Tri-State

Culture by Design: Developing Staff Through a Pyramid of Success
2026-03-10 15:15 - 16:15 (America/Los_Angeles) | Room 417
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 of values, habits, and character traits that guided every player and coach in his program. What if your camp had its own version of that?
In this session, we’ll explore how to intentionally design and reinforce a camp culture that reflects your core values at every level, from your directors to your newest counselors. Using Wooden’s Pyramid as a model, participants will learn how to identify their camp’s “building blocks,” align daily actions and traditions with guiding principles, and communicate those values so that everyone – campers, staff, and families – feels part of something meaningful. The result could be a camp that doesn’t just say what it stands for, but rather, it lives it every single day.

Hiring in Real Life: Managing Late Hires Without Lowering the Bar
2026-03-10 15:15 - 16:15 | Room 313
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, not desperately. We’ll unpack what’s truly essential in screening, reference checks, and onboarding when time is tight, and how to design condensed training plans that still reinforce culture, safety, and professionalism. Participants will learn how to communicate expectations clearly, document effectively, and build quick-connect strategies that help new staff feel part of the team within days. Whether you’re filling a counselor role or a leadership gap, you’ll leave with practical templates, communication tools, and HR-informed guidance that keep standards high, even when the clock is not on your side.

Fresh Twists for Staff Orientation (Without Starting From Scratch!)
2026-03-10 15:15 - 16:15 | Room 302
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 tossing out what already works.
We’ll start by looking at how to evaluate last summer’s successes (and flops!) to figure out what’s worth keeping and what needs a refresh. You’ll discover how to layer in new, engaging elements that connect with today’s Gen Z staff, while also learning when to recognize that tried-and-true traditions may no longer hit the mark.
This isn’t a one-size-fits-all overhaul; every camp is different and your orientation should reflect that! Instead, you’ll walk away with 3-5 ready-to-use ideas, activities, and session outlines that you can plug directly into your existing orientation.
Join us for a fun, practical workshop that will help you keep your orientation fresh, exciting, and effective—year after year!

When Bad Things Happen to Good Campers
2026-03-10 15:15 - 16:15 | Room 309
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 it. Led by Corrie Sirota, MSW, PSW, and author of Someone Died…Now What? A Personal and Professional Perspective on Coping with Grief and Loss, the workshop draws on over 25 years of experience helping individuals and communities navigate crisis.
Participants will gain practical coping strategies to use when faced with the difficult reality of a death impacting the camp community, whether a camper, staff member, or family member. Special attention will be given to tailoring debriefings to the developmental needs of different age groups, ensuring that communication and support are both age-appropriate and compassionate. This session will leave staff better prepared to respond with confidence, care, and resilience when loss touches their camp environment.

Leading from the Middle
2026-03-10 15:15 - 16:15 | Room 301
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 will address the challenges of “Leading From the Middle” and offer ideas and tools for middle managers to succeed. We will explore what “managing up” means and doesn’t, why it matters, and guidelines to follow. Come to discuss strategies to proactively build productive relationships with supervisors and colleagues, to obtain the best possible results for you, your manager, and your organization.

Camp is Intersectional: Are Your Staff Training Sessions Meeting the Moment?
2026-03-10 15:15 - 16:15 | Room 410
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 for fostering both safe and brave spaces for campers and for your team. We are experiencing a challenging world where the perpetual gloom and doom of the news brings challenges many may not, and cannot, understand. This workshop will dissect how we can further set ourselves up for success by looking at our trainings through the multi-layer lenses that come with intersectionality, power, and privilege, particularly for our LGBTQ+ and BIPOC campers and staff members. This session will provide both a toolkit of ideas to bring back to your team, as well as a real-life simulation on how to use the tools provided for both in-person and virtual training sessions.

Technology & Operations at Camp
2026-03-10 14:00 - 15:00 | Room 313
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 using automation and AI. Attendees will learn how to automate parts of their job and increase their own efficiency through non-technical tools (such as Zapier, ChatGPT Custom Agents and other useful tools), all pre-built tools which will be distributed freely after the session. The session also includes a hands-on DIY component, giving participants the chance to implement these ideas at their own camps and walk away with actionable solutions ready to use. Bring your laptop!

