2024 Pre-Conference Workshops

EPIC Pre-Conference

Leadership Unleashed: Navigating New Frontiers

The ACA, NY & NJ’s EPIC and The Summer Camp Society are excited to offer this year's EPIC Pre-Conference - a deep dive into fostering genuine professional community, connection, and resources while defining what it takes to be a successful leader. Engage in content-rich presentations, intimate group discussions, and interactive activities designed to strengthen your leadership style and professional network.

Participants will identify their unique leadership style and understand how it influences their decision-making, team dynamics, and overall camp management approach. Together we will develop strategies for effective relationship management, enhancing our ability to communicate with and manage both team members and supervisors effectively. Gain insights into creating a vibrant and inclusive camp culture, learning how to apply leadership to foster a positive, engaging environment for staff and campers. All participants will acquire practical tools for handling real-world scenarios in camp management, including conflict resolution, team motivation, and effective communication, and learn to apply their leadership skills in upward management, enhancing their ability to interact with and influence those in higher-level positions. You will create a personalized action plan, incorporating the day's learnings into a concrete strategy for enhancing your leadership and impact at camp while building a network of peer support and connecting with fellow camp professionals for ongoing collaboration, idea exchange, and mutual encouragement.

Session time: 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Cost: $45 per person

New Director’s Orientation - Registration is now Closed

This 8-hour interactive ACA National course provides an overview of key aspects of the camp director’s job and is intended for seasoned or new camp directors, assistant directors, program directors, or people who have been in other administrative positions and are considering directing camp in the near future. The course will cover many areas with a special focus offered on leadership, risk management, camper behavior, staff training, and staff supervision. Upon completion of this one-day course, the ACA National office will mail you a certificate of completion, suitable for framing. Join Jackie Brethel and several experienced camp directors for this informative course.

Session times:  3/7 - virtual pre-requisite (date subject to change): 3:00pm - 5:00pm & in-person, 3/11/2024: 11:00am - 5:00pm

Cost: $99 per member; $125 per non-member

This year’s workshop will be hybrid - all participants will be required to complete the virtual session/pre-requisite work. This session is mandatory in order to obtain a certificate of completion.

Youth Mental Health First Aid - Registration is now Closed

Youth Mental Health First Aid USA is a public education program that introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds an understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches individuals how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. Mental Health First Aid uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis; select interventions and provide initial help; and connect young people to professional, peer, social, and self-help care.

Session time: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Cost: $35 per person

This year’s workshop will be hybrid - all participants will be required to complete 2 hours of pre-requisite work. This session is mandatory in order to obtain a certificate of completion.

In the real estate arena, a common acronym is “ABC” (always be closing). What if this idea for staff is adapted in the camp world to be “ABR” (always be retaining)?! So often, retention efforts gear up in the fall with a plan to invite return staff back. What if we flip this around and think about retention from the beginning of the staff experience instead of the end? What if we work to start the summer with those already or will be hired and carry this through the season and beyond (and minimize ghosting/quitting)? What if we are already thinking about summer 2025 with regards to staff in 2024? Join us for tips and tricks as we dive into staff retention from a seasonal point of view!

During our time together, we will look at what can be done now with onboarding staff that fosters engagement and commitment to showing up at camp on day one. From there, ideas to help develop a plan for what retention looks like during staff training and throughout the camp season will be shared. Finally, we will look at post-summer retention strategies to kickstart staffing for 2025. 

Throughout the afternoon, there will be an opportunity to collaborate and exchange ongoing retention practices with session attendees. Time will also be dedicated to showcasing ACA Project Real Job resources that are available to help with staff recruiting, hiring, and retention efforts. Leave with renewed energy and an updated staff retention plan that starts NOW with sights set on 2025 and beyond!

Session time: 1:00 pm - 5:15 pm

Cost: $55 per person

Independent School Meet-Up

Join this pre-conference session and meet-up with peers from Independent Schools that operate summer programs. Dan, Cindy and Karen will discuss current trends and challenges in operating programs on school campuses.  We will examine programming, marketing, hiring, and identifying strategic priorities.  Then we will jump into a “Summer Programs “Speed Dating Activity” - like roundtables but on the move!  This is a great chance to meet colleagues from other independent schools and help kick off the conference.  

2:00 - 2:30 PM Welcome, Mingle and Ice Breaker 
2:30 - 3:30 PM Overview of the State of Summer Programs with Cindy, Dan, and Karen
3:30 - 4:30 PM Summer Programs “Speed Dating Activity” - roundtables on the move!
4:30 - 5:00 PM Conference Experience and further networking

Session time: 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Cost: $30 per person

CPR / First Aid Instructor Course presented by Elite Tactical Academy

This pre-conference is run by Elite Tactical Academy and is not an ACA, NY & NJ led course. Join them for the Red Cross CPR / First Aid Instructor Course. For more details and to register click here.
Session time: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Cost: $350 per person

Associate Visitor Course

Becoming an ACA Standards Visitor is one of the best ways to give back to ACA and the camp community! We are offering this course in a 1-day in-person format that can easily be added for free to your Tri-State week.

Top 5 Reasons to Become an ACA Standards Visitor

1. Connect with other camp professionals.

2. Have a better understanding of ACA Standards and be more prepared for your visit.

3. Opportunity to see other camps and gain new ideas to improve your program.

4. Receive a discounted ACA membership.

5. Exchange ideas and tips about programming and operations within the camp community.

In the Associate Visitor Course, participants identify the purpose and structure of ACA's accreditation program and become familiar with the legal implications of visitor actions, as well as develop skills in information gathering, making compliance decisions, and consistently applying the standards in a variety of situations. Attendees must be at least twenty-one years of age, a current ACA member, and have completed an ACA Accreditation Process Workshop.

Session time: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Register Here! - This is free for members.

Make the Most of Your Camp Conference Experience: The "First-Timer's" Orientation

Join us for a brief introduction to Atlantic City and the Tri-State CAMP Conference, where you will discover the “must-attend” events that take place Monday through Wednesday. This multifaceted program will help you determine what goals are most important to you and your camp profession, and then match up the key educational sessions and networking events you can’t miss. You’ll have an opportunity to meet fellow new attendees that you can look forward to seeing around the conference. Feel free to stop by one of the two sessions to meet ACA staff and learn all of the need-to-know information.

Session time: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Registration: No pre-registration required