Pre-Conference
Our pre-conference day takes place on the Monday before the conference begins and allows attendees to focus on a specific topic of interest for an extended amount of time outside of the general conference session blocks. Attendees can take a deep dive into various topics including mental health, camp jobs, being a new director or matters important to EPICs (Emerging professionals in camping). They can also take the time to take become an ACA Visitor by taking the Associate Visitors Course.
Pre-Conference Information Will Become Live December 2025, Please Check Back Soon
Pre-Conference
Agenda
Save some time and avoid the lines. Come early to avoid security lines on Tuesday morning.
*Pre-registration is required. Additional fees may apply.
Want to see what else is being offered throughout the week?
EPIC Pre-Conference
Camp is a hard job, as we all know, so it’s important to equip yourself with the right tools to excel. Together, the EPIC community is going to dive into some of the biggest hurdles we as camp professionals face early in our careers: goal setting, managing others, conflict resolution, accountability, self-advocacy, and self care. A panel of experienced camp professionals will share their personal journeys and career insights, offering valuable perspectives to help us tackle these challenges. Together, we’ll assess where you (and your camp) are now and reflect on important questions: How do I want to see my career grow? What steps do I need to take and what skills do I need to develop to get there? You will leave feeling empowered with practical tools to move your career forward and plan to get you started.
New Director’s Orientation
Are you a new director at camp? This eight hour interactive ACA National course will provide an overview of key aspects of the camp director’s job and is intended for seasoned or new camp directors, assistant directors, program directors, or people who have been in other administrative positions and are considering directing camp in the near future. The course will cover many areas with a special focus offered on leadership, risk management, camper behavior, staff training and staff supervision. Upon completion of this one-day course, the ACA National office will mail you a certificate of completion, suitable for framing. Join Jackie Brethel and several experienced camp directors for this informative course.
Project Real Job
As camp people, we love to talk about our culture. And since most camps generally have the same “stuff,” it’s our traditions, values and quirks that are often the only things that truly separate one program from another. While we spend a lot of time focusing on our camp culture, are we spending enough time on our organizational culture, as it pertains to our ability to recruit, hire and retain quality staff?
Join ACA’s Project Real Job as we dig deeper into how camps can more effectively craft, communicate and champion their organizational culture before, during and after the summer. In this interactive workshop, attendees will learn more about the changing needs of staff, and will participate in multiple exercises that can help them (re) define their organizational culture and how they can more effectively share and implement certain practices with their staff.
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Youth Mental Health First Aid USA is a public education program that introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds an understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches individuals how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. Mental Health First Aid uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis; select interventions and provide initial help and connect young people to professional, peer, social and self-help care.
BIPOC Pre-Conference Workshop
This pre-conference is for anyone of any racialized experience/of any continuously marginalized culture. Starting with a group activity, Surviving to Thriving, and then breaking into smaller groups covering Being a Staff of Color at a PWI, Advocating for Campers of Color, Organizing and more. This will be a time to connect, network, learn and grow within an affinity space.
Associate Visitor Course
Becoming an ACA Standards Visitor is one of the best ways to give back to ACA and the camp community! It also allows you the opportunity to see other camps and gain new ideas for your program. We are offering this course in a 1-day in-person format that can easily be added for free to your Tri-State week. In the Associate Visitor Course, participants identify the purpose and structure of ACA’s accreditation program and become familiar with the legal implications of visitor actions, as well as develop skills in information gathering, making compliance decisions and consistently applying the standards in a variety of situations. Attendees must be at least twenty-one years of age, a current ACA member and have completed an ACA Accreditation Process Workshop.
No pre-registration required
First-Timer’s Orientation
First time at Tri-State? Make the most of your conference time by attending the First Timer’s Orientation where you will have a brief overview of Tri-State, Atlantic City and the must-do events of the conference. This program will help you to determine what goals are most important to you and your profession while at the conference and will also give you the opportunity to meet other first timers that you can look forward to seeing around the conference! Don’t miss the opportunity to be in the know before the conference even begins!
