Week of Events
Campchella
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 [...]
Monday, March 9, 2026
-
March 9, 2026 -EPIC Opening Night Social
EPIC Opening Night Social
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 [...]
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
-
March 10, 2026 -From Counselor to Captain: Growing Leaders Season After Season
-
March 10, 2026 -Your Camp’s Culture Is Stronger Than This Climate: Navigating Sensitive Topics with Clarity and Care
-
March 10, 2026 -From Stops to Stats: Analyzing Data from Transportation
-
March 10, 2026 -Give ’em the Pickle: A Lesson in Customer Service
-
March 10, 2026 -From “I Can’t Even” to “I’ve Got This”: Coaching Staff Through Camper Burnout
-
March 10, 2026 -Running a Successful Ninja Program at Camp: From Safety to Fun
-
March 10, 2026 -Edible Weather: Turning Stormy Days into STEM Days
-
March 10, 2026 -Choosing the Right Channel for the Right Message
-
March 10, 2026 -Strengthen Your Grant Writing Skills by Applying for a Character at Camp Grant
-
March 10, 2026 -Running an Exemplary Camp Inclusion Program
-
March 10, 2026 -The Bias You Don’t See: Creating Space for Everyone at Camp
-
March 10, 2026 -Say It, Mean It, Move Forward: Accountability That Works
-
March 10, 2026 -The Guided Prompt Experience: Using AI to Create All-Camp Games
-
March 10, 2026 -Transform Your Training with Activities that Make Your Messages Stick
-
March 10, 2026 -Taming the Beast: How to Simplify Inventory and Ordering for Day Camps
-
March 10, 2026 -Micro-Trainings & Safety Huddles: Fast, Focused, and Impactful Staff Engagement
-
March 10, 2026 -What We Know: A Conversation with Department of State Bridge USA J-1 Program Experts
-
March 10, 2026 -Angry and Unreasonable Parents: Boundaries, Legal Obligations, and Practical Responses
-
March 10, 2026 -From Whiteboard to Wakeboard: Building Individualized Camper Schedules
-
March 10, 2026 -The Other Full-Time Job: Parenting at Camp
-
March 10, 2026 -Fast Friends: Speed Networking for Camp Leaders and Innovators
-
March 10, 2026 -Urban Day Camp Roundtable
-
March 10, 2026 -Veteran Voices: Leading Camp Orientation
-
March 10, 2026 -Red Cross Instructor Roundtable
-
March 10, 2026 -Creativity is a Superpower! Discuss Unique Activities for Your Camp
-
March 10, 2026 -2, 4, 6, 8, Who DO We Appreciate?! (And How Do We Appreciate Them?)
-
March 10, 2026 -There is No Off-Season: Engaging Families in Your Camp Community Year-Round
-
March 10, 2026 -Lunch with a Lawyer: Legal Questions Answered
-
March 10, 2026 -ACA Accreditation Volunteer Gathering
-
March 10, 2026 -A Discussion with Leadership Coach Fritz Seyferth
-
March 10, 2026 -BIPOC Camp Professionals Meet and Greet
-
March 10, 2026 -What to Do When the Sky Falls: Lesson from a Microburst Tornado
-
March 10, 2026 -13 Lessons from the Field: Five Years of LGBTQ+ Equity in Camping
-
March 10, 2026 -The Ultimate Interview
-
March 10, 2026 -Ready or Not? The Power of Succession Planning
-
March 10, 2026 -The Psychosocial Cascade: When One Camper’s Sparks Light a Group Fire
-
March 10, 2026 -From Hire to Higher Retention: Building a Staff Experience that Works
-
March 10, 2026 -Move, Laugh, Connect: Ten Staff Orientation Activities that Work
-
March 10, 2026 -From Bored to Bought In: How to Train Staff Who Actually Care
-
March 10, 2026 -Should You Even Send That Email? Parent Communication in the Tough Moments
-
March 10, 2026 -The Campfire Effect: What Camp Teaches Us About How Humans Thrive
-
March 10, 2026 -Unique Camp Superpowers: Maximizing How Camp Grows Great People
-
March 10, 2026 -Jump Rope Made Fun & EASY!
-
March 10, 2026 -Preventing Camper-to-Camper Abuse: A Scenario-Based Roadmap for Training and Response
-
March 10, 2026 -Color War!
-
March 10, 2026 -Evaluation Strategies that Speak to Gen-Z
-
March 10, 2026 -How Thoughtful AI Use Strengthens Camp’s Core Mission
-
March 10, 2026 -The “Day Camp Pod” Roundtable
-
March 10, 2026 -Technology & Operations at Camp
-
March 10, 2026 -Camp is Intersectional: Are Your Staff Training Sessions Meeting the Moment?
-
March 10, 2026 -Fresh Twists for Staff Orientation (Without Starting From Scratch!)
-
March 10, 2026 -When Bad Things Happen to Good Campers
-
March 10, 2026 -Leading from the Middle
-
March 10, 2026 -Hiring in Real Life: Managing Late Hires Without Lowering the Bar
-
March 10, 2026 -Let’s Keep Our Hands to Ourselves
-
March 10, 2026 -Culture by Design: Developing Staff Through a Pyramid of Success
-
March 10, 2026 -Firm, Kind, and Effective: Navigating Tough Parent Conversations
-
March 10, 2026 -Understanding LARP: the What, How, and Why (or Why Not)
-
March 10, 2026 -Building Bridges: Partnering with Families for Successful Disability Inclusion
-
March 10, 2026 -The Game Design Lab: Forge Your Next Camp Classic
-
March 10, 2026 -Universal Values: How Camps Can Evaluate and Elevate Their Entire Staffing Cycle
-
March 10, 2026 -Mosquitoes at Camp: Prevention, Protection, and Peace of Mind
-
March 10, 2026 -Energize Your Orientation
-
March 10, 2026 -It’s Not Laziness, It’s Development: Understanding the Needs of Young Staff
-
March 10, 2026 -What is ACA Doing in Washington DC, and How Can My Camp Benefit?
