Events

At BBYO, summer staff aren't just seasonal hires—they're the foundation of a thriving leadership pipeline. Through intentional training, mentorship, and multi-year growth opportunities, BBYO equips staff with the tools to [...]

In an increasingly polarized world, camp professionals are often challenged to navigate sensitive social, political, and cultural conversations while maintaining an inclusive, mission-aligned environment for staff and campers. This session [...]

Explores camp transportation as a dynamic system that can be measured, understood, and optimized. This session will guide camp leaders in turning complex data-covering routes, bus capacities, arrival and dismissal [...]

Customer service is important because it drives loyalty, increases registration, and builds a positive brand reputation. How we treat our families can make the difference between us and our competitors, [...]

Your families are bombarded with information in weekly emails, reminder texts, social posts, app notifications, and more. From time-sensitive alerts to driving excitement for re-enrollment, let's explore how to deliver [...]

Care fatigue, empathy erosion, compassion crash - whatever you call it, we've all seen that “I’m done with this camper” look. Even the most dedicated staff hit a point where [...]

Are you looking for ways to introduce the growing sport of ninja warrior to your camp without a big investment? Or do you have a ninja course that is under-utilized?  [...]

When the weather changes, camp doesn't have to stop - it can transform. In this lively, hands-on workshop, meteorologist Jason Frazer introduces Edible Weather, a creative STEM-based activity that helps [...]

The purpose of this session is to equip participants with the skills to successfully apply for grants to support their camp mission. With a specific focus on the Character at [...]

20% of our campers receive support for additional needs from their school districts. What does your camp do to support and assimilate these children into your program successfully? As a [...]

Unconscious bias can quietly shape our interactions, decisions, and the camp culture in ways we may not even realize. This interactive training will help camp professionals recognize the "hidden" biases [...]

Giving feedback and having accountability conversations with staff can be challenging, especially when emotions run high, shame creeps in, and motivation takes a hit. In this session, participants will explore [...]

Capture the Flag and Color War are the quintessential all-camp games at summer camp. Most likely, your camp has a spin on it that makes your version different from all [...]

Do you have important training messages that need to stick with your staff long after your pre-camp training ends? This interactive session includes a fresh collection of training activities to [...]

Let's face it, inventory and ordering are rarely anyone's favorite part of camp operations. But what if the process could actually be organized, efficient, and dare we say, a little [...]

Summer camp moves fast, and keeping staff consistently focused on safety can feel like a full-time job. This session is designed for camp leaders who want to keep safety top-of-mind [...]

International and cultural exchange has recently been impacted by our changing world. What have we learned from the past, and what can we do to better prepare for 2026?

Every camp director has faced the parent who crosses the line—from custody disputes and refund demands to threats of lawsuits, social media campaigns, or demands that staff or campers be [...]

In this session, Stacy shares strategies and processes for designing individualized activity schedules that honor camper choices for skills-based fun. Follow the process from the whiteboard to the wakeboard as [...]

Ever attend a conference and wish you could meet more people and learn about their programs? This fun and fast-paced session will make it happen! Expect to foster connections, share [...]

Running camp is a 24/7 job, and so is parenting. For many of us, those worlds collide every summer as we strive to be fully present for our campers, our [...]

Running a camp in the heart of a city comes with its own unique joys and challenges—from limited outdoor space to complex partnerships and ever-changing logistics. But urban camps also [...]

Too often, summer camp orientation is led by the camp director and assistant or associate directors. However, orientation can be even better when incorporating veteran voices from your experienced camp [...]

Join fellow camp professionals who are also certified Red Cross instructors for a dynamic networking and learning session focused on the latest updates in Red Cross training services. This interactive [...]

Summer camp is fueled by s'mores, glitter, and of course, creativity. Join us in this round table discussion to hear about and share your ideas for evening activity shenanigans, staff [...]

Camp staff work HARD. They pour tons of effort, energy, and enthusiasm into camp, and dedicate so much time to making camp the special place that it is. And for [...]

When camps focus on building a strong community in the "off-season," families will feel more tied to your camp year-round, and are more likely to continue to send their children [...]

As we plan for each summer, camp professionals run into daily legal questions. Should we update our contracts with families? Should parents sign a waiver? What does the ADA require [...]

Calling all ACA Visitors! Join us for a roundtable hosted by the ACA, NY & NJ Standards Committee that will focus on saying "Thank You" to our amazing volunteers. We'll [...]

What happens when 200 camp professionals arrive for a tour and a microburst tornado shows up too? At the ACA, NY & NJ Resident Camp Conference tour of Berkshire Lake [...]

What has five years of queer and trans equity work in camping taught us? These 13 lessons shine with joy, resilience, and real talk about systems, solidarity, and sustainability. Come [...]

Interviewing can feel overwhelming, but with the right approach, it becomes a powerful tool for building strong and effective teams. This session will walk participants through the who, what, and [...]

Only 27% of organizations are truly prepared for leadership transitions, are you one of them? Whether it's a planned handoff or an unexpected shift, the difference between readiness and chaos [...]

It starts with one camper's impulsive outburst or social misstep. Friction ripples through the group: there are eye rolls, teasing, exclusion, and, before long, low-level bullying. Staff do what they [...]

Returning staff are the heart of a thriving camp. They know your culture, connect with campers and families, and grow into leadership roles year after year. But how do you [...]

