EPIC Opening Night Social
2026-03-09 20:30 - 23:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Royce Social Hall, 2801 Pacific Ave #304, Atlantic City, NJ, 08401
We are excited to kick off Tri-State with you! Join us from 9-10 pm, for trivia, but stay for music and dancing to follow. You can play trivia as an individual or get matched with a team. There will be prizes! Trivia not your thing? Dancing not your thing? Enjoy some classic social hall fun instead (think ping pong, bowling, and giant games)—there will be something for everyone! Come ready to re-connect with friends (or make a new one), grab a drink, and have some fun!
This event is free and open to all, hosted by ACA, NY & NJ’s EPIC (Emerging Professionals in Camping)! Cash bar available. Music provided by Magen Boys Entertainment!

From Counselor to Captain: Growing Leaders Season After Season
2026-03-10 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 404
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 lead not only during the summer but well beyond. This session will share practical strategies for investing in seasonal staff as long-term assets: building strong onboarding, creating pathways for returning staff to take on greater responsibility, and fostering a culture of feedback, reflection, and engagement year-round. Join us to learn how BBYO’s proven approach turns summer staff into committed leaders who return summer after summer and strengthen the future of our organizations.

Your Camp's Culture Is Stronger Than This Climate: Navigating Sensitive Topics with Clarity and Care
2026-03-10 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 405/406
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 how to distinguish between organizational culture and external climate, and how to protect the former while compassionately managing the latter.
Participants will learn practical tools and sample language to guide difficult conversations, set clear boundaries, and reinforce shared norms that center the camper experience. This interactive workshop will help leaders prepare for the realities of summer 2026 by strengthening their ability to uphold culture, foster cohesion, and sustain psychological safety across their teams.

From Stops to Stats: Analyzing Data from Transportation
2026-03-10 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 309
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 timing, staff deployment, car seat counts, and communication patterns into actionable insights. Attendees will learn how to use these insights to enhance operational efficiency, streamline staff assignments, improve parent and camper experiences, and make strategic decisions that scale across their programs. By the end of the session, participants will leave with a framework for analyzing transportation data in a way that transforms everyday logistics into a powerful tool for leadership and program excellence.

Give 'em the Pickle: A Lesson in Customer Service
2026-03-10 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 311
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, and foster a positive word-of-mouth reputation. This is customer service training using the philosophy of Bob Farrells, Give ’em the Pickle. We will identify the pickles to make our staff, our campers, and communities happy and coming back for years to come.

Edible Weather: Turning Stormy Days into STEM Days
2026-03-10 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 401
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 campers understand how weather affects their lives using food as a teaching tool.
Participants will explore simple, no-heat experiments like the Tornado Trail Mix and Rain in a Cup, designed for rainy-day programming or weather delay periods. These interactive lessons not only engage campers in STEM learning but also reduce anxiety around storms and reinforce weather safety concepts.

Choosing the Right Channel for the Right Message
2026-03-10 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 418
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 each message in the right place at the right time, instead of posting everything everywhere. We’ll cover subject line strategies, image choices, how to keep recurring messages fresh, and how to communicate with staff, many of whom prefer text and Snapchat to email. After small group conversations and workshopping, you’ll leave with a fresh matrix for deciding what goes where, plus tips for leveraging underused tools like apps, countdown clocks, and content “takeovers” during the off-season.

From "I Can't Even" to "I've Got This": Coaching Staff Through Camper Burnout
2026-03-10 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 302
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 patience fades, frustration rises, and they feel emotionally tapped out. Join Emily to delve into why staff hit this wall – physiologically, emotionally, and relationally – and how leaders can help them regain balance. We’ll explore ways to acknowledge and normalize these moments (without shame!) and discuss practical tools to help staff successfully reset and re-engage. You’ll walk away with clear strategies for keeping staff grounded and effective when their patience runs out…but the camper is still very much there.

Running a Successful Ninja Program at Camp: From Safety to Fun
2026-03-10 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 308
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? Ninja Warrior programs are exploding in popularity – offering campers a mix of fitness, fun, and confidence building – learn how to elevate your programming and create unforgettable camper experiences through the sport of ninja warrior. Led by the CEO & Founder of The Grit Ninja—a lifelong camper with deep experience building camp programs—alongside a professional ninja athlete who has competed in multiple seasons of NBC’s American Ninja Warrior, this session breaks down how to design and deliver a safe, engaging, and sustainable ninja program for all ages. Program directors of both day camps and overnight camps will gain practical strategies to improve programming, supervise obstacles safely, and build a scalable structure that balances skill development, confidence, and excitement. Walk away with real strategies to have a successful ninja program at any camp—whether you have a full course, minimal equipment, or no course at all.

