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Wednesday, November 13th

-11/13/2024

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Wednesday, November 13th

11/13/2024 8:00 AM
Registration & Check-In

-11/13/2024

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Registration & Check-In

11/13/2024 1:00 PM
Please join us in the Atrium for registration & event check-in.
Welcome & Keynote

-11/13/2024

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Welcome & Keynote

11/13/2024 2:30 PM
Opening Keynote: Our Character: When No One Is Looking Chris turned 40 this year, and realized even after all those years of being himself there were still questions that he held that he couldn't answer without deep solitude. So for 10 days in September, he moved into the woods, walked barefoot, reconnected with his country roots, danced alone at sunset, ditched social media, and found out who he was when no one was looking. Chris will share stories of his time away: what he learned about his character and how he wants to really exist in the world.

Chris Rehs-Dupin

Chris is the founder of Transplaining for Camps and has found so much self-healing and joy in working with camps around the country on building belonging into their culture. With a patterned shirt collection bigger than a costume closet, Chris uses humor, storytelling, and a theater background to ignite people into action. Chris meets people where they are and educates with empathy, not shame. He brings seventeen years of combination day/overnight camp experience and a passion for helping others be their best selves and make their biggest impact. Through Transplaining for Camps, Chris has helped hundreds of camps create broader belonging for campers and staff.

C.A.M.P Champs: Team Building for Well-being, Character, and Growth

-11/13/2024

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C.A.M.P Champs: Team Building for Well-being, Character, and Growth

11/13/2024 4:00 PM
Location: Seminar Room Join us for an engaging session on how effective team building can significantly enhance the well-being and character of your camp staff. In this session, Jimmie Rowan, regional manager for Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia at Kidcam Camps, will share insights from over 16 years in the summer camp industry. Learn practical strategies for mentoring your team, fostering a positive camp culture, and achieving high staff retention rates. Whether you're a seasoned camp director or new to the field, this session will provide valuable tools to help your staff thrive. Plus, discover how a touch of fun and creativity can make team building an enjoyable and impactful experience for everyone involved.

Jimmie Rowan

Hey there! I am Jimmie Rowan, the regional manager for Kidcam Camps overseeing Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia. With over 16 years of experience in the summer camp industry, I specialize in helping directors mentor their staff and achieve successful retention rates. Outside of work, I enjoy camping- or glamping, as I prefer a bit more comfort than packing the bare minimum.

Rise to Greatness: Unleashing Camp Staff Potential Through Multimedia Connections

-11/13/2024

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Rise to Greatness: Unleashing Camp Staff Potential Through Multimedia Connections

11/13/2024 4:00 PM
Location: Auditorium Prepare for an unforgettable journey of skill enhancement with 'Rise to Greatness: Unleashing Camp Staff Potential Through Multimedia.' Led by expert facilitators and modern multimedia content, this modern session equips camp leadership staff with essential skills. Topics covered include leadership, communication, hospitality, and innovative programming to enhance your camps staff training. Through captivating videos from "Ted Lasso" and "The Bear" alongside YouTube clips, attendees foster confidence in creating new trainings that can be adapted to any camp and any setting. Join us as we ignite inspiration and empower camp staff to embrace their full leadership potential through multimedia and pop-culture.

Kevin Pettigrew

Kevin has been in the camping industry for over 20 years with stints in YMCA Day Camps and 4-H Overnight Camping. He is passionate about developing leaders, creating staff trainings and inventing new games! He published his first book "Giant Group Games: Activities and Games Groups of 50 -500" just this past year and tries to find the lesson in every failure.

Tanner Cecil

Tanner Cecil is a seasoned camp professional with a passion for outdoor education and youth development. Throughout his career, Tanner has been instrumental in developing and implementing innovative programs that foster creativity, teamwork, and personal growth. His commitment to creating inclusive and welcoming environments has earned him respect and admiration within the camp community. With a deep understanding of both the challenges and joys of camp life, Tanner continues to inspire and empower campers and staff to reach their full potential.