-
March 10, 2026 -Infusing Character into Camp: It Starts with the Staff
-
March 10, 2026 -Write the Story of Camp: Great Newsletters Driving Enrollment and Connection
-
March 10, 2026 -Big Magic in Small Spaces: Creating Collective Effervescence at Urban Day Camps
-
March 10, 2026 -Steal These Ideas to Level Up Your Camp
-
March 10, 2026 -Discussion of Camp Referral Service Commissions & Suggested Best Practices: Follow-Up from Tri-State 2025
-
March 10, 2026 -Shop and Schmooze with Our Vendors!
-
March 10, 2026 -Fast Solutions, Fun Process: Solve Your Challenges Now with a Great Group Problem-Solving Method
-
March 10, 2026 -Swords & Sheilds: A Wayfinder Mini LARP for All Levels
-
March 10, 2026 -2SLGBTQIA+ Camp Professionals Meet and Greet
-
March 10, 2026 -Special Needs Camps Meet and Greet
-
March 10, 2026 -YMCA Camps Meet and Greet
-
March 10, 2026 -ACA Keystone Gathering
-
March 10, 2026 -Girl Scout Gathering
-
March 10, 2026 -Social at the Arcade
-
March 10, 2026 -Camp Idol
From Counselor to Captain: Growing Leaders Season After Season
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 [...]
Your Camp’s Culture Is Stronger Than This Climate: Navigating Sensitive Topics with Clarity and Care
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 [...]
From Stops to Stats: Analyzing Data from Transportation
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 [...]
Give ’em the Pickle: A Lesson in Customer Service
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, [...]
From “I Can’t Even” to “I’ve Got This”: Coaching Staff Through Camper Burnout
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 [...]
Running a Successful Ninja Program at Camp: From Safety to Fun
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? [...]
Edible Weather: Turning Stormy Days into STEM Days
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 [...]
Choosing the Right Channel for the Right Message
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 [...]
Strengthen Your Grant Writing Skills by Applying for a Character at Camp Grant
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 [...]
Running an Exemplary Camp Inclusion Program
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 [...]
The Bias You Don’t See: Creating Space for Everyone at Camp
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 [...]
Say It, Mean It, Move Forward: Accountability That Works
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 [...]
The Guided Prompt Experience: Using AI to Create All-Camp Games
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 [...]
Transform Your Training with Activities that Make Your Messages Stick
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 [...]
Taming the Beast: How to Simplify Inventory and Ordering for Day Camps
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 [...]
Micro-Trainings & Safety Huddles: Fast, Focused, and Impactful Staff Engagement
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 [...]
What We Know: A Conversation with Department of State Bridge USA J-1 Program Experts
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
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 [...]
From Whiteboard to Wakeboard: Building Individualized Camper Schedules
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 [...]
The Other Full-Time Job: Parenting at Camp
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 [...]
Fast Friends: Speed Networking for Camp Leaders and Innovators
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 [...]
Urban Day Camp Roundtable
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 [...]
Veteran Voices: Leading Camp Orientation
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 [...]
Red Cross Instructor Roundtable
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 [...]
Creativity is a Superpower! Discuss Unique Activities for Your Camp
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 [...]
2, 4, 6, 8, Who DO We Appreciate?! (And How Do We Appreciate Them?)
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 [...]
There is No Off-Season: Engaging Families in Your Camp Community Year-Round
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 [...]
Lunch with a Lawyer: Legal Questions Answered
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 [...]
ACA Accreditation Volunteer Gathering
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 [...]
A Discussion with Leadership Coach Fritz Seyferth
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 [...]
What to Do When the Sky Falls: Lesson from a Microburst Tornado
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 [...]
13 Lessons from the Field: Five Years of LGBTQ+ Equity in Camping
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 [...]
The Ultimate Interview
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 [...]
Ready or Not? The Power of Succession Planning
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 [...]
The Psychosocial Cascade: When One Camper’s Sparks Light a Group Fire
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 [...]
From Hire to Higher Retention: Building a Staff Experience that Works
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 [...]
Move, Laugh, Connect: Ten Staff Orientation Activities that Work
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 [...]
From Bored to Bought In: How to Train Staff Who Actually Care
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 [...]
Should You Even Send That Email? Parent Communication in the Tough Moments
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 [...]
The Campfire Effect: What Camp Teaches Us About How Humans Thrive
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 [...]
Unique Camp Superpowers: Maximizing How Camp Grows Great People
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 [...]
Jump Rope Made Fun & EASY!
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 [...]
Preventing Camper-to-Camper Abuse: A Scenario-Based Roadmap for Training and Response
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 [...]
Color War!
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 [...]
Evaluation Strategies that Speak to Gen-Z
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 [...]
How Thoughtful AI Use Strengthens Camp’s Core Mission
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, [...]
The “Day Camp Pod” Roundtable
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, [...]
Technology & Operations at Camp
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 [...]
Camp is Intersectional: Are Your Staff Training Sessions Meeting the Moment?
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 [...]
Fresh Twists for Staff Orientation (Without Starting From Scratch!)
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 [...]
When Bad Things Happen to Good Campers
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 [...]
Leading from the Middle
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 [...]
