Events

Creating an effective camp marketing plan starts with mastering the fundamentals. This session will guide participants through the step-by-step process of building a comprehensive marketing strategy from scratch. We'll cover [...]

Sustainability doesn't stick without shared ownership. This session explores how forming a Green Team - with staff, leadership, and campers - can create a lasting culture of sustainability. Drawing from [...]

Many people fail to realize how critical their initial reaction to campers in various moments is to the likelihood of being effective with them. More often than not, staff reactions [...]

In this session, social media expert Kara Alaimo, PhD, will explain how to convince your staff to put away their phones while they're at camp. She'll start by outlining how [...]

Creating inclusive camp spaces for Black and Brown youth requires more than good intentions. It demands self-reflection, cultural humility, and active redesign of camp culture. This interactive workshop will guide [...]

Discover how inclusive STEM can transform your camp into a destination for all campers, including exceptional thinkers-gifted, twice-exceptional, and neurodiverse children who thrive through creativity and challenge. Explore hands-on design [...]

It's one of the challenges that current camp leaders are talking about most: in situations of conflict or disagreement, or when anxious or upset, both campers and staff are having [...]

Camp work builds some of the most valuable skills in the modern workforce, including leadership, creativity, communication, problem-solving, and adaptability. Yet many staff members struggle to explain their experience beyond [...]

Most of us get into camp directing because of our love of camp, not because we are businesspeople or accountants. With expenses on the rise, it can be difficult to [...]

Many campers with disabilities, or those who are considered "outside the box", are left on the fringes of camp activities. They often have to sit out of certain activities or [...]

In the old days, camp professionals could afford to just keep their heads down and do the work. In recent years, we have learned that one way or another, federal, [...]

Let's face it, camp directors are experts at stretching a dollar. But when it comes to hiring, being overly frugal can backfire. This session is about getting smarter with your [...]

Camps are on the cusp of a generational shift. For years, Millennials have been the rising leaders shaping camp culture, but now Gen Z is stepping into the spotlight, ready [...]

Want to take your camp's inclusivity to the next level? This session explores how summer camps can serve as powerful platforms for vocational development and meaningful employment experiences for adults [...]

Every camp season brings complex moments that test your judgment and compassion. When campers cross physical or emotional boundaries with one another, how do you know what counts as peer-to-peer [...]

Creating a positive environment where everyone feels belonging and connectedness is crucial for a successful camp experience. Many elements that make or break camp - communication and interpersonal skills, civil [...]

A major focus of our Wellness Program at Camp Chi is providing a whole-camp framing of mental and social wellness. Our approach is guided by seven core program principles, which [...]

This session, designed by a BCBA, explores the crucial role of improvisation and gamification in effective camp leadership. Attendees will learn how to adapt and engage children in real-time by [...]

Join former Physical Education Teacher of the Year and Camp4Real founder Scotty Williams and Omnikin international trainer PJ Hamel in this fast-paced, action-packed 60 minutes of FUN that will leave [...]

Creating a truly inclusive camp doesn't require unlimited resources—it requires creativity, compassion, and the right tools. In this training, staff will learn how to design and adapt activities so that [...]

Staff say campers aren't listening. Campers don't like how staff talk to them. The gap between them may be only about 10 years, but it spans two generations shaped by [...]

What if you could turn the data you already have into a simple, app-style tool that puts real-time schedules, rosters, and program info right in the palm of your hand? [...]

Traditionally, the culminating end-of-summer "Color War" kicks off with "a bang"—an exciting, surprise event designed to start the week of activities. Creating and pulling off a successful Breakout is no [...]

Too often, camp crafts and activities end up as "one-and-done" projects-something kids make, leave behind, or toss away. The W.I.S.E. (Wearable, Interactive/Physical, Skill, Elevated) Method offers a fresh framework to [...]

This session will equip camp leaders with effective strategies for training staff to foster a safe, positive environment free from “hot topic” discussions such as politics, social media, religion, and [...]

Many people begin their camp journey thinking it's just a summer job, but it can become so much more. In this session, Nelson Strickland explores how to turn seasonal staff [...]

Orientation sets the tone for the whole summer—but when it's crammed into a few exhausting days, staff forget more than they retain. That's an executive functioning issue: too much information, [...]

Families don't just choose a camp, they choose a story they believe in. When every brochure promises fun and friendship, what sets your camp apart is how clearly you communicate [...]