Beyond the Handshake: Intentional Icebreakers

-11/13/2024

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Beyond the Handshake: Intentional Icebreakers

11/13/2024 5:15 PM
Location: Auditorium This is your session if you are looking for new tools to engage your staff during the first week of orientation and beyond. The primary goal of this presentation is to create a positive and inclusive atmosphere at camp. My presentation aims to achieve this through intentional ice breakers and activities that focus on learning names, breaking down initial barriers, and building a foundation for strong relationships throughout the camp sessions.

Dr. Chad Nelson

Dr. Chad Nelson is an Instructional Associate Professor at Texas A&M University in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He has been an instructor at the University since 2015. Dr. Nelson teaches graduate and undergraduate courses that include areas of experience design, youth programming, youth camp management, and leadership.

Demystifying ACA Accreditation: Your Roadmap to Success

-11/13/2024

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Demystifying ACA Accreditation: Your Roadmap to Success

11/13/2024 5:15 PM
Location: Seminar Room The thought of accrediting your camp can be very scary and overwhelming. Where do you even start? We will provide tips, tools and valuable insight into the accreditation process, as well as answer any questions you may have on becoming accredited and help ease the mind that the process is worth the time and effort.

Melissa Conner

Melissa is President and CEO of Kidcam Camps, a leader in day camp operations across the southeast. Kidcam manages all aspects of summer day camp programming & operations with the exception of owned spaces hosting over 30 day camps in 2024 in state & city parks, recreation districts, universities, schools, churches and premier destinations driving a revenue stream, community service, and mission-supporting program into private and public partner facilities to bring the most powerful summer day camp experiences to life for children & their families.

Katie Jenkins-Hall

Dinner

-11/13/2024

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Dinner

11/13/2024 6:30 PM
Campfire Social

-11/13/2024

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Campfire Social

11/13/2024 8:00 PM
Join us for a gourmet s'mores bar social around the campfire.
Thursday, November 14th

-11/14/2024

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Thursday, November 14th

11/14/2024 7:00 AM
Breakfast

-11/14/2024

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Breakfast

11/14/2024 8:00 AM
Keynote

-11/14/2024

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Keynote

11/14/2024 9:00 AM
Location: Auditorium Closing Keynote: Belonging Has To Start With Community Sometimes it feels like the world is just more angry than it used to be- in fact a 2019 poll done by Gallup showed that people worldwide are sadder, angrier and more fearful that ever before. Join Chris in this session where he will breakdown some of the causes for this trend as well as how we can work to change it. Rooted deeply in an understanding that connection is key, Chris will share stories of building community and belonging and challenge each of us to dig deeper and love louder

Chris Rehs-Dupin

Chris is the founder of Transplaining for Camps and has found so much self-healing and joy in working with camps around the country on building belonging into their culture. With a patterned shirt collection bigger than a costume closet, Chris uses humor, storytelling, and a theater background to ignite people into action. Chris meets people where they are and educates with empathy, not shame. He brings seventeen years of combination day/overnight camp experience and a passion for helping others be their best selves and make their biggest impact. Through Transplaining for Camps, Chris has helped hundreds of camps create broader belonging for campers and staff.

 

AMPP'ed on Conflict Resolution

-11/14/2024

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AMPP'ed on Conflict Resolution

11/14/2024 10:15 AM
Location: Seminar Room Join us for AMPP'ed on Conflict Resolution, a session designed to equip Camp Directors with the tools and strategies they need to handle conflicts constructively and confidently. Participants will explore practical techniques for managing challenging situations and enhancing communication skills to foster understanding, cooperation, and resilience. This session will empower directors to create a supportive atmosphere that promotes teamwork, reduces tension, and ensures every camper and staff member feels heard and valued. Get ready to AMPP up your conflict resolution skills and build a stronger, more harmonious camp community!

Kelie Cook

Kelie Cook is the Camp Director at Pine Ridge Day Camp & Equestrian Center, where she brings her extensive experience and passion for getting youth outdoors to the forefront. With a Master's Degree in Camp Administration, Kelie has dedicated over a decade to the camping industry, totaling 15 years of experience working with youth and fostering engaging camp environments. She co-hosts ScampLife: The Other Side podcast, sharing insights and expertise with fellow camp professionals. Known for her dedication to creating impactful camp experiences, Kelie combines her deep knowledge of camp operations and youth development. In her free time, you can catch her reading non-fiction to better expand her knowledge of her work.

