks?

November 5th: 12:00pm until 4:00pm ET
November 6th: 10:00am until 2:00pm ET
Breaks are built into the schedule.

What are the learning objectives?

Through this year’s theme, What’s NOT in the Playbook, attendees will explore how to:
  1. Apply professional judgment when navigating complex or ambiguous project situations.
  2. Evaluate real-world challenges when established frameworks and processes only take you so far.
  3. Strengthen decision-making, communication, and leadership skills across a variety of project environments.
  4. Use experience, context, and practical insight to determine the best path forward when there isn’t one clear answer.

Do you have a justification letter I can send to my boss?

Absolutely!
Feel free to modify the following draft justification letter to fit the needs of your request.

Does the event provide continuing education credits towards professional certifications, such as the PMP?

Yes!  By attending the summit, you can earn 7+ contact hours/PDUs.

Do I need to have a PMP certification to attend the event?

While this event is geared towards advanced learners, having a PMP certification (or any certification for that matter) is not required. Credential holders get the added benefit of applying the contact hours towards their certifications.

What is the cost of the event?

Indoor Recess® 2026 tickets are $297, with Early Bird pricing of $197 through October 9, 2026. Want to keep the learning going? Choose the Indoor Recess® + Playdate Recordings option for $359, or $259 during Early Bird registration. Both Early Bird options save you $100, so register by October 9th to lock in the lower rate.

What is the refund policy?

  • The deadline to receive a refund for your registration is 5pm ET October 30, 2026.
  • Cancellations received after the stated deadline will not be eligible for a refund.
  • Refunds will not be available for registrants who choose not to attend an event.
  • Cancellations will be accepted via e-mail to info@themindsparq.com, and must be received by the stated cancellation deadline.
  • All refund requests must be made by the attendee or credit card holder.
  • Refund requests must include the name of the attendee and/or transaction number.
  • Refunds will be credited back to the original credit card used for payment.
  • If the event sponsor (that would be me, Crystal) cancels the event, registrants will be offered a full refund.

Can I register for one day rather than two days?

Unfortunately, that option is not available. 

What if I would like to attend but have a scheduling conflict?

  • You can always drop in live for those sessions that matter to you most!
  • However, Indoor Recess will not be recorded this year.

Will replays be available?

We’ve made the hard decision that Indoor Recess® will not be recorded this year.

What platform will this summit be held on?

At this time, we are planning to use Zoom  If this changes, we will be sure to communicate the change to you directly.  

Please be aware that by participating in this activity, you consent to your voice, likeness, and any materials you provide, being recorded for use and dissemination, without payment of any compensation for such use, in any language, format, or media now known or later devised, and you release MindsparQ® from any and all claims, liability, or damages arising from any such use. 

MindsparQ® will proceed in reliance upon such consent and release. If you do not consent to the foregoing, please do not attend the event.

Other Useful Tips

For the best experience, you will want to:
  • Attend the event on a desktop, preferably with two screens
  • Use Chrome as your browser
  • Have a stable internet connection
  • Attend the summit from a quiet/distraction free location.

You know the frameworks. Now let’s talk about what happens when the answer isn’t in them. Join us for two days of practical learning, real-world conversations, and the gray areas where experience and professional judgment take over.

Let's Do This!

Created with