Evaluation Strategies that Speak to Gen-Z
2026-03-10 14:00 - 15:00 | Room 421
This generation of staff members have different needs than those of generations past, so why are we still using the same tired strategies to properly evaluate their performance? This session will challenge participants to reimagine what staff evaluations can look like by better understanding the needs of our Gen-Z staff members. In this session we will discuss frameworks to develop evaluations that are rooted in individual goal setting, that celebrate growth and skill development, and that offer support where staff are lacking. This session will offer practical strategies for reimagining staff evaluations that will lead to an improved staff experience and help to increase staff retention.

How Thoughtful AI Use Strengthens Camp's Core Mission
2026-03-10 14:00 - 15:00 | Room 304
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, and making the operational changes worth your time right now.
We’ll also break down the bigger shifts ahead: why traditional SEO is losing ground, what GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) means for your camp’s visibility, and how generative technology will shape family expectations before they ever reach your website.

The "Day Camp Pod" Roundtable
2026-03-10 14:00 - 15:00 | Room 404
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, staffing, operations, weather, buses, programming, special events, and more! Let’s get in the weeds and share!

Preventing Camper-to-Camper Abuse: A Scenario-Based Roadmap for Training and Response
2026-03-10 14:00 - 15:00
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 most challenging and least understood issues camps face today, requiring nuanced prevention strategies, staff training, and a camp-wide culture of awareness and accountability.
This session will guide participants through a scenario-based, multi-step framework for both preventing and responding to camper-to-camper abuse. Using realistic examples drawn from camp life, we will explore how early identification of boundary-testing behaviors, effective supervision, and clear communication can dramatically reduce risk. Participants will learn how to implement staff training that moves beyond policy review to create confident, proactive counselors who know what to look for, how to intervene, and how to escalate concerns.

Color War!
2026-03-10 14:00 - 15:00
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 away with a 92-page document on how to run Color War, from start to finish. Take away hundreds of ideas on how to run your Color War and how to make your Color War better than ever. There are plenty of ways to run it, and we are going to show them all to you!

The Campfire Effect: What Camp Teaches Us About How Humans Thrive
2026-03-10 14:00 - 15:00
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 – dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, endorphins, and cortisol – to create happier, more resilient children and staff. Drawing on psychology, neuroscience, and decades of camp experience, participants will examine how communal living, shared rituals, play, and face-to-face connection foster deep belonging and personal growth. The session will also highlight lessons camps can share with schools, families, and workplaces about designing environments that promote well-being, purpose, and human connection.

Unique Camp Superpowers: Maximizing How Camp Grows Great People
2026-03-10 14:00 - 15:00
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 make it a uniquely powerful tool for change. And of course, this comes with Michael’s trademark “tons of immediately usable examples” approach. These are the specific, terrific tools for your most world-changing summer ever. Boost the way we keep the most powerful promise of the camp experience: making sure that we are using camp for its greatest and most marketable purpose. Michael, the author of the bestselling “Intentional Camp: Putting More Muscle in the Mission of Character & Youth Development,” will show a laser-like focus on mission, demonstrating both new and essential ways to train, motivate, supervise, support, and coach every member of our team to use our fun and engaging camp activities to build confidence, caring, cooperation, respect, responsibility, and much more.

Jump Rope Made Fun & EASY!
2026-03-10 14:00 - 15:00
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 the kids jumping for joy! We’ll zero in on single rope skills and games, perfect for all ages and skill levels, making every jump a blast!

From Bored to Bought In: How to Train Staff Who Actually Care
2026-03-10 14:00 - 15:00
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 boring, your staff are going to suck. Engaged training equals engaged staff equals happy kids.
This session is all about fixing that. We will focus on one thing: making training so engaging that staff cannot tune out. You will move, laugh, and practice activities you can steal for your own camp. You will see how to take the topics you already have to teach and make them land. Our job is not to pile on more content. Our job is to tap into what staff already care about and make the important stuff stick.
This will not feel like a lecture. It will feel like camp.