Hiring in Real Life: Managing Late Hires Without Lowering the Bar
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, [...]
Let’s Keep Our Hands to Ourselves
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 [...]
Culture by Design: Developing Staff Through a Pyramid of Success
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 [...]
Firm, Kind, and Effective: Navigating Tough Parent Conversations
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 [...]
Understanding LARP: the What, How, and Why (or Why Not)
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 [...]
Building Bridges: Partnering with Families for Successful Disability Inclusion
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 [...]
The Game Design Lab: Forge Your Next Camp Classic
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 [...]
Universal Values: How Camps Can Evaluate and Elevate Their Entire Staffing Cycle
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 [...]
Mosquitoes at Camp: Prevention, Protection, and Peace of Mind
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 [...]
Energize Your Orientation
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 [...]
It’s Not Laziness, It’s Development: Understanding the Needs of Young Staff
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 [...]
What is ACA Doing in Washington DC, and How Can My Camp Benefit?
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 [...]
Infusing Character into Camp: It Starts with the Staff
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 [...]
Write the Story of Camp: Great Newsletters Driving Enrollment and Connection
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." [...]
Big Magic in Small Spaces: Creating Collective Effervescence at Urban Day Camps
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 [...]
Steal These Ideas to Level Up Your Camp
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 [...]
Discussion of Camp Referral Service Commissions & Suggested Best Practices: Follow-Up from Tri-State 2025
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 [...]
Shop and Schmooze with Our Vendors!
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 [...]
Fast Solutions, Fun Process: Solve Your Challenges Now with a Great Group Problem-Solving Method
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 [...]
Swords & Sheilds: A Wayfinder Mini LARP for All Levels
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 [...]
Social at the Arcade
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 [...]
Camp Idol
Camp Idol is a free-to-attend social during the Tri-State Camp Conference at The Royce Social Hall in the Tropicana on Tuesday, March 10th, from 8:45 PM – 11:45 PM. One [...]
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
-
March 11, 2026 -5K Fun Run
-
March 11, 2026 -Foundations of a Strong Camp Marketing Plan
-
March 11, 2026 -How Green Teams Create a Culture of Sustainability
-
March 11, 2026 -The New Staff Reaction Training: Don’t Miss the Obvious Moment!
-
March 11, 2026 -How to Convince Your Staff to Put Their Phones Away and Have the Best Summer of Their Lives
-
March 11, 2026 -Beyond Diversity: Building Brave and Inclusive Camp Spaces for Black and Brown Youth
-
March 11, 2026 -Exceptional Thinkers, Exceptional Revenue: Inclusive STEM Programming that Grows Enrollment
-
March 11, 2026 -Dump the Dissing: How to Pulverize Put-Downs and Help People Communicate with Respect and Civility in Conflict
-
March 11, 2026 -What’s Next? Translating Camp Skills Into Real-World Opportunities
-
March 11, 2026 -Maintaining a Financially Healthy Camp While Ensuring Your Mission and Goals are Met
-
March 11, 2026 -Universal Design for Camps: Proactively Adapting Activities to Include ALL Campers
-
March 11, 2026 -Advocacy 101: How to Be an Effective Local, State, and Federal Advocate for Camps
-
March 11, 2026 -Smarter Recruiting on a Realistic Camp Budget
-
March 11, 2026 -Bridging Generations: How Millennials and Gen Z Thrive as Co-Leaders
-
March 11, 2026 -Ability in Action: Creating Camp Jobs for All
-
March 11, 2026 -What Would You Do? Responding to Peer-to-Peer Abuse at Camp
-
March 11, 2026 -Bringing Social Emotional Learning (SEL) to Life at Camp: Lessons from the Field
-
March 11, 2026 -Community Wellness Initiatives at Summer Camp: Creative Approaches to Support Campers and Staff
-
March 11, 2026 -SO Fun City: Importance of Improv
-
March 11, 2026 -Fast and Furious FUN with Your Campers!
-
March 11, 2026 -Adaptive Recreation: All Ages, All Abilities, One Camp
-
March 11, 2026 -Camp in the Palm of Your Hand: Building Systems that Keep You One Step Ahead
-
March 11, 2026 -Mind the Gap: Bridging the Staff Skills/Camper Needs Divide
-
March 11, 2026 -Creating and Executing Great “Color War” Breakouts for ALL Camps
-
March 11, 2026 -Make It W.I.S.E.: Crafting That’s More than Just Glitter and Glue
-
March 11, 2026 -Don’t Pop the Camp Bubble
-
March 11, 2026 -Started from the Bottom: Building a Camp Career that Lasts
-
March 11, 2026 -Orientation Overload: Rethinking Timing and Training through Executive Functioning
-
March 11, 2026 -Why Families Choose You (and Not the Camp Down the Road)
-
March 11, 2026 -Rearview Mirror: A Look at 2025 Camp Practices, Themes, and Claims
-
March 11, 2026 -Creating LGBTQ+ Gender Inclusive Out-of-School Programs
-
March 11, 2026 -Just Eat It: Navigating Picky, Restrictive, and Disordered Eating at Camp
-
March 11, 2026 -Aquatic In-Service Escape Room
-
March 11, 2026 -Best Practices and Bold Opinions: A Director Throwdown
-
March 11, 2026 -Unleash the Power of Play: Designing Summer Camp Experiences that Drive Learning
-
March 11, 2026 -Attract, Recruit, and Retain International Staff
-
March 11, 2026 -How Creating an Environment of Hospitality Can Shape the Summer Camp Experience
-
March 11, 2026 -When Parents Push the Limits: Human-Centered Communication and Risk Management in Camp
-
March 11, 2026 -The 2026 Camp A.I. Census: How Camp Operations, Marketing, and Programming are Actually Using AI
-
March 11, 2026 -Tooth Fairy Ethics: When is it OK to Lie to Kids?
