Tri-State

Make It W.I.S.E.: Crafting That's More than Just Glitter and Glue
2026-03-11 09:45 - 10:45 (America/Los_Angeles) | Room 416
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 help camp professionals design projects that kids truly love and remember.
In this interactive session, participants will explore each element of the Kids in the Game W.I.S.E. Method through real examples from camp settings, practice evaluating sample projects with the framework, and brainstorm how to apply it back at their own programs. You’ll walk away with a practical tool and new ideas to raise the bar on camper art.

Don't Pop the Camp Bubble
2026-03-11 09:45 - 10:45 | Room 313
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 relationships. We’ll begin by exploring the concept of the “camp bubble” — what it means for your camp community, how to maintain it, and how to respond if it “pops.” Participants will leave with practical training tools and techniques to help staff manage sensitive situations and preserve the fun, stress-free, and silly atmosphere that makes camp such a special place for kids.

Creating and Executing Great "Color War" Breakouts for ALL Camps
2026-03-11 09:45 - 10:45 | Room 316
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 easy task. While Breakouts can be elaborate AND expensive, they don’t have to be! This session will focus on the creative aspects and the logistical challenges, providing ideas for both more costly and inexpensive Breakouts. Expect a fun session that will leave you with ideas to bring to your camp, along with a roadmap for making your events a success.

Camp in the Palm of Your Hand: Building Systems that Keep You One Step Ahead
2026-03-11 09:45 - 10:45 | Room 417
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? In this hands-on session, you’ll learn how to transform your existing camper, staff, and activity data into smart spreadsheets that feed into mobile-friendly dashboards—no coding required. Whether you’re a spreadsheet skeptic or a formula fanatic, you’ll walk away with real camp examples, a practical build-it-yourself framework, and a plan to streamline operations while keeping screens out of sight for campers and staff.

Mind the Gap: Bridging the Staff Skills/Camper Needs Divide
2026-03-11 09:45 - 10:45 | Room 302
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 vastly different norms, expectations, and emotional languages. Staff assume campers “should know better,” while campers are navigating a world that’s more anxious, overstimulated, and socially complex than ever. The mismatch leaves kids frustrated and staff unsure how to connect, motivate, and redirect effectively. Join Emily to dive into what’s behind the disconnect and how to bridge it through practical, teachable skills. You may still not know what “skibidi ohio rizz” means or why kids laugh every time you say “6-7,” (this session won’t be explaining that brain rot!), but you will return to camp ready to train staff to connect more effectively, engage less reactively, and support the campers in their care with less frustration and more joy.

Adaptive Recreation: All Ages, All Abilities, One Camp
2026-03-11 09:45 - 10:45 | Room 316
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 campers of all ages and all abilities can participate together in meaningful ways. From the youngest campers to the oldest, participants will explore strategies for tailoring programs to individual strengths while maintaining a shared camp experience. Practical tips for adapting activities on any budget will be highlighted, giving staff the confidence to make inclusion not only possible, but seamless. By the end of the session, staff will leave with actionable ideas to foster a camp culture where everyone belongs, and every camper can shine.

Fast and Furious FUN with Your Campers!
2026-03-11 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 312
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 your campers begging for more! With everything from intense fitness games to hilarious partner tag activities to non-traditional cooperative team sports, this session will have it all! This wide range of games appeal to all types of campers and will leave them begging for more! Come get Fast and Furious today and blow your campers away!

SO Fun City: Importance of Improv
2026-03-11 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 410
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 creating dynamic, game-like experiences that enhance motivation, increase participation, and build essential skills. By incorporating spontaneous, game-based strategies, attendees can foster a more interactive and flexible camp environment, making camp both fun and impactful. Attendees will gain practical techniques for applying improv principles and gamification to better address the diverse needs of their campers and staff.

