The "Day Camp Pod" Roundtable
2026-03-10 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

Let’s Keep Our Hands to Ourselves
2026-03-10 15:15 - 16:15 | Room 401
The camp experience is all about building relationships, meeting new people, making friends, and finding oneself. But what happens when lines are blurred and boundaries are crossed? How do camps navigate what is appropriate and inappropriate, and manage and respond to boundary violations and peer conflict? Using real examples from camp, this session will dive into what happens when campers cross lines, how Counselors and Directors respond, how to assess and manage risk, and what happens next.

Culture by Design: Developing Staff Through a Pyramid of Success
2026-03-10 15:15 - 16:15 | 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.

Firm, Kind, and Effective: Navigating Tough Parent Conversations
2026-03-10 15:15 - 16:15 | Room 408/409
Today’s parents are more involved than ever, and sometimes, that involvement crosses boundaries or escalates into conflict. Whether you’re addressing a complaint, clarifying expectations, or de-escalating an emotional conversation, the way you communicate matters.
This session will provide practical strategies and a clear communication framework to help camp professionals engage confidently and respectfully with difficult parents. Drawing from real-world experience and a simple, memorable model, you’ll learn how to approach even the hardest conversations with professionalism, empathy, and consistency—without sacrificing clarity or authority.

Understanding LARP: the What, How, and Why (or Why Not)
2026-03-10 15:15 - 16:15 | Room 304
Live Action Role Playing (LARP) has become more mainstream over the past few years; but what exactly is it? Most people think of it as a bunch of people in full costume running around and hitting each other with swords (which it totally can be, and that is very fun). But at its core, LARP is a story-telling medium. Come learn about LARP and how it can be integrated into your camp programming; either as an enhancement to what already exists, or as a completely new activity. Let The Wayfinder Experience bring you along on the journey from no budget and no space to elaborate costumes and rituals, with all the steps in between. Figure out how LARP can fit into your camp programming in the capacity that works best for you. Come listen, learn, and go back ready to play!
Following this session will be an additional session running a mini LARP for all levels to gain the full LARP experience.

Building Bridges: Partnering with Families for Successful Disability Inclusion
2026-03-10 15:15 - 16:15 | Room 314
Building trust with families of children with disabilities is key to successful inclusion. This session offers practical strategies to create welcoming messaging, improve intake processes, and navigate challenging conversations with empathy. Participants will hear compelling family testimonials about the impact of true inclusion and explore ways to reduce non-disclosure by shifting the narrative from “Why didn’t they tell us?” to “How can we create the trust needed for families to share?”
Attendees will gain tools to foster stronger partnerships with families, empowering staff to better understand and support all participants. By focusing on communication, collaboration, and inclusive practices from the start, camp professionals can ensure every camper feels seen, supported, and able to thrive in their programs. This session equips staff with the mindset and methods needed to build meaningful bridges with families and create environments where all children truly belong.

The Game Design Lab: Forge Your Next Camp Classic
2026-03-10 15:15 - 16:15 | Room 404
Is your special event calendar in need of a creative spark? Move beyond the traditional and learn to engineer unforgettable moments for your campers. This highly interactive session is a hands-on design lab where you won’t just learn theory, you’ll build a new game from the ground up.
As a facilitator, Luis will share his proven Experience Design process, challenging you to think outside the box and rapidly develop a unique activity in real-time. You’ll collaborate with peers in a dynamic, creative sprint. Participants will leave this session with a step-by-step creative framework to design impactful activities, the skills and confidence to facilitate this process with your own staff, and a brand-new, ready-to-play game designed by YOU for the summer!

Universal Values: How Camps Can Evaluate and Elevate Their Entire Staffing Cycle
2026-03-10 15:15 - 16:15 | Room 303
As the staff experience continues to be put under a microscope, are camps doing enough to ensure that the expectations they set align with the realities their staff face? This session shares a new model camps can adopt to reshape their entire staffing process and provides tangible tips and tools camps can use to evaluate and level-up their interviews, onboarding/orientation, feedback systems, and how they can integrate each of these pieces of the puzzle into their overall staff culture. This session will focus on restructuring a camp’s entire staffing cycle, and will focus on what camps can do AFTER summer 2026, and how they can utilize their 2026 staff to help set the stage for the future, helping create buy-in and accountability for the summer ahead.

Mosquitoes at Camp: Prevention, Protection, and Peace of Mind
2026-03-10 15:15 - 16:15 | Room 316
Mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance; they’re a public health concern that every camp should take seriously. In this session, Michael Hoban from New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Mosquito Control Coordination will discuss practical strategies to reduce mosquito presence and protect campers and staff. Drawing on his experience in statewide mosquito surveillance and control, he will cover prevention techniques, how to identify common breeding sites, and the science behind effective control methods. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how to work with local mosquito control programs to create a safer, more enjoyable camp experience. All in all, offering prevention, protection, and peace of mind.

Energize Your Orientation
2026-03-10 15:15 - 16:15 | Room 202
Every year it’s the same challenge: with everything else going on, how do you plan and implement an orientation or kickoff event that sets the tone for a successful season and inspires your staff? We’ve got you covered. Get ready to channel your inner child and play like you’re back at camp!
Since 1996, Playworks has been the leading national organization leveraging the power of play to build staff capacity, promote community, and shape organizational culture. Through engaging activities, we will teach you actionable strategies and systems to manage large groups, resolve conflict, and build valuable social and emotional skills for the kids you work with. You’ll walk away with tangible skills that can be immediately applied to your orientation plans.
Lets get everyone at your camp sharing laughs, ideas, and unforgettable experiences that will prepare them for the best season yet.