-
March 11, 2026 -Programming Share Out
-
March 11, 2026 -Cracking the Alumni Development Code: What Camps Can Learn from University Alumni Models
-
March 11, 2026 -The Backward Plan: A Camp Staff Training Roundtable
-
March 11, 2026 -The Kids Are Ready: Using Play as a Tool for Social Change
-
March 11, 2026 -How to Adapt Marketing and Sales Strategies to Attract and Enroll Children from Non-Traditional Camp Families
-
March 11, 2026 -4-H Camp Roundtable
-
March 11, 2026 -EPIC Dining Hall
-
March 11, 2026 -VOCE Roundtable Discussions
-
March 11, 2026 -Parks and Rec Camps Meet and Greet
-
March 11, 2026 -ACA Upstate Gathering
-
March 11, 2026 -ACA Chesapeake Gathering
-
March 11, 2026 -Developing Future Camp Leaders with CIT Programs
-
March 11, 2026 -How to Do What You Said You Would Do: Being Accountable to Yourself and Others, with Less Stress
-
March 11, 2026 -The Perks, Privileges, and Pitfalls of Hiring and Managing Staff Parents
-
March 11, 2026 -A Strengths-Based Approach to Working with Tough Boys
-
March 11, 2026 -Encouraging Intentional Dialogue in an Age of Division
-
March 11, 2026 -The No-Sweat Marketing Plan
-
March 11, 2026 -Building Bus Community: The Human Approach to a Better Transportation Experience
-
March 11, 2026 -Balance Beam Management: A New Approach to Keeping Team and Campers Happy
-
March 11, 2026 -The Complexities of Medication Management: Understanding the Regulations and Responsibilities
-
March 11, 2026 -Introducing Activities with Rhythm, Drumming, and Movement to Your Camp
-
March 11, 2026 -Accounting Strategies to Increase Profits and Reduce Taxes
-
March 11, 2026 -DEI Status Report: A Fishbowl on Inclusion in Camping
-
March 11, 2026 -Intentionally Designed, Large-Scale, Cheap Games
-
March 11, 2026 -Fearless Feedback: Building Confidence in Camp Supervisors
-
March 11, 2026 -Ditching Walkie-Talkies for Discord
-
March 11, 2026 -Creating Calm in Uncertain Times: Supporting Staff, Children, and Families
-
March 11, 2026 -Finish Strong: Inspiring Ideas to Close Your Staff Training
-
March 11, 2026 -Beyond the Sales Pitch: Communicating the True Camp Experience to Today’s Staff
-
March 11, 2026 -Camp Unpeeled: What the Savannah Bananas Can Teach Us About Change
-
March 11, 2026 -A Conversation with Department of State Bridge USA J-1 Program Experts: Best Practices
-
March 11, 2026 -What Lies Beneath: Understanding the Basic Needs of Campers
-
March 11, 2026 -Green Team Building: Fostering Collaboration and Sustainability Through Play
-
March 11, 2026 -Creating Meaningful (and Sustainable) Partnerships with Parents of Campers AND Staff!
-
March 11, 2026 -Indoor Cooperative Games for Inclement Weather
-
March 11, 2026 -Understanding Employment Law
-
March 11, 2026 -World Class Facilitation
-
March 11, 2026 -Addressing Camper Behavior: What Do I See, What Do I Hear, What Do I Do?
-
March 11, 2026 -Disability Inclusion Includes ALL Staff: Strategies for Getting Your Team On Board
-
March 11, 2026 -Lessons Learned from Leading a Camp Startup
-
March 11, 2026 -Team Harmony in the Age of Social Muscle Atrophy: Helping Counselors Connect Beyond the Screens
-
March 11, 2026 -Reimagining Staff Training Week
-
March 11, 2026 -The Business of Camp: Reading Your Financial Story
-
March 11, 2026 -One Plan, Many Scenarios: Tips for Building an All-Hazards Emergency Response Framework for Camps
-
March 11, 2026 -Selling Beyond Summer: How Sales Pro Certification Builds a Year-Round Camp Business
-
March 11, 2026 -Lessons from Two Recent ACA Legends of Camping Award Winners: Recalling the Past, Assessing the Present, and Predicting the Future
-
March 11, 2026 -Insanity or Genius? The Magic of Camper Choice at Day Camp
-
March 11, 2026 -“From Nit to Know-How”—The Science. The Search. The Solution to Calm and Effective Head Lice Management
-
March 11, 2026 -Fostering Camp Culture Through Data-Driven Program Innovation
-
March 11, 2026 -Get Active! Vendor Make-and-Take
-
March 11, 2026 -Preventing Homesickness and Promoting Adjustment
-
March 11, 2026 -Playshop: A Workshop of Play and Community
-
March 11, 2026 -ACA Virginias Gathering
-
March 11, 2026 -Nonprofit Camps Meet and Greet
-
March 11, 2026 -Outdoor Educators Meet and Greet
-
March 11, 2026 -Camps on Campus Gathering
5K Fun Run
Join us for our annual 5k Run/Walk benefitting SCOPE. Walk, run, jog or skip, however you want to finish is up to you, but it is always a great time [...]
Foundations of a Strong Camp Marketing Plan
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 Green Teams Create a Culture of Sustainability
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 [...]
The New Staff Reaction Training: Don’t Miss the Obvious Moment!
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 [...]
How to Convince Your Staff to Put Their Phones Away and Have the Best Summer of Their Lives
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 [...]
