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, [...]

Ninja programs are exploding in popularity, offering campers the ultimate mix of challenge, confidence-building, and fun. This session breaks down how to design and deliver a safe, engaging, and sustainable [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

This session will challenge participants to reimagine what staff evaluations can look like. This generation of staff members is focused on what experiences can do for them. With this in [...]

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, [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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, [...]

Regular check-ins with staff and campers, both at the beginning and end of each day or activity, play a vital role in nurturing a positive group culture. By employing debriefing [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]