Giant Group Games: Activities for Hundreds

-11/14/2024

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Giant Group Games: Activities for Hundreds

11/14/2024 10:15 AM
Location: Auditorium Have hundreds of campers and looking for enhanced activities to keep them engaged? This workshop will present camp-wide activities that have been successfully executed with 300+ youth in Kentucky 4-H Camping! Learn about games such as Jungle Jamboree, Party Bingo, Water Olympics, Mega Relay, Gold Rush, & MORE! Take your camp-wide activities to the next level as we discuss the stages of pre-planning, execution, and clean up! Each workshop attendee will go home with a digital program packet of many of the activities we discuss. Additionally, we’ll take a look at the life skills that are taught from large group, engaging, fun, activities!

Tanner Cecil

Tanner Cecil is a seasoned camp professional with a passion for outdoor education and youth development. Throughout his career, Tanner has been instrumental in developing and implementing innovative programs that foster creativity, teamwork, and personal growth. His commitment to creating inclusive and welcoming environments has earned him respect and admiration within the camp community. With a deep understanding of both the challenges and joys of camp life, Tanner continues to inspire and empower campers and staff to reach their full potential.

Kevin Pettigrew

Kevin started his camping career at the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis before serving as Youth & Family Director for YMCA's in Oklahoma and Kentucky. Kevin's 12 years of day camp program experience eventually led him to residential programs with Kentucky 4-H Camping as Camp Director at J.M. Feltner Memorial 4-H Camp in 2015. Kevin is a published author and enjoys making up new games for campers every summer along with creative and unique staff training experiences annually.

Round Table Discussions

-11/14/2024

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Round Table Discussions

11/14/2024 11:30 AM
Location: Auditorium Join us for a fantastic hour of networking, connection, idea exchange and problem-solving on multiple topics in camping.
Lunch

-11/14/2024

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Lunch

11/14/2024 12:30 PM
Crisis: It Can Really Happen to You

-11/14/2024

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Crisis: It Can Really Happen to You

11/14/2024 1:30 PM
Location: Seminar Room Crisis: It Can Really Happen to You Join us for this dynamic session all about risk management and crisis response. This session will take real life case studies from the ACA Crisis Hotline and think through implications, policies and response.

Tamara Korth

Tamara currently serves as the Central Region Director for ACA. Tamara has worked in youth development and education for more than 3 decades, from teaching high school at the middle and high school levels, directing both day and resident camps, as well as out-of-schooltime programs. 

Mission Possible: Applying the Five Elements of Developmental Relationships in Camp Leadership

-11/14/2024

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Mission Possible: Applying the Five Elements of Developmental Relationships in Camp Leadership

11/14/2024 1:30 PM
Location: Auditorium In this session, camp leaders will learn how to stay mission-focused in their roles, understanding how clear alignment with the camp's mission enhances decision-making and creates a positive camp culture. Participants will develop strategies to express care, challenge growth, and provide support, fostering a more engaged and resilient camp environment. Using The Search Institute’s Five Elements of Developmental Relationships—expressing care, challenging growth, providing support, sharing power, and expanding possibilities—leaders will explore practical ways to apply these principles in team settings through hands-on activities led by the presenter.

Dr. Chad Nelson

Chad Nelson, Ph.D. is an Instructional Associate Professor in the Texas A&M University Department of Agriculture Leadership, Education, and Communications. Dr. Nelson teaches graduate and undergraduate courses that include areas of experience design, youth programming, youth camp management, and leadership. He currently serves as the Camp Director for Camp Millican during his summer months away from the university. This program focuses on inspiring youth to learn, play, and grow in the spirit of healthy adventure and fun in nature.

Closing & Raffle

-11/14/2024

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Closing & Raffle

11/14/2024 2:30 PM
Location: Auditorium Join us for the closing and enter to win a registration to the ACA National Conference in Dallas in February!