Beyond Diversity: Building Brave and Inclusive Camp Spaces for Black and Brown Youth
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 [...]
Exceptional Thinkers, Exceptional Revenue: Inclusive STEM Programming that Grows Enrollment
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 [...]
Dump the Dissing: How to Pulverize Put-Downs and Help People Communicate with Respect and Civility in Conflict
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 [...]
What’s Next? Translating Camp Skills Into Real-World Opportunities
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 [...]
Maintaining a Financially Healthy Camp While Ensuring Your Mission and Goals are Met
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 [...]
Universal Design for Camps: Proactively Adapting Activities to Include ALL Campers
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 [...]
Advocacy 101: How to Be an Effective Local, State, and Federal Advocate for Camps
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, [...]
Smarter Recruiting on a Realistic Camp Budget
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 [...]
Bridging Generations: How Millennials and Gen Z Thrive as Co-Leaders
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 [...]
Ability in Action: Creating Camp Jobs for All
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 [...]
What Would You Do? Responding to Peer-to-Peer Abuse at Camp
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 [...]
Bringing Social Emotional Learning (SEL) to Life at Camp: Lessons from the Field
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 [...]
Community Wellness Initiatives at Summer Camp: Creative Approaches to Support Campers and Staff
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 [...]
SO Fun City: Importance of Improv
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 [...]
Fast and Furious FUN with Your Campers!
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 [...]
Adaptive Recreation: All Ages, All Abilities, One Camp
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 [...]
Camp in the Palm of Your Hand: Building Systems that Keep You One Step Ahead
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? [...]
Mind the Gap: Bridging the Staff Skills/Camper Needs Divide
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 [...]
Creating and Executing Great “Color War” Breakouts for ALL Camps
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 [...]
Make It W.I.S.E.: Crafting That’s More than Just Glitter and Glue
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 [...]
Don’t Pop the Camp Bubble
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 [...]
Started from the Bottom: Building a Camp Career that Lasts
Many people begin their camp journey thinking it's just a summer job, but it can become so much more. In this session, Nelson Strickland explores how to turn seasonal staff [...]
Orientation Overload: Rethinking Timing and Training through Executive Functioning
Orientation sets the tone for the whole summer—but when it's crammed into a few exhausting days, staff forget more than they retain. That's an executive functioning issue: too much information, [...]
Why Families Choose You (and Not the Camp Down the Road)
Families don't just choose a camp, they choose a story they believe in. When every brochure promises fun and friendship, what sets your camp apart is how clearly you communicate [...]
Rearview Mirror: A Look at 2025 Camp Practices, Themes, and Claims
This session will dive into insurance data and themes from 2025, including claims, incidents, and close calls, as well as common risk management questions. Case studies will be shared and [...]
Creating LGBTQ+ Gender Inclusive Out-of-School Programs
Out-of-school programs can lead the way on inclusion by creating spaces where all youth feel seen, safe, and supported. This session offers practical tools to build affirming programs for LGBTQ+ [...]
Just Eat It: Navigating Picky, Restrictive, and Disordered Eating at Camp
Is your camper picky? Does the food just stink? Or is it possible that something more serious is going on? Atypical eating behaviors at camp are often a concern for [...]
Aquatic In-Service Escape Room
Dive into a unique training experience that combines problem-solving with lifesaving skills! The Aquatic In-Service Escape Room Challenge emphasizes teamwork, quick thinking, and critical decision-making as you overcome obstacles and [...]
Best Practices and Bold Opinions: A Director Throwdown
Join Justin Pritikin (Liberty Lake Day Camp, NJ) and Andy Shlensky (North Star Camp for Boys, WI), for an engaging conversation on what's working, and what's changing, in modern camp [...]
Unleash the Power of Play: Designing Summer Camp Experiences that Drive Learning
Get ready to roll up your sleeves and dive into a highly interactive professional development session where fun meets function. Through engaging games and hands-on activities, you'll explore how traditional [...]
Attract, Recruit, and Retain International Staff
Are you looking to step up your camp's international staff recruitment game? Learn from former participants, turned camp directors, who now work with hundreds of camps each year on how [...]
How Creating an Environment of Hospitality Can Shape the Summer Camp Experience
In today's competitive youth development landscape, hospitality is far more than a customer-service buzzword is a powerful strategy that can elevate every aspect of the camp experience. As presenters, Henry [...]
When Parents Push the Limits: Human-Centered Communication and Risk Management in Camp
Parents today are more anxious, vocal, and involved than ever, and camp leaders are often caught in the middle. In this interactive session, an experienced camp director and trauma-informed attorney [...]
The 2026 Camp A.I. Census: How Camp Operations, Marketing, and Programming are Actually Using AI
Every camp leader is being flooded with AI tools promising to "revolutionize" the summer—but how do you tell the difference between a high-value asset and a generic commodity? Drawing on [...]
Tooth Fairy Ethics: When is it OK to Lie to Kids?
It’s ironic—against the backdrop of lofty mission statements and core values like “honesty”—that most adults have no qualms about lying to young children about the Tooth Fairy, the toy store [...]
Programming Share Out
There is a ton of wisdom at this conference, let's take advantage of it! Share your favorite programming ideas and gain some new ones from fellow camp professionals. Topics may [...]
Cracking the Alumni Development Code: What Camps Can Learn from University Alumni Models
Summer camps have deep alumni roots, yet many of us are still guessing at how to build lasting and structured alumni associations. This session explores how camps can apply the [...]
The Backward Plan: A Camp Staff Training Roundtable
Join fellow camp professionals in an interactive roundtable discussion focused on mastering the "backward planning" approach for designing dynamic and effective camp staff training schedules. This session moves beyond a [...]