Community Wellness Initiatives at Summer Camp: Creative Approaches to Support Campers and Staff
2026-03-11 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 310
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 are rooted in: (1) a camp-first approach, (2) wellness as a continuum, (3) integration into camp, (4) empowering the community, (5) building belonging, (6) adopting a short-term, strengths-based approach, and (7) acting as guides not fixers. These principles informed camp-wide initiatives intended to elevate and reinforce the joy, meaning, and belonging that make summer camp special. Example initiatives included Wellness Wednesdays, The Magic Shop, Staff Tea Time and Conversation Hour, communal reflection opportunities on character and wellness, and team-building activities focused on promoting connection among campers. This presentation will outline our approach, from conception to implementation, and offer attendees hands-on tools to adapt and bring these activities to their camps.

Bringing Social Emotional Learning (SEL) to Life at Camp: Lessons from the Field
2026-03-11 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 402
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 discourse, managing parental expectations, staff and camper mental health and well-being, leadership, setting boundaries – are rooted in social-emotional learning.
In this interactive session, camp leader Andy Pritikin teams up with the School Culture and Climate Initiative to explore the five-domain SEL framework: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. You’ll get tangible examples of practical ways to support the development of these skills in camp settings that benefit staff, campers, and families.
Expect opportunity for meaningful discussion as we combine theory and practice to provide a roadmap to intentionality, helping your camp walk the talk!

Ability in Action: Creating Camp Jobs for All
2026-03-11 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 415
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 with developmental disabilities. By showcasing inclusive, strengths-based programming, the session will highlight how camp environments offer unique opportunities for skill-building. Attendees will gain practical tools for designing or enhancing vocational programs within their own camps, along with strategies for creating individualized work plans and adapting tasks. Participants will walk away with a clear framework for implementing camp-based vocational initiatives, real-life examples of success, and ideas for measuring progress and fostering long-term outcomes. This session is ideal for camp professionals looking to expand inclusive opportunities in their camps. This session will provide fresh insights into how camp can be a launchpad for lifelong vocational success.

What Would You Do? Responding to Peer-to-Peer Abuse at Camp
2026-03-11 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 419
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 abuse-and when to report it? This interactive, scenario-based workshop will help you recognize when behavior crosses the line, determine appropriate follow-up and reporting, and navigate the difficult conversations that follow.
Together, we’ll explore what behavioral health supports may be needed, when sending a camper home is appropriate, and how to communicate transparently and effectively with parents, staff, and other stakeholders. Through realistic camp-based case studies, participants will practice making tough calls and develop strategies for supporting both victims and alleged perpetrators while maintaining trust and safety across your camp community.

Bridging Generations: How Millennials and Gen Z Thrive as Co-Leaders
2026-03-11 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 421
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 to take on top leadership roles. In this lively and insightful session, you’ll hear directly from a Millennial and a Gen Z facilitator who teamed up at their camp to bridge the gap, moving beyond the traditional mentor-mentee model to form a true partnership where each generation both teaches and learns. Together, they’ll share their stories, strategies, and surprising lessons, what the Millennial gained from working with Gen Z, what the Gen-Zer discovered from collaborating with a Millennial, and how this dynamic can create thriving leadership for the future of camps. Come ready to laugh, learn, and leave inspired with new tools to strengthen your team and ensure your camp stays vibrant, adaptable, and future-ready.

Smarter Recruiting on a Realistic Camp Budget
2026-03-11 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 309
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 recruitment dollars. We’ll unpack how small, intentional investments can make all the difference. From setting realistic recruiting budgets to choosing where (and where not) to post jobs, you’ll learn how to build a plan that’s lean and effective.
Using real-world examples from camps we’ve supported, we’ll cover:
– How much to spend (and where) to get visibility on platforms like Indeed
– Why promoted jobs outperform free listings, and when it’s worth the spend
– Entry-level tools and automations under $25 that can save you hours each week
– Smart ways to use AI and scheduling tools like Calendly to simplify your recruiting process
– The hidden costs of staying “cheap” – lost candidates, wasted time, and burnout
By the end of the session, you’ll walk away with a practical playbook for how to get more from less.
*Note, this is only for domestic hiring.