Out-of-school programs can lead the way on inclusion by creating spaces where all youth feel seen, safe, and supported. This session offers practical tools to build affirming programs for LGBTQ+ [...]

This session will dive into insurance data and themes from 2025, including claims, incidents, and close calls, as well as common risk management questions. Case studies will be shared and [...]

Is your camper picky? Does the food just stink? Or is it possible that something more serious is going on? Atypical eating behaviors at camp are often a concern for [...]

Dive into a unique training experience that combines problem-solving with lifesaving skills! The Aquatic In-Service Escape Room Challenge emphasizes teamwork, quick thinking, and critical decision-making as you overcome obstacles and [...]

Join Justin Pritikin (Liberty Lake Day Camp, NJ) and Andy Shlensky (North Star Camp for Boys, WI), for an engaging conversation on what's working, and what's changing, in modern camp [...]

Get ready to roll up your sleeves and dive into a highly interactive professional development session where fun meets function. Through engaging games and hands-on activities, you'll explore how traditional [...]

Are you looking to step up your camp's international staff recruitment game? Learn from former participants, turned camp directors, who now work with hundreds of camps each year on how [...]

In today's competitive youth development landscape, hospitality is far more than a customer-service buzzword is a powerful strategy that can elevate every aspect of the camp experience. As presenters, Henry [...]

Parents today are more anxious, vocal, and involved than ever, and camp leaders are often caught in the middle. In this interactive session, an experienced camp director and trauma-informed attorney [...]

Every camp leader is being flooded with AI tools promising to "revolutionize" the summer—but how do you tell the difference between a high-value asset and a generic commodity? Drawing on [...]

It’s ironic—against the backdrop of lofty mission statements and core values like “honesty”—that most adults have no qualms about lying to young children about the Tooth Fairy, the toy store [...]

There is a ton of wisdom at this conference, let's take advantage of it! Share your favorite programming ideas and gain some new ones from fellow camp professionals. Topics may [...]

In this workshop, participants will explore how play can be used as a powerful tool in youth programs to spark conversations about identity, power, and the wider world, while fostering [...]

Summer camps have deep alumni roots, yet many of us are still guessing at how to build lasting and structured alumni associations. This session explores how camps can apply the [...]

Join fellow camp professionals in an interactive roundtable discussion focused on mastering the "backward planning" approach for designing dynamic and effective camp staff training schedules. This session moves beyond a [...]

In this Dining Hall, we will lead a conversation focused on how to market and sell camp to “non-traditional” camp families. Non-traditional camp families are made up of families with [...]

Step into a dynamic session designed for 4-H camp professionals! Whether you're a seasoned camp director or new to the team, this round table is your chance to connect with [...]

Anyone who identifies as an EPIC (Emerging Professional in Camping) is invited to join this session of networking and casual conversation that is relevant to our community. Bring your challenges, [...]

Finding the staff who want to work with kids and be part of your camp's culture can be challenging. A high-quality CIT or leadership program will cultivate campers into staff. [...]

Wouldn't it be great if we were judged by our intentions instead of our actions or lack of action? Do you struggle to manage your task list, or wish you [...]

Parents of current campers are valuable assets in many camp programs. However, they also come with challenges, including feelings of entitlement, supervising one's peers, discretion, being an ambassador of your [...]

The 13- and 14-year-old hotshots who are causing headaches for your instructors; the second-year counsellors who are disrupting your staff culture. These aren't just problems to be fixed-they're leadership opportunities [...]

In an era defined by polarization and fear of saying the wrong thing, camps have a unique opportunity to model what productive disagreement looks like. This session examines how leaning [...]

You already sweat enough at camp, let's not add to it in the off-season! Stop overthinking and start marketing smarter. In this interactive, fast-moving session, you'll learn how to create [...]

This presentation will explore how a focus on human connection and community-building can transform the bus experience for day campers. While logistics like efficiency and safety are paramount, we often [...]

Medication management continues to be the most litigated activity that happens at camp. Understanding the many steps that medications need to take (intake, screening, securement, dispensing, documentation, error management) is [...]

The ability to manage our team and their ability to do their jobs well is central to creating incredible camp experiences for campers and families. Balance Beam Management is a [...]

Get inspired! This hands-on, interactive session will expose you to the possibilities of incorporating rhythm into your offerings and activities in camp. Featuring demonstrations from Adam and his team from [...]

Running a camp comes with unique financial challenges and opportunities. This session provides camp professionals, owners, and executives with essential accounting insights tailored to the camp industry. Learn how to [...]