Strengthen Your Grant Writing Skills by Applying for a Character at Camp Grant
2026-03-10 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 310
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 Camp grant program, participants will learn the steps and skills necessary for applying for basic grants, including how to find grants, how to tell if they’re aligned with your needs, components of a basic grant application, and what happens next if you do or do not receive a grant. Participants will also get an inside look at the Character at Camp program and the proposals that were selected in the first round of funding.

Running an Exemplary Camp Inclusion Program
2026-03-10 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 304
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 start-up camp, Liberty Lake embraced children of all abilities—but when the number of children needing support became significant, they sought out best practices from other programs to create their “Success Program” with accompanying protocols for children with needs in a neurotypical camp environment. Terri and Andy will take you through their process from the camp application to the camp season, explaining how a high level of intentionality and acceptance adds to the culture and reputation of Liberty Lake.

The Bias You Don't See: Creating Space for Everyone at Camp
2026-03-10 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 413
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 that influence behavior, relationships, and camper experiences. Together, we will explore practical strategies to interrupt bias, foster belonging, and create intentional spaces where every camper and staff member feels valued, included, and supported. Participants will engage in reflection, discussion, and scenario-based activities that highlight how even small shifts in awareness and practice can transform camp into a place where everyone can thrive.

Say It, Mean It, Move Forward: Accountability That Works
2026-03-10 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 314
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 strategies for making feedback more objective, actionable, and empowering. Through practical tools and real-world examples, camp professionals will learn how to navigate tough conversations with clarity and confidence, fostering a culture of growth and responsibility among their counselor teams.

The Guided Prompt Experience: Using AI to Create All-Camp Games
2026-03-10 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 416
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 other camps. But do you have a “signature program”?
Attendees will start with a quick overview of the components required for a successful all-camp game. Then we will go through a guided, structured AI prompting session. You will leave this session with an interesting, unique game and a rich understanding of different prompting techniques. *Please bring a device with you, laptops are preferred for the best experience.

Taming the Beast: How to Simplify Inventory and Ordering for Day Camps
2026-03-10 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 315
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 fun? In this session, the Operations team from Kids in the Game will share how they transformed the “dreaded” inventory season into a year-round, team-driven system that saves time, money, and stress.
Whether your “supply closet” is a full warehouse or a few bins in a school gym, you’ll walk away with a clear framework-and some tested tricks-to help your team stay ahead of the curve instead of buried under boxes.

Transform Your Training with Activities that Make Your Messages Stick
2026-03-10 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 402
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 help you transform your training and make your messages stick. All activities are low or no-cost and easy to integrate into your pre-camp staff training plans.

Micro-Trainings & Safety Huddles: Fast, Focused, and Impactful Staff Engagement
2026-03-10 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 415
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 without adding a 2-hour lecture to the schedule using micro-trainings and safety huddles. Learn creative, time-efficient strategies that reinforce protocols, build accountability, and fit seamlessly into your camp’s daily rhythm. No long lectures, just real talk and tools that will resonate.

What We Know: A Conversation with Department of State Bridge USA J-1 Program Experts
2026-03-10 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 403
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?

Angry and Unreasonable Parents: Boundaries, Legal Obligations, and Practical Responses
2026-03-10 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 313
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 dismissed. This session provides a roadmap for navigating these high-stress encounters. We’ll unpack your true legal obligations, explore diffusion strategies that calm tensions, and highlight the contract language you can use in enrollment and staff agreements to establish clear boundaries before problems arise. Attendees should leave with practical talking points, policy tools, and a clearer understanding of where your responsibility begins and ends.

From Whiteboard to Wakeboard: Building Individualized Camper Schedules
2026-03-10 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 419
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 Stacy walks through how the programming team works at Beber Camp, where 3 out of 5 activity periods a day are choice-based. Stacy will draw from case studies at her camp, showing how even as technology and AI become more integrated into our scheduling process, human involvement remains critical. Participants will leave inspired with intentionality behind activity choices and an understanding of the importance of camper feedback while creating customized camper schedules.