It's Not Laziness, It's Development: Understanding the Needs of Young Staff
2026-03-10 15:15 - 16:15 | Room 415
Camp staff are still developing the executive functioning skills that help adults stay organized, flexible, and emotionally regulated. What may look like laziness, defiance, or carelessness is often a skill gap, not a character flaw. In this session, Rachel Hoffman reframes common staff challenges through a developmental lens and helps camp leadership move from frustration to understanding. Participants will learn how to coach instead of criticize-unlocking potential, building accountability, and strengthening camp culture.

What is ACA Doing in Washington DC, and How Can My Camp Benefit?
2026-03-10 15:15 - 16:15 | Room 322
Come hear about ACA’s ongoing and ever-increasing work in DC and how you can support our advocacy efforts! Current hot topics include protecting the Bridge USA J-1 Visa programs, maintaining our federal wage and overtime exemptions, the tax deductibility of staff meals, ensuring access to federal lands, insurance availability and affordability, and other important federal matters. We will also discuss ACA’s work to build a Camp Caucus on Capitol Hill, as well as our upcoming Hill Days from April 28-30.

Infusing Character into Camp: It Starts with the Staff
2026-03-10 15:15 - 16:15 | Room 419
This workshop explores the magic that happens when character is infused throughout camp with intentionality and within a structured framework that supports everyone’s leadership, seasonal staff, campers, and parents.
The School Culture and Climate Initiative team will guide you through the benefits of integrating a character focus throughout camp, what intentionality truly means, and how to make this a reality. You’ll see specific examples of applying an intentional framework, including the best ways to ensure seasonal staff and camp leadership are on the same page and walking the talk consistently.
Leave with a clear picture of what this looks like at your camp and practical tools to implement immediately.

Write the Story of Camp: Great Newsletters Driving Enrollment and Connection
2026-03-10 15:15 - 16:15 | Room 310
Most camps send newsletters because they feel they have to. But for many families, those emails go unopened, or even worse, ignored.
Parents don’t tend to buy “magic” or “home.” They buy the stories and details that make camp feel real for them and for their camper.
In this interactive workshop, we’ll show you how to turn small camp moments into stories that families actually read and remember. You’ll see how we transform moments at camp into polished newsletter drafts in real time and then practice doing it yourself.
By the end, you’ll leave with the bones of at least one draft ready to send, plus a framework you can use all year to grow enrollment, deepen family connection, trust, and bring the stories of your camp to inboxes everywhere.

Big Magic in Small Spaces: Creating Collective Effervescence at Urban Day Camps
2026-03-10 15:15 - 16:15 | Room 416
You don’t need a ropes course, fireworks show, or camp-wide color war to create unforgettable energy and community at day camp. In this session, we’ll explore how urban day camps can foster collective effervescence—that electric feeling of shared joy and connection that makes campers feel part of something bigger—using limited space, time, and resources.
Participants will learn how to design special events and camp moments that capture that same magic typically found at sleepaway camps through intentional planning, storytelling, rituals, and playful design. We’ll share strategies and examples from Kids in the Game’s NYC-based programs, where schools, rooftops, and playgrounds transform into spaces of pure camp spirit.

Steal These Ideas to Level Up Your Camp
2026-03-10 15:15 - 16:15 | Room 308
Great camps don’t reinvent the wheel, they learn from what’s working elsewhere, adapt it to their own context, and make it part of their culture. In this session, two camp pros from differently sized organizations will share 10 high-impact, field-tested ideas that spark results across camps of all shapes and stages. From purposeful program design and staff retention strategies to parent communication, community-based marketing, and smart operational systems, each idea is designed to be stolen, stretched, and scaled. Walk away with practical, adaptable strategies you can put into action this summer and beyond.

Discussion of Camp Referral Service Commissions & Suggested Best Practices: Follow-Up from Tri-State 2025
2026-03-10 15:15 - 16:15 | Room 402
An open meeting of Camp Directors and top leadership staff for a positive, constructive conversation about how to handle requests for increases in referral service fees, along with suggestions for best practices to recommend to the referral services for consideration. Camp Directors and top camp leadership staff only, please.

Shop and Schmooze with Our Vendors!
2026-03-10 16:30 - 17:30 | Vendor Hall
Join us in the exhibit hall for an hour of unopposed time to shop and schmooze with our 320+ exhibitors. Have a snack at a food vendors booth, try your hand at one of the many games or attractions, swing on a Ninja Warrior Course rig, create at one of the many arts & craft vendors’ booths, and get your vendor “passport” stamped for your chance to win $250*!
*Raffle winner will be announced on Wednesday, March 11th at 4:55 pm back in the exhibit hall. Must be present to win.

2SLGBTQIA+ Camp Professionals Meet and Greet
2026-03-10 16:30 - 17:30 | Room 403

Special Needs Camps Meet and Greet
2026-03-10 16:30 - 17:30 | Room 415

YMCA Camps Meet and Greet
2026-03-10 16:30 - 17:30 | Room 402

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

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.

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!