We've been talking about DEI for years, so where are we now? In this candid, in-the-round conversation, four practitioners drop the script and speak honestly about the state of inclusion [...]

This session will bring participants along on a journey that transformed the programming paradigm at YMCA Camp Cory. Budgetary constraints led to the emergence of high-quality all-camp games. And we [...]

Many seasonal staff can find it uncomfortable or intimidating to give difficult feedback to staff during the summer. In this session, we will explore three different feedback models that will [...]

Crackling static, dead batteries, and endless "can you hear me?" moments sound familiar? In 2024, Camp Jamison, led by Executive Director Jacqueline McDonough, ditched walkie-talkies and switched to Discord. Now, [...]

Camp is often a safe and joyful space where kids and staff can grow, connect, and build lasting memories. Yet times of uncertainty, whether in the world or within the [...]

Whether you are planning staff orientation for a day camp or a resident camp, you always want to end your training strong. How do you close each session, each full [...]

More staff than ever are arriving at camp feeling misled about what the job truly entails. Some leave early in the season, or never show up at all, because what [...]

Camp operations often repeat the same routines year after year, even when they no longer reflect how parents and staff want to engage. Like old-school baseball, they can feel rigid [...]

Join us for a lively and interactive discussion of ways camps can enhance the Bridge USA J-1 cultural exchange experience for participants and host camps. Share your ideas and ask [...]

It is widely recognized that there is no such thing as a "bad child," only challenging behaviors that often signal deeper needs, struggles, or unspoken emotions. This workshop will invite [...]

Team building and sustainability go hand-in-hand. This session introduces Green Team Building, an experiential approach that uses hands-on activities to connect collaboration, leadership, and environmental stewardship. Participants will explore how [...]

Parent engagement is evolving rapidly, driven by shifts in technology, communication, mental health awareness, and rising expectations. As we look to the future (which is actually today!), camps must adapt [...]

The heat index and thunderstorms are just two severe weather elements that can alter your best outdoor active game plans~~, because it's either too hot to play or it's raining~~. [...]

In this class, Teambuilding Guru Dr. Jim Cain shares dozens of tips and tools to help you become a better facilitator. Taken from more than 50 years of working and [...]

Managing camper behavior is a common (and often emotional) challenge for staff; it can make or break the camp experience. Even with training and policies in place, staff may struggle [...]

This will be a conversational and engaging session about camp employment law and HR issues. As camp operators, we serve as the heads of HR for our organizations. Considering that [...]

Struggling to get your staff on board with inclusion? A key principle for successful disability inclusion is organizational commitment—every position on your camp team should play a role in ensuring [...]

Learn the triumphs and misadventures of starting and growing a camp... all without the blood, sweat, and tears! This fast-paced session shares practical, battle-tested lessons learned over two summers of [...]

Every year dozens of Counselors from different backgrounds and experiences land in one place with just days to figure out how to work and thrive together. But today’s screen-heavy culture [...]

From safety protocols to camper care, there is a lot to get through during your staff training week! But this is also your staff members' first experience with your camp, [...]

We don't have to love the business side of camp to know it matters. This session helps you decode what your financial reports are really saying, and why understanding them [...]

Emergencies can happen at any time, from severe weather and medical incidents to missing campers or active threats. In all these situations, planning is key, but it can often feel [...]

Stop filling your camp with groups that drain your staff and your budget. Join us for an honest look at how a few smart shifts can help you sell out [...]

Join two of ACA's most recent Legends of Camping Award recipients as they share stories from their journeys, reflect on today's challenges, and inspire us with a vision for the [...]

Discover how you can elevate your day camp culture by allowing campers to self-select their daily activities and how to overcome barriers for implementation. This session will discuss how SummerCollab [...]

Head lice can feel like a big disruption at camp, but it doesn't have to be. In this workshop, lice professionals Laurene Plourde and Jill Bazos, will share proven strategies [...]

Creating a safe, transformative camp experience requires more than supervision and policies - it demands intentional design grounded in data and continuous improvement. This session explores how Change Summer uses [...]

Join us as we gather to make easy and fun projects that you can take with you when you are done. This is a great session to pick up new [...]

Time away from home is always challenging, for campers as well as staff, whether they are new or returning. Why let intense feelings of missing home—which 20% of young people [...]

Campchella is Tri-State’s late-night celebration! Hosted inside Kiss Kiss Nightclub at the Tropicana, the event transforms a neon-lit nightclub into a high-energy gathering place for camp professionals from across the [...]