The Other Full-Time Job: Parenting at Camp
2026-03-10 12:30 - 13:30 | Room 418
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 staff, and our own children. This roundtable is a space to be seen, heard, and supported by others who live the same unique experience.
Join fellow camp professionals for an open discussion about parenting at camp. The joys, the guilt, the boundaries, and the lessons learned along the way. Together, we’ll share strategies, stories, and small wins while exploring topics such as setting healthy boundaries between “camp parent” and “camp professional”, hiring and managing staff while parenting in the same environment, acknowledging and navigating the hard days, and communicating with your partner when camp consumes your world.
This session isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about connection, laughter, and learning from one another. Whether you’re a camp director raising kids at camp or thinking about having kids at camp.

Fast Friends: Speed Networking for Camp Leaders and Innovators
2026-03-10 12:30 - 13:30 | Room 415
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 ideas, and build partnerships through meaningful interactions with a variety of camp professionals. Be sure to bring business cards!

Urban Day Camp Roundtable
2026-03-10 12:30 - 13:30 | Room 401
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 have incredible opportunities for creativity, diversity, and innovation.
This is your chance to connect with other camp professionals who “get it”—those navigating bus routes instead of trails, school gyms instead of pavilions, and neighborhoods instead of lakes. Together, we’ll brainstorm creative solutions, celebrate wins, and strengthen the network of urban day camp leaders.
Come ready to share, learn, and leave inspired by what’s possible when we make camp magic happen right in the middle of the city.

Veteran Voices: Leading Camp Orientation
2026-03-10 12:30 - 13:30 | Room 405/406
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 leadership and staff. This session highlights the unique strengths veteran staff bring to summer camp leadership and how to effectively incorporate them into orientation and training. Attendees will explore strategies for leveraging veterans’ experience, discipline, and leadership skills to enhance staff development and camp culture. Topics include creating roles that maximize veteran contributions, fostering mentorship opportunities, and blending leadership styles with camp values. Participants will gain practical tools for designing inclusive orientation programs that engage veterans and inspire all staff members. Leave ready to build a cohesive, skilled team that benefits from the proven leadership of veterans.

Creativity is a Superpower! Discuss Unique Activities for Your Camp
2026-03-10 12:30 - 13:30 | Room 419
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 activities to help with the mid-summer blues, fun, low-cost activities that are trending online, and more! Come ready to share and ready to learn so we can all add a little more personality to our programs. Step out of the box and see where creativity can take you. The opportunities are limitless!

2, 4, 6, 8, Who DO We Appreciate?! (And How Do We Appreciate Them?)
2026-03-10 12:30 - 13:30 | Room 410
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 better or worse, their compensation for doing so is… lacking. Because of this, developing an intentional, meaningful, and tangible staff appreciation program is a critically important aspect of running a successful camp. During this hands-on and interactive workshop, participants will have the opportunity to discuss and ideate with fellow camp professionals about staff appreciation best practices, including things they can consider for Summer 2026.

There is No Off-Season: Engaging Families in Your Camp Community Year-Round
2026-03-10 12:30 - 13:30 | Room 404
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 to your camp year after year, improving your camper retention. Campers whose family members feel connected to the camp community are also more likely to return as staff members, helping to improve staff retention as well. This session will offer camp leadership teams new ideas, tips, and practices for engaging their camp families in the camp community year-round, helping to build a strong, proud, and committed community and improve camper and staff retention rates.

Red Cross Instructor Roundtable
2026-03-10 12:30 - 13:30 | Room 402
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 roundtable will provide a space to share best practices, discuss challenges unique to camp settings, and explore new resources and curriculum updates from the American Red Cross. Whether you’re teaching lifeguarding, CPR/First Aid, or other safety courses, this session will help you stay current, strengthen your instructional impact, and build connections with peers who understand the unique demands of seasonal and youth-focused programming. Come ready to collaborate, ask questions, and leave with actionable insights to enhance your camp’s safety and training initiatives.

Lunch with a Lawyer: Legal Questions Answered
2026-03-10 12:30 - 13:30 | Room 416
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 of us? What are the best practices for hiring? The list goes on and on. This session provides an open forum to discuss your legal questions with a camp attorney and camp founder. Participants will hear from colleagues to understand what legal considerations are most pressing in the industry right now, and they will receive concrete guidance in response to their legal questions.

ACA Accreditation Volunteer Gathering
2026-03-10 12:30 - 13:30 | Room 320
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 have tips, tricks, camaraderie, and door prizes, so you’re guaranteed to leave with something good (besides the satisfaction of being an integral part of the standards program). Bring your lunch and help us celebrate and support our amazing community of visitors!