The Kids Are Ready: Using Play as a Tool for Social Change
In this workshop, participants will explore how play can be used as a powerful tool in youth programs to spark conversations about identity, power, and the wider world, while fostering [...]
How to Adapt Marketing and Sales Strategies to Attract and Enroll Children from Non-Traditional Camp Families
In this Dining Hall, we will lead a conversation focused on how to market and sell camp to “non-traditional” camp families. Non-traditional camp families are made up of families with [...]
4-H Camp Roundtable
Step into a dynamic session designed for 4-H camp professionals! Whether you're a seasoned camp director or new to the team, this round table is your chance to connect with [...]
EPIC Dining Hall
Anyone who identifies as an EPIC (Emerging Professional in Camping) is invited to join this session of networking and casual conversation that is relevant to our community. Bring your challenges, [...]
VOCE Roundtable Discussions
Join Fritz, Dan Zenkel and other VOCEs as we network, grab lunch and take part in small discussions around things that effect us, the Veterans of the Camp Experience. More [...]
Developing Future Camp Leaders with CIT Programs
Finding the staff who want to work with kids and be part of your camp's culture can be challenging. A high-quality CIT or leadership program will cultivate campers into staff. [...]
How to Do What You Said You Would Do: Being Accountable to Yourself and Others, with Less Stress
Wouldn't it be great if we were judged by our intentions instead of our actions or lack of action? Do you struggle to manage your task list, or wish you [...]
The Perks, Privileges, and Pitfalls of Hiring and Managing Staff Parents
Parents of current campers are valuable assets in many camp programs. However, they also come with challenges, including feelings of entitlement, supervising one's peers, discretion, being an ambassador of your [...]
A Strengths-Based Approach to Working with Tough Boys
The 13- and 14-year-old hotshots who are causing headaches for your instructors; the second-year counsellors who are disrupting your staff culture. These aren't just problems to be fixed-they're leadership opportunities [...]
Encouraging Intentional Dialogue in an Age of Division
In an era defined by polarization and fear of saying the wrong thing, camps have a unique opportunity to model what productive disagreement looks like. This session examines how leaning [...]
The No-Sweat Marketing Plan
You already sweat enough at camp, let's not add to it in the off-season! Stop overthinking and start marketing smarter. In this interactive, fast-moving session, you'll learn how to create [...]
Building Bus Community: The Human Approach to a Better Transportation Experience
This presentation will explore how a focus on human connection and community-building can transform the bus experience for day campers. While logistics like efficiency and safety are paramount, we often [...]
Balance Beam Management: A New Approach to Keeping Team and Campers Happy
The ability to manage our team and their ability to do their jobs well is central to creating incredible camp experiences for campers and families. Balance Beam Management is a [...]
The Complexities of Medication Management: Understanding the Regulations and Responsibilities
Medication management continues to be the most litigated activity that happens at camp. Understanding the many steps that medications need to take (intake, screening, securement, dispensing, documentation, error management) is [...]
Introducing Activities with Rhythm, Drumming, and Movement to Your Camp
Get inspired! This hands-on, interactive session will expose you to the possibilities of incorporating rhythm into your offerings and activities in camp. Featuring demonstrations from Adam and his team from [...]
Accounting Strategies to Increase Profits and Reduce Taxes
Running a camp comes with unique financial challenges and opportunities. This session provides camp professionals, owners, and executives with essential accounting insights tailored to the camp industry. Learn how to [...]
DEI Status Report: A Fishbowl on Inclusion in Camping
We've been talking about DEI for years, so where are we now? In this candid, in-the-round conversation, four practitioners drop the script and speak honestly about the state of inclusion [...]
Intentionally Designed, Large-Scale, Cheap Games
This session will bring participants along on a journey that transformed the programming paradigm at YMCA Camp Cory. Budgetary constraints led to the emergence of high-quality all-camp games. And we [...]
Fearless Feedback: Building Confidence in Camp Supervisors
Many seasonal staff can find it uncomfortable or intimidating to give difficult feedback to staff during the summer. In this session, we will explore three different feedback models that will [...]
Ditching Walkie-Talkies for Discord
Crackling static, dead batteries, and endless "can you hear me?" moments sound familiar? In 2024, Camp Jamison, led by Executive Director Jacqueline McDonough, ditched walkie-talkies and switched to Discord. Now, [...]
Creating Calm in Uncertain Times: Supporting Staff, Children, and Families
Camp is often a safe and joyful space where kids and staff can grow, connect, and build lasting memories. Yet times of uncertainty, whether in the world or within the [...]
Finish Strong: Inspiring Ideas to Close Your Staff Training
Whether you are planning staff orientation for a day camp or a resident camp, you always want to end your training strong. How do you close each session, each full [...]
Beyond the Sales Pitch: Communicating the True Camp Experience to Today’s Staff
More staff than ever are arriving at camp feeling misled about what the job truly entails. Some leave early in the season, or never show up at all, because what [...]
Camp Unpeeled: What the Savannah Bananas Can Teach Us About Change
Camp operations often repeat the same routines year after year, even when they no longer reflect how parents and staff want to engage. Like old-school baseball, they can feel rigid [...]
A Conversation with Department of State Bridge USA J-1 Program Experts: Best Practices
Join us for a lively and interactive discussion of ways camps can enhance the Bridge USA J-1 cultural exchange experience for participants and host camps. Share your ideas and ask [...]
What Lies Beneath: Understanding the Basic Needs of Campers
It is widely recognized that there is no such thing as a "bad child," only challenging behaviors that often signal deeper needs, struggles, or unspoken emotions. This workshop will invite [...]
