The ACA, NY & NJ EPIC Committee is excited start Tri-State 2026 off at the Opening Night Social. Come ready to re-connect with friends (or make a new one), grab [...]

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 [...]

In an increasingly polarized world, camp professionals are often challenged to navigate sensitive social, political, and cultural conversations while maintaining an inclusive, mission-aligned environment for staff and campers. This session [...]

Explores 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 [...]

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, [...]

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 [...]

Ninja programs are exploding in popularity, offering campers the ultimate mix of challenge, confidence-building, and fun. This session breaks down how to design and deliver a safe, engaging, and sustainable [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

This session will challenge participants to reimagine what staff evaluations can look like. This generation of staff members is focused on what experiences can do for them. With this in [...]

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, [...]

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, [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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, [...]

Regular check-ins with staff and campers, both at the beginning and end of each day or activity, play a vital role in nurturing a positive group culture. By employing debriefing [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 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 [...]

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 [...]

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 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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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." [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Intentional preparation is crucial for effective group management, and equipping yourself with the right tools can help mitigate common challenges. This session outlines practical techniques for structuring and presenting learning [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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, [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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?

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 [...]

Whether it's in the realm of staffing, equipment, marketing, or mental health, cost-cutting at camp often hurts more than it helps in the long run. Join Dr. G as she [...]

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? [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 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, [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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+ [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

In todays 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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Come join other Day Camp Administrators and Office Managers to network and collaborate on best practices. All topics will be specific to the role of Camp Administrators in the day [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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, [...]

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. [...]

In a world that feels increasingly unsafe to parents, camps feel that lack of trust extending to the camp-parent relationship. More than just helping parents trust that we have their [...]

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 [...]

Too often, day camp directors feel like "second-tier" professionals within their camp or association—overlooked in planning, under-resourced, and undervalued compared to overnight camp peers. Yet, day camps represent the largest [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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, [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Camp staff equate happiness with healthiness and look to their camp leadership to provide both. This session will focus on the needs of staff to protect and strengthen their mental [...]

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~~. [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Managing camper (mis)behavior is a common challenge for staff, and it can make or break the camp experience for everyone. When staff feel unsure or ill-equipped, small issues can escalate [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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, [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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, [...]

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 [...]

"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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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, [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

An effective camp board can be your greatest catalyst for growth—when it's structured, recruited, and activated with intention. In this interactive session, we'll explore proven strategies for building boards that [...]

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 [...]

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; [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

As the complexity of our sometimes topsy-turvy world accelerates, explore how to thoughtfully navigate conversations about politics and religion within camp communities. Together, consider two guiding mindsets that support respectful, [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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, [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]