The best orientations balance learning and laughter. In this interactive workshop, you’ll take part in ten activities that help staff connect, internalize camp values, and feel ready for summer. Come [...]

Let's be honest. Most staff training sessions are boring. You have a ton to cover, and here's the truth: no matter how perfectly you deliver the important stuff, if it's [...]

We've all had that moment, hovering over "send" or debating a phone call. This interactive session explores how to engage families when concerns arise about behavior, safety, or expectations. Learn [...]

What if the traditions of camp life reveal how humans are meant to live, learn, and connect? This session explores how the rhythms of camp naturally balance key brain chemicals [...]

Join us to learn Michael's new, creative "theory of everything" to describe in a fresh, exciting way, exactly how we can use the highly practical, fundamental elements of camp that [...]

Participants will uncover the secret sauce for breaking down jump rope skills, building up campers' confidence with slick progressions, and rolling out fun games that keep the energy high and [...]

Dealing with an allegation of abuse in camp is every director's worst-case scenario, and when the alleged abuser is another camper, the complexity multiplies. Camper-to-camper abuse is one of the [...]

This is the mother-load. The Big-Kahuna. The Big Whopper. The Grand-Daddy of them all! We all participated in Color War. But this is the one you've been waiting for. Walk [...]

AI is changing how families find, evaluate, and choose camps, and the pace isn't slowing down. This session gives you practical, experience-backed guidance on building AI policies, adopting tools safely, [...]

Come on out to share day camp best practices with each other. Topics will be based on conversations and feedback from this season's Day Camp Podcast episodes, including customer service, [...]

This generation of staff members have different needs than those of generations past, so why are we still using the same tired strategies to properly evaluate their performance? This session will challenge [...]

Behind every smooth camp day is a hundred moving parts: bunks, activities, meals, staff breaks, and last-minute changes. In this session, Eyal Abadi, founder of Campify, shares practical strategies for streamlining camp operations [...]

We all want to ensure that our camp team is equipped to handle anything that comes their way during the camp season. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility training is imperative [...]

Is your staff orientation feeling a little "same old, same old"? This session is all about those small but mighty tweaks that can breathe new life into your training without [...]

This session offers camp staff an essential foundation in understanding grief and bereavement: what it is, how it shows up, and how to support both themselves and their campers through [...]

Middle management can be a funny place. Senior enough to make big decisions and lead teams, but not have the power to make organizational change. In this session, Diana Bloom [...]

Even the most organized camps can find themselves hiring in June or scrambling mid-season when someone backs out. This session offers realistic systems to help leaders manage late hires strategically, [...]

The camp experience is all about building relationships, meeting new people, making friends, and finding oneself. But what happens when lines are blurred and boundaries are crossed? How do camps [...]

Legendary coach John Wooden built one of the most successful dynasties in sports history not by focusing on winning, but by defining and living his “Pyramid of Success,” a framework [...]

Today's parents are more involved than ever, and sometimes, that involvement crosses boundaries or escalates into conflict. Whether you're addressing a complaint, clarifying expectations, or de-escalating an emotional conversation, the [...]

Live Action Role Playing (LARP) has become more mainstream over the past few years; but what exactly is it? Most people think of it as a bunch of people in [...]

Building trust with families of children with disabilities is key to successful inclusion. This session offers practical strategies to create welcoming messaging, improve intake processes, and navigate challenging conversations with [...]

Is your special event calendar in need of a creative spark? Move beyond the traditional and learn to engineer unforgettable moments for your campers. This highly interactive session is a [...]

As the staff experience continues to be put under a microscope, are camps doing enough to ensure that the expectations they set align with the realities their staff face? This [...]

Mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance; they're a public health concern that every camp should take seriously. In this session, Michael Hoban from New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection's [...]

Every year it's the same challenge: with everything else going on, how do you plan and implement an orientation or kickoff event that sets the tone for a successful season [...]

Camp staff are still developing the executive functioning skills that help adults stay organized, flexible, and emotionally regulated. What may look like laziness, defiance, or carelessness is often a skill [...]

Come hear about ACA's ongoing and ever-increasing work in DC and how you can support our advocacy efforts! Current hot topics include protecting the Bridge USA J-1 Visa programs, maintaining [...]

This workshop explores the magic that happens when character is infused throughout camp with intentionality and within a structured framework that supports everyone's leadership, seasonal staff, campers, and parents. The [...]

Most camps send newsletters because they feel they have to. But for many families, those emails go unopened, or even worse, ignored. Parents don't tend to buy "magic" or "home." [...]

You don't need a ropes course, fireworks show, or camp-wide color war to create unforgettable energy and community at day camp. In this session, we'll explore how urban day camps [...]

Great camps don't reinvent the wheel, they learn from what's working elsewhere, adapt it to their own context, and make it part of their culture. In this session, two camp [...]

An open meeting of Camp Directors and top leadership staff for a positive, constructive conversation about how to handle requests for increases in referral service fees, along with suggestions for [...]

Please join us for our annual blast of learning and fun connection! Tri-State is delighted to continue this unique way to learn at Conference and meet other people. Top camp [...]

No experience necessary. Come experience an immersive LARP for yourself! We will lead a mini version of what you would experience at our camps as we take you through the [...]

Camp Idol is a free-to-attend social during the Tri-State Camp Conference at The Royce Social Hall in the Tropicana on Tuesday, March 10th, from 8:45 PM – 11:45 PM. One [...]