Green Team Building: Fostering Collaboration and Sustainability Through Play
Team building and sustainability go hand-in-hand. This session introduces Green Team Building, an experiential approach that uses hands-on activities to connect collaboration, leadership, and environmental stewardship. Participants will explore how [...]
Creating Meaningful (and Sustainable) Partnerships with Parents of Campers AND Staff!
Parent engagement is evolving rapidly, driven by shifts in technology, communication, mental health awareness, and rising expectations. As we look to the future (which is actually today!), camps must adapt [...]
Indoor Cooperative Games for Inclement Weather
The heat index and thunderstorms are just two severe weather elements that can alter your best outdoor active game plans~~, because it's either too hot to play or it's raining~~. [...]
Understanding Employment Law
This will be a conversational and engaging session about camp employment law and HR issues. As camp operators, we serve as the heads of HR for our organizations. Considering that [...]
World Class Facilitation
In this class, Teambuilding Guru Dr. Jim Cain shares dozens of tips and tools to help you become a better facilitator. Taken from more than 50 years of working and [...]
Addressing Camper Behavior: What Do I See, What Do I Hear, What Do I Do?
Managing camper behavior is a common (and often emotional) challenge for staff; it can make or break the camp experience. Even with training and policies in place, staff may struggle [...]
Disability Inclusion Includes ALL Staff: Strategies for Getting Your Team On Board
Struggling to get your staff on board with inclusion? A key principle for successful disability inclusion is organizational commitment—every position on your camp team should play a role in ensuring [...]
Lessons Learned from Leading a Camp Startup
Learn the triumphs and misadventures of starting and growing a camp... all without the blood, sweat, and tears! This fast-paced session shares practical, battle-tested lessons learned over two summers of [...]
Team Harmony in the Age of Social Muscle Atrophy: Helping Counselors Connect Beyond the Screens
Every year dozens of Counselors from different backgrounds and experiences land in one place with just days to figure out how to work and thrive together. But today’s screen-heavy culture [...]
Reimagining Staff Training Week
From safety protocols to camper care, there is a lot to get through during your staff training week! But this is also your staff members' first experience with your camp, [...]
The Business of Camp: Reading Your Financial Story
We don't have to love the business side of camp to know it matters. This session helps you decode what your financial reports are really saying, and why understanding them [...]
One Plan, Many Scenarios: Tips for Building an All-Hazards Emergency Response Framework for Camps
Emergencies can happen at any time, from severe weather and medical incidents to missing campers or active threats. In all these situations, planning is key, but it can often feel [...]
Selling Beyond Summer: How Sales Pro Certification Builds a Year-Round Camp Business
Stop filling your camp with groups that drain your staff and your budget. Join us for an honest look at how a few smart shifts can help you sell out [...]
Lessons from Two Recent ACA Legends of Camping Award Winners: Recalling the Past, Assessing the Present, and Predicting the Future
Join two of ACA's most recent Legends of Camping Award recipients as they share stories from their journeys, reflect on today's challenges, and inspire us with a vision for the [...]
Insanity or Genius? The Magic of Camper Choice at Day Camp
Discover how you can elevate your day camp culture by allowing campers to self-select their daily activities and how to overcome barriers for implementation. This session will discuss how SummerCollab [...]
“From Nit to Know-How”—The Science. The Search. The Solution to Calm and Effective Head Lice Management
Head lice can feel like a big disruption at camp, but it doesn't have to be. In this workshop, lice professionals Laurene Plourde and Jill Bazos, will share proven strategies [...]
Fostering Camp Culture Through Data-Driven Program Innovation
Creating a safe, transformative camp experience requires more than supervision and policies - it demands intentional design grounded in data and continuous improvement. This session explores how Change Summer uses [...]
Get Active! Vendor Make-and-Take
Join us as we gather to make easy and fun projects that you can take with you when you are done. This is a great session to pick up new [...]
Preventing Homesickness and Promoting Adjustment
Time away from home is always challenging, for campers as well as staff, whether they are new or returning. Why let intense feelings of missing home—which 20% of young people [...]
Playshop: A Workshop of Play and Community
This "Playshop" is an interactive introduction to Playworks’ approach—and you’re part of the fun. In 90 minutes of play and community building, participants will explore: Inclusive games and activities for [...]