Universal Design for Camps: Proactively Adapting Activities to Include ALL Campers
2026-03-11 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 313
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 may not fully understand what’s going on, leading to feelings of disconnection, unworthiness, and despair. How can we as camp professionals create a seat at the table for ALL our campers?
Attendees will gain an understanding of the need to proactively prepare and adapt camp activities to include ALL campers, especially those who identify as disabled or differently abled. Using specific examples of campers who are deaf or hard of hearing, session attendees will work to proactively include these “outside of the box” campers by adapting current popular camp activities. Learn how to declare, “YOU MATTER,” to those who are traditionally left out.
*This is a repeat session from last year.

Advocacy 101: How to Be an Effective Local, State, and Federal Advocate for Camps
2026-03-11 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 314
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, state, and local authorities can deeply impact our ability to run our camps, for better or worse. Wage and Hour Laws, public health regulations, permissible hiring practices, building codes, fire codes, disaster preparation, insurance regulations, and the ability to host international exchange visitors have all emerged as hot-button issues for camps across the country in the last few years. This session will help you learn the core skills of effective advocacy so that you can join with other camp leaders and engage with your state and local representatives and regulators to advocate for workable solutions. Plus, advocacy is a skill set that will serve you well with your boards, funders, camp families, and others. Come join the fun!

Maintaining a Financially Healthy Camp While Ensuring Your Mission and Goals are Met
2026-03-11 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 404
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 maintain a clear road to continued financial health. In this session, we’ll dive into how to look at your camp goals, your books, and your general operations to guide decision-making about what and how to add, edit, and/or subtract to keep your camp at its best. This session will cover both private and non-profit camps of all types. Some examples of what we’ll be looking at include how to calculate your true cost-per-camper, determining if your camper tuition is up to date, how many extra staff you can support, and how to incorporate planning for unforeseen maintenance issues and future facilities improvements.

What's Next? Translating Camp Skills Into Real-World Opportunities
2026-03-11 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 408/409
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 saying they worked at a camp. In this session, Nelson Strickland helps participants bridge that gap. Through clear frameworks, real examples, and actionable tools, he shows how to translate the work done in camp into language that resonates in interviews, resumes, and professional settings. Whether you are preparing staff to launch their next chapter or seeking to articulate your own value, this session is about turning seasonal experience into lasting career momentum.

Dump the Dissing: How to Pulverize Put-Downs and Help People Communicate with Respect and Civility in Conflict
2026-03-11 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 303
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 increasing difficulties talking to each other with respect and kindness. It’s not their “fault.” We are all living in a world where the models around us use name-calling, taunting, and even refusing to communicate. And this is important: unless camp is a safe and respectful environment, people are less willing to try new or challenging things. This blocks our mission of learning and growth. Our friend Michael from Chicago is on the case! This session demonstrates specific, original, and practical staff training tools and techniques to teach how to confidently handle name-calling and similar negative behaviors and how to support campers in learning how to disagree without being disagreeable. Staff will be able to use these techniques in their own communication and teamwork.

Beyond Diversity: Building Brave and Inclusive Camp Spaces for Black and Brown Youth
2026-03-11 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 401
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 camp professionals through an honest exploration of how camp norms, traditions, and leadership structures can unintentionally exclude or alienate campers of color. Participants will identify common barriers to belonging, unpack their own implicit biases, and learn practical strategies for building camp environments that affirm every child’s identity. Using storytelling, reflection, and design activities, participants will leave with tangible tools and an actionable plan to foster belonging and trust with campers, families, and staff of color.

