Public Workshops

Tool Shed staff educators are available to present workshops and interactive discussions on a wide variety of topics related to sexual pleasure, sexual health and function, intimate relationships, and gender identity.

The Tool Shed has experience doing speaking engagements in a variety of settings, including colleges and universities, professional conferences, medical in-service trainings, faith-based organizations, non-profits, bars and other entertainment venues, and more.

If you would like an educator from the Tool Shed to offer a presentation at your venue, please contact us via our Customer Support page (please include the general details, location, and date/time of your event, as well as the expected audience and topic).  We will get back to you as soon as possible regarding fees and availability.

A selection of available workshop topics is listed below.

Anatomy of Pleasure: Inclusive Sex Ed for Every Body
This tour of human sexual anatomy focuses on the similarities and differences across many different kinds of embodiment.  With a focus on sexual pleasure rather than on reproduction, we look at the many ways people find sexual pleasure in their own and in their partner(s) bodies.

Ask the Sexpert
When it comes to sex, it seems like the more you learn, the more there is to learn. Do you have a question or three about sexual health or pleasure? Wanna get an honest answer and a couple of good laughs? A Tool Shed sexuality educator will collect anonymous questions from the audience, and then answer them right there! These events strive to combine honesty and humor, while providing accurate, up-to-date information to anyone with questions.

Ask the Sexpert Q and A sessions are great standalone events, and are also a lot of fun to warm up a crowd before another event or keep people engaged between acts or presentations.

Consent: Talking About Talking About It
Most sexuality educators agree that consent is the single most important part of any sexy encounter. Strangely, it's often one of the least taught topics in sex ed. Join us for conversation about consent- what it is, how to ask for it, and how to give it freely. This is an engaging, interactive workshop designed to give each participate a chance to practice the language of consent.

Tickling, Teasing and Touch: Creating a Culture of Consent in Your Home
Learning how to say 'no' can be a very complicated thing for kids in our culture. As parents, we often feel resentful or amused (or both!) when our two-year-old yells "NO!" across the room several times a day. We encourage them to share their toys with their friends and siblings, even when they have very strong feelings about it. Additionally, parents often neglect themselves to meet the needs of the family, which underscores the notion that other people are always more important than the individual. These, and many other cultural messages, make the very concept of consent difficult for children to really understand.

In this workshop, we will talk about the language of consent, as well as some basic house rules that allow your children to understand the importance of respect while also honoring their bodily autonomy. We'll discuss how to set boundaries for ourselves and still meet a young child's high need for touch and interaction, all of which will help promote a consent culture in your home.

That Hits the Spot: G-spot Stimulation and Vaginal Ejaculation
We'll take a look at the anatomy of pleasure for people with vaginas, including the G-spot, female anatomy, G-spot stimulation, and female ejaculation. The class will include a discussion of the physical structures, which tools are right for the job, and positions that work for finding your G-spot.

Sex Toys 101
What's the difference between a dildo and a vibrator? What's safe for butt play? Does it really matter if my toy is made from silicone? We'll talk about all of these things and more! This class provides information about anatomy, reaching orgasm, sexual response, and how different types of toys can be used alone or with partners.

Sex and Chronic Pain: Five Steps for Increased Sexual Fulfillment
Building a happy and fulfilling sex life is an ongoing, lifelong process for most of us. Mixing in the added challenges of living with chronic pain, decreased mobility, and side effects from medication can make this journey at times frustrating and difficult. In this session we will talk about ways to navigate and improve our sexual experiences, both individually and with our partners. We'll discuss modifications and adaptive approaches to help decrease discomfort and increase pleasure (such as position aids and other sexual helping devices), with an eye toward accessibility and comfort. We'll also discuss tips to help facilitate communication and connection with our sexual partners.

Bottom's Up! Ladies Night
We're going to start at the beginning, and talk about all different kinds of butt fun for you to explore on your own, or with a partner. There are so many ways to enjoy anal play - touching, rimming, fingering, or penetrating with a penis or toy. We'll talk about all of them! This class will look at safety, pleasure, communication and the right tools for the job.

Bottom's Up! Intro to Anal Play in Kink
This class is a great introduction to butt play, looking specifically at some of the issues that can arise in a D/s interaction. We're going to start at the beginning, and talk about all different kinds of butt fun for you to explore on your own, or with a partner. We'll also briefly touch on some of the psychological and cultural reasons that anal play can be a great addition to a scene. There are so many ways to enjoy anal play - touching, rimming, fingering, or penetrating with a penis or toy. We'll talk about all of them! This class will look at safety, pleasure, communication and the right tools for the job.

Slut Shaming: What It Is and How to Stop It
At the Tool Shed, we work with people every day who struggle to articulate their sexual needs without mortification. There are many adults who know little about their own bodies and how they work because they’ve been too afraid to ask. We'll discuss how shame works as a tool of oppression, look at things we can do right now to reduce its effect in our lives, and talk about our own experiences.

Sexual Health After Birth: A Workshop for Clinicians
Pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding are all individual spokes on the wheel of human reproduction. And though we don't often talk about it, sex is another important part of life as a human reproduction and pleasure. As birth workers, we strive to help women see their own strength. Is there anything better than working with a woman who finds and owns her power in birth? Helping women find their sexual power can be very rewarding, too. As birth workers, you are in a unique position to help with some of the sexual problems that can arise after childbirth.

This class will discuss typical postpartum anatomy, and the process of recovery following birth: what's normal, what's not normal, when can a mom expect to be "in the mood" again. We'll talk about how having a baby, birth and breastfeeding affect mom's sexual health and pleasure and how you can help support all aspects of her recovery after childbirth.

Sex After Baby: What to Sexpect
New babies bring lots of changes to a home, and new parents often have trouble staying connected. This can be caused by our new job as parents, lack of sleep, new priorities, and the impact of the birth itself. There are a lot of reasons why intimacy gets placed on the back burner. This is a busy, complex time of transformation for a family. Through communication, though, it's possible to reconnect and become even closer after baby. We'll look at the most common physical and emotional barriers to intimacy and strategize about how and when to overcome them.

Supporting Non-Normative Gender Expression in Children
Is gender biological? Cultural? Physical? Spiritual? Maybe it's some combination of all these. Most people are assigned a gender that matches their sex on the day they're born, and that is supposed to be the end of that. But sometimes it's not. What happens when our children's gender expression differs from their assigned sex at birth? This discussion will cover the spectrum of gender variety in young people, and leave plenty of time of your questions.

Talking to Kids About Healthy Sexuality
Many adults believe that adolescence is the beginning of sexuality in children. In reality, we're sexual creatures from the beginning of our lives. How should parents address sex and bodily pleasure with their children -- from toddlers to teens? How do you convey healthy messages about sexuality while also setting appropriate boundaries? This fun, interactive workshop will give you the chance to examine your beliefs and learn from the other participants.

Keeping the Spark Alive
As relationships progress past the early days of white hot attraction, things naturally cool down between sexual partners. Even though it's normal, most of us long to return to the earlier intensity. In this class, we will present some great, easy ideas to fan the flames of your romance. You'll have the chance to ask questions and share your own experiences.