Thursday, March 12, 2026
-
March 12, 2026 -Getting Comfortable With Your Budget: A Crash Course in Fiscal Management
-
March 12, 2026 -Where Does the Soup Go? Lessons Learned From an Anxious Kid… Who Grew into a Teen
-
March 12, 2026 -From Hookup Culture to Consent Culture: How to Make the Difficult Transition
-
March 12, 2026 -Creating a Camp Culture People Want To Be A Part Of
-
March 12, 2026 -From Florida Man to The Bear – Lessons Learned in the Kitchen
-
March 12, 2026 -Responding to Racially Charged Language Among Campers using the “Speak Up Superpowers” Framework
-
March 12, 2026 -Painted Projects for All
-
March 12, 2026 -The Power of the Narrative: Using Storytelling to Transform Your Camp
-
March 12, 2026 -The Inside-Out Camp: How to Prioritize Your Staff
-
March 12, 2026 -From Interview to Arrival: Building a Strong Staff Onboarding Experience Before Day One
-
March 12, 2026 -How Artificial Intelligence Will Transform Camp Operations
-
March 12, 2026 -Awesome Activities: Teaching Staff (and Campers!) to Handle Challenges and Make Decisions with Flexibility, Confidence, and Creativity
-
March 12, 2026 -The “Unknown Known” Magic of the Campfire: The Serious Work of Making Fun
-
March 12, 2026 -Health Center Staffing: Diversity in Roles and Needs
-
March 12, 2026 -Helping Camp Parents Thrive: Supporting their Campers, Setting Expectations, and Letting Go
-
March 12, 2026 -CIT Program Development = Strong Future Leadership
-
March 12, 2026 -Growing a Camper and Staff MESH Program – A Case Study
-
March 12, 2026 -We Get to Do This: Increasing Retention through Staff Engagement
-
March 12, 2026 -Authenticity Wins: Actionable Social Media Strategies to Grow Your Camp Community
-
March 12, 2026 -Right Fit, Right Now: Mastering Camp Hiring
-
March 12, 2026 -When People Get Mad: Supporting Big Feelings (Youth & Adults)
-
March 12, 2026 -The Parent Perspective: Understanding Families’ Summer Choices in 2026
-
March 12, 2026 -Nurturing Healthy Competition in a High-Pressure World
-
March 12, 2026 -Responses to Staff Sexual Misconduct: Punitive, Restorative, and Advocacy Approaches
-
March 12, 2026 -From Obstacles to Opportunity: How Great Leaders Turn Setbacks into Strength
-
March 12, 2026 -From Chaos to Culture: Radical Candor and the Rebuild Year Ahead
-
March 12, 2026 -Fuel the Fun: Nut-Aware, Kid-Approved Choices
-
March 12, 2026 -Supporting Younger Kids at Sleepaway Camp: Scaffolds for Success
-
March 12, 2026 -Blurred Lines, Big Responsibilities: Empowering CITs and Under-18 Staff in Child Abuse Prevention
-
March 12, 2026 -Current Challenges and Solutions for Aquatics Directors: A Panel Discussion
-
March 12, 2026 -One Game, Five Ways: Designing Activities with Built-In Progressions
-
March 12, 2026 -From Ally to Co-Conspirator: An Anti-Racism Lab for Camp Leaders
-
March 12, 2026 -What’s Worth Repeating: Building Culture through Program Design
-
March 12, 2026 -Culture of Safety: The Systems that Make Safety Stick
-
March 12, 2026 -Camp Legal Crisis Ready: Risk, Response and Responsibilities
-
March 12, 2026 -From Governance to Growth: Activating Leadership Volunteers and Owners for Success
Getting Comfortable With Your Budget: A Crash Course in Fiscal Management
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 [...]
Where Does the Soup Go? Lessons Learned From an Anxious Kid… Who Grew into a Teen
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 [...]
From Hookup Culture to Consent Culture: How to Make the Difficult Transition
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 [...]
Creating a Camp Culture People Want To Be A Part Of
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, [...]
From Florida Man to The Bear – Lessons Learned in the Kitchen
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 [...]
Responding to Racially Charged Language Among Campers using the “Speak Up Superpowers” Framework
"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 [...]
Painted Projects for All
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 [...]
The Power of the Narrative: Using Storytelling to Transform Your Camp
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 [...]
The Inside-Out Camp: How to Prioritize Your Staff
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 [...]
From Interview to Arrival: Building a Strong Staff Onboarding Experience Before Day One
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 [...]
How Artificial Intelligence Will Transform Camp Operations
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 [...]
Awesome Activities: Teaching Staff (and Campers!) to Handle Challenges and Make Decisions with Flexibility, Confidence, and Creativity
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 [...]
The “Unknown Known” Magic of the Campfire: The Serious Work of Making Fun
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 [...]
Health Center Staffing: Diversity in Roles and Needs
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 [...]
Helping Camp Parents Thrive: Supporting their Campers, Setting Expectations, and Letting Go
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 [...]
CIT Program Development = Strong Future Leadership
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 [...]
Growing a Camper and Staff MESH Program – A Case Study
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 [...]
We Get to Do This: Increasing Retention through Staff Engagement
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 [...]
Authenticity Wins: Actionable Social Media Strategies to Grow Your Camp Community
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, [...]
Right Fit, Right Now: Mastering Camp Hiring
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 [...]
When People Get Mad: Supporting Big Feelings (Youth & Adults)
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 [...]
The Parent Perspective: Understanding Families’ Summer Choices in 2026
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 [...]
Nurturing Healthy Competition in a High-Pressure World
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 [...]
Responses to Staff Sexual Misconduct: Punitive, Restorative, and Advocacy Approaches
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 [...]
From Obstacles to Opportunity: How Great Leaders Turn Setbacks into Strength
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; [...]
From Chaos to Culture: Radical Candor and the Rebuild Year Ahead
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 [...]
Fuel the Fun: Nut-Aware, Kid-Approved Choices
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 [...]
Supporting Younger Kids at Sleepaway Camp: Scaffolds for Success
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 [...]
Blurred Lines, Big Responsibilities: Empowering CITs and Under-18 Staff in Child Abuse Prevention
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 [...]
Current Challenges and Solutions for Aquatics Directors: A Panel Discussion
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 [...]
One Game, Five Ways: Designing Activities with Built-In Progressions
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 [...]
From Ally to Co-Conspirator: An Anti-Racism Lab for Camp Leaders
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 [...]
What’s Worth Repeating: Building Culture through Program Design
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, [...]
Culture of Safety: The Systems that Make Safety Stick
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 [...]
Camp Legal Crisis Ready: Risk, Response and Responsibilities
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 [...]
From Governance to Growth: Activating Leadership Volunteers and Owners for Success
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 [...]
Friday, March 13, 2026
No events on this day.
Saturday, March 14, 2026
No events on this day.
Sunday, March 15, 2026
No events on this day.