Events

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 [...]

Let's be honest - most of us didn't get into camping because we love spreadsheets. But budgets shape everything we do: what we can build, who we can hire, and [...]

Years ago, my son's first camp experience came wrapped in tears, fear, and overwhelming anxiety, an experience that changed how my team approached camp. Now older, his worries have grown [...]

When camp staff arrive at the beginning of each summer, they are not blank slates. Hookup culture, the harmful sexual culture on high school and college campuses today, has far-reaching [...]

The best camps intentionally build cultures where campers and staff feel seen, valued, and inspired to return year after year. This session explores practical ways to create a positive, inclusive, [...]

For 29 summers, Iain has lived the camp and camp kitchen life from washing dishes to running a resident camp. In this lively session, he shares lessons learned along the [...]

"Go back to Mexico or I'll report you to ICE" one of your counselors overheard their camper jokingly say this to a Latinx camper and is asking for your help [...]

Paint, painting, painted can be so many different things. Come explore different uses of paints, and different types of simple paints. Join in the fun as we colorfully paint our [...]

In this session, we will move beyond treating stories as simple anecdotes and instead learn how to craft and deploy them to solve concrete challenges. Participants will learn how storytelling [...]

What is the true engine of an unforgettable camp experience? This session explores the powerful "Inside-Out" leadership model, a framework built on one core principle: a thriving camp starts from [...]

At Woodmont Day Camp, onboarding our staff doesn't begin at orientation—it starts the moment they are invited to interview. In this session, we'll walk through the systems and strategies we [...]

This session explores how emerging technologies are already reshaping the way camps operate, with examples like automated medical form processing, camper intake profiles that surface important insights, time-saving email and [...]

Join us to play, learn, and take it all back home to your staff team! Staff leaders are frequently reporting that many (not all) of our team members have increased [...]

We all know that getting camp culture right is one of the critical factors that lead to lasting success or closing our gates. Too often, we rely on what we've [...]

Camps have diverse profiles, locations, and operations. This means that there is no one particular health service model that works for everyone. This session will discuss the many variables that [...]

As summer camps increasingly serve as crucial developmental experiences for children, parents are navigating more complex emotions around separation, trust, and control. This session, led by a Psychotherapist, Camp Wellness [...]

We all know and have experienced the staffing challenge. Each year, we look for a new and creative solution to add to our hiring strategies. and camps mustn't overlook the [...]

This roundtable chat will explore one camp's progression of MESH (Mental, Emotional, Social Health) support for staff and campers. From sporadic virtual consulting to the development of an on-site MESH [...]

When the day starts, does your staff think "I have to go to work" or "I get to go to work"? Getting to go to work means our staff members [...]

Aaron Bloomfield, founder of Summer Camp Connect, the worlds largest online summer camp community, has generated over 70 million views across social media in the camp industry. In this session, [...]

Great camps start with great people, but how do we find them? This session explores effective hiring practices that go beyond resumes and reference checks. Learn how to design a [...]

From campers to coworkers to parents, people get mad. This session equips you with de-escalation tools rooted in care and dignity. Learn how to regulate escalated moments, repair harm, and [...]

Every summer, parents face a growing menu of choices for their kids, including travel sports and specialty programs to traditional day and overnight camps. In this data-driven, story-filled session, Dan [...]

Campers love competition, but justifying ferocious competition by saying, "Hey, it's a competitive world out there!" ignores the critical differences between healthy and harmful competition. Even worse, most young people [...]

Every day at camp brings the unexpected: storms, staffing shifts, homesickness, or last-minute parent concerns. These obstacles can feel overwhelming, but how leaders respond doesn't just keep camp running smoothly; [...]

Even the strongest camp cultures need moments of repair and renewal. Drawing on _Radical Candor_ by Kim Scott and more than 15 years of experience leading an overnight camp, Executive [...]

When sexual harassment or assault occurs in our communities, camp leadership holds two distinct, and sometimes conflicting, responsibilities: supporting the staff member who was harmed and maintaining community safety going [...]

A practical playbook for camp snack service. We'll cover nut-aware systems, clear labeling, pars and rotation, and how to keep kid-loved options ready—house granola bars and always-available colorful apples and [...]

Younger campers are excited, but often overwhelmed. They're still developing the Executive Functioning skills needed for independence: transitioning, organizing, and regulating emotions. Without the right support, small struggles can spiral [...]

Explore strategies for delivering child and peer abuse prevention training to counselors-in-training (CITs) and staff under 18. Learn how to address their unique roles, clarify boundaries, and equip them with [...]

Aquatics Directors are navigating an increasingly complex landscape—staffing shortages, evolving safety standards, rising participant expectations, and the need for inclusive programming are just a few of the pressing issues. This [...]

What if one great game could work for every age group at camp, without losing the fun, challenge, or learning? In this hands-on session, we'll explore how to design and [...]

This session is for leaders ready to move from passive allyship to active co-conspiracy in the fight against racism at camp. We begin by clearly defining this crucial shift, which [...]

Every camp has that one thing that hits harder than anything else, that 11/10 program moment that becomes legend. But why? We'll unpack the anatomy of a truly great program, [...]

A Culture of Safety doesn't just live in people; it's built through the systems, communication loops, and daily rhythms that hold camp together. This session explores how operational structures, from [...]

When legal crises strike at camp involving staff, quick and informed action is critical. This session explores high-stakes scenarios like abuse allegations, sexual harassment investigations, staff mental health emergencies, and [...]

Strong Boards, advisory committees, and non-operating owners don’t just oversee—they lead, advocate, and fuel long-term success. As camps face increasing pressures around philanthropy, succession, risk, and sustainability, the role of [...]