Should You Even Send That Email? Parent Communication in the Tough Moments
2026-03-10 14:00 - 15:00 | Room 310
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 from a camp public relations expert as Jeff discusses real-world scenarios. Be ready to bring your questions to the session to get real-time answers! Through relatable scenarios, you’ll learn how to communicate clearly, preserve relationships, and keep parents on your team—even when conversations get tough.

Ready or Not? The Power of Succession Planning
2026-03-10 14:00 - 15:00 | Room 314
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 can define your organization’s future. In this session, we’ll explore what “ready” really means, uncover the risks of ignoring succession planning, and identify the steps to build a clear, confident path forward. You’ll learn how to engage key players – from board members to donors – and use a VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) lens to find allies who can champion the process. Succession planning isn’t optional anymore; it’s your insurance policy that helps guarantee stability, continuity, and long-term success.

The Psychosocial Cascade: When One Camper's Sparks Light a Group Fire
2026-03-10 14:00 - 15:00 | Room 302
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 can, but they aren’t effective in quelling the drama or the behaviors. Left unchecked, this “psychosocial cascade” drains staff energy, heightens tension, and destabilizes the group dynamic. Leadership is frustrated with staff, staff are frustrated with campers and leadership, and oh yes, here come the parents who can’t understand what went wrong and definitely blame someone else’s kiddo, your staff, and you! Join Emily as we confidently address this frustrating situation, breaking down why these dynamics unfold so quickly, then turning to what staff can do to prevent escalation and rebuild group connections. You’ll leave with strategies to help you check the sparks, equip staff to constructively address all campers’ needs, and navigate the often-tricky parent conversations that follow.

From Hire to Higher Retention: Building a Staff Experience that Works
2026-03-10 14:00 - 15:00 | Room 415
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 keep them coming back? We can all agree it is not the paycheck. Drawing on Mid Island Day Camp’s own staff retention journey, this session explores practical strategies and actionable steps to enhance staff engagement and satisfaction. We will take a deep dive into what’s working, what’s holding you back, and the practices you might already be using that are more important than you realize. With a few small tweaks, you can make your camp the hot place to work this summer and for years to come.

Move, Laugh, Connect: Ten Staff Orientation Activities that Work
2026-03-10 14:00 - 15:00 | Room 201
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 ready to play, reflect, and bring fresh ideas back to your team.

The Ultimate Interview
2026-03-10 14:00 - 15:00 | Room 309
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 how of interviewing potential camp staff.
Key focus areas will include how to structure an effective interview process, practical techniques to uncover both strengths and challenges in candidates, and strategies for identifying the right fit to support your camp community.
By the end of the session, participants will have concrete skills and tools to approach interviews with confidence and clarity.

13 Lessons from the Field: Five Years of LGBTQ+ Equity in Camping
2026-03-10 14:00 - 15:00 | Room 322
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 ready to reflect, laugh, nod along, and take away fresh insights you can apply to your own leadership and organizational growth.

What to Do When the Sky Falls: Lesson from a Microburst Tornado
2026-03-10 14:00 - 15:00 | Room 301
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 Camp, that very scenario became an unexpected crash course in extreme weather preparedness. This session tells the story of what unfolded in real time and the lessons it revealed for every camp leader.
We’ll dive into how to assess and protect your facilities, strengthen infrastructure, and train staff so they know how to act when the sky really does fall. From trees down to power out to reopening safely, this is a practical, candid look at what camps can do now to be ready for whatever weather blows their way.

A Discussion with Leadership Coach Fritz Seyferth
2026-03-10 12:30 - 13:45 | Room 411/412
Fritz Seyferth has been coaching high-performance leaders and organizations for decades. As the longtime Board Chair of North American Camp Trust, he is familiar with the summer camp industry. At the outset, Fritz will offer his thoughts on how camp leaders can more often perform at peak effectiveness by reinforcing systems that support their camp’s culture. The remainder of the session will give attendees the opportunity to engage with Fritz on aspects of camp management and leadership that concern or interest them.

BIPOC Camp Professionals Meet and Greet
2026-03-10 12:30 - 13:30 | Room 403

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!

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.

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.

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!