Exceptional Thinkers, Exceptional Revenue: Inclusive STEM Programming that Grows Enrollment
2026-03-11 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 308
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 activities that build confidence, problem-solving, and collaboration while creating a powerful return on investment. Learn how accessible tech, adaptive kits, and flexible instruction make STEM meaningful for all campers and easy to run year-round. Inclusive STEM not only boosts engagement and revenue, but it also attracts families who might never consider a traditional camp environment. Build programs that expand your reach, reputation, and impact where every child feels inspired, capable, and proud to belong.

The New Staff Reaction Training: Don’t Miss the Obvious Moment!
2026-03-11 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 311
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 are a determining factor in whether a child opens up or shuts down. A mediocre or poor initial reaction also leads to missed opportunities to make a positive breakthrough. This often overlooked aspect of camp counseling can be trained! Teach this concept and train your staff to react appropriately, and they will be far more effective at creating positive, even transformational moments with campers. Rather than react poorly and have to try and reset things, they will be ready, recognize the opportunity, and react like a true professional. A skill for camp and a skill for life!

How to Convince Your Staff to Put Their Phones Away and Have the Best Summer of Their Lives
2026-03-11 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 322
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 we can convince counselors why it’s simply unsafe to be on their phones when they’re responsible for children. Then she’ll tell you how to make the case for why a summer without smartphones is good for staff themselves: they’ll practice the art of being fully present in their surroundings, getting comfortable with their thoughts, and even experiencing boredom. Nixing phones will also allow them to invest more in relationships with the humans around them. She’ll explain why doing so will be good for their physical and mental health and even fun, leaving them with skills and relationships that will serve them throughout their lives.

How Green Teams Create a Culture of Sustainability
2026-03-11 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 316
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 Green Camps’ national research on the motivators and barriers to sustainability, participants will learn why an inclusive, team-based approach is key to real progress. The session introduces a flexible framework for launching or strengthening a Green Team, featuring approachable project ideas like food waste reduction, energy and water conservation, and camper-led education. Attendees will leave with a Green Team launch toolkit, facilitation prompts, and inspiration to take action.

Foundations of a Strong Camp Marketing Plan
2026-03-11 08:30 - 09:30 | Room 301
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 how to define your target audience, craft engaging messaging, select the most effective marketing channels, and build a year-round marketing calendar. This session covers the fundamentals to drive engagement and get campers into your camp.

Social at the Arcade
2026-03-10 18:00 - 19:30
Join fellow attendees for a FREE fun-filled event sponsored by Dave & Buster’s. What better way to unwind after a day of learning then with, networking with a side of skee ball, a free appetizer buffet and a $10 play card all await you. Must bring badge to be eligible for free play card and to gain access to the appetizer buffet.

Girl Scout Gathering
2026-03-10 18:00 - 19:30 | Room 418

Swords & Sheilds: A Wayfinder Mini LARP for All Levels
2026-03-10 16:30 - 17:45 | Room 201
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 character creation process of a classic Fantasy LARP. You will don a costume, take on a new persona, and meet characters presenting you with challenges! Should you complete all three, you will have an opportunity to request a boon from the local monarchs! But that can’t be all, oh no, stay to the end for the twist and try to help your comrades save the day!

Fast Solutions, Fun Process: Solve Your Challenges Now with a Great Group Problem-Solving Method
2026-03-10 16:30 - 17:45 | Room 303
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 expert and staff trainer Michael Brandwein leads this special hands-on session in which he will teach you the Consultative Problem-Solving Process. This is an enjoyable, highly effective, incredibly efficient group learning technique that you can learn immediately and helps you get great ideas today, right in this session, working with colleagues to solve the greatest camp challenges you’re facing at your specific camp. You’ll walk out with lots of notes on how to handle a challenge of your choice. And Michael will show you how you can use this same process back at your camp, not only with staff but with campers, too. And wait-there’s more! You’ll meet lots of new camp friends at Conference, so this is a great way to build your own community of supportive folks you can hang with and learn from throughout Tri-State.

ACA Keystone Gathering
2026-03-10 16:30 - 17:30 | Room 411/412
