All Available Sessions

Southeastern Camp Conference

-11/15/2022

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Southeastern Camp Conference

11/15/2022 1:30 AM
Southeastern Camp Conference- All Sessions in Eastern Time
Tuesday, November 15

-11/15/2022

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Tuesday, November 15

11/15/2022 8:00 AM

Pre-Conferenece opportunites will be happening on Monday and Tuesday until 12:00 p.m. If you are intereseted in these opportunites you will need to register ahead of time.Click here to learn more!

Registration

-11/15/2022

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Registration

11/15/2022 1:30 PM

Location: Midway

New Comer's Orientation

-11/15/2022

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New Comer's Orientation

11/15/2022 2:15 PM

Location: Harris

Welcome & Opening Keynote

-11/15/2022

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Welcome & Opening Keynote

11/15/2022 3:00 PM

Materials from Roz & Jed's Keynote Presentation 

To reach out to Roz & Jed directly you can email them: Jed@RozandJed.com, www.rozandjed.com 

 

Roz and Jed Buck will open our conference with an opening keynote titled Love What you Do! Increasing Engagement for You and Your Team

This highly interactive session defines engagement and focuses on three key factors that increase engagement at work. The presentation includes a mix of thought-provoking discussion as well as dynamic activities to empower individuals to increase their own engagement as well as encourage managers to increase the engagement of the teams they lead.

Location: Lakeshore Ballroom

Roz and Jed Buck

This session will be led by our Keynote speakers Roz & Jed Buck. Roz and Jed Buck have done what many married couples consider to be “the impossible”...They have worked together, side by side, for almost 20 years. From 2004 – 2016, they owned and directed Meadowbrook Day Camp, a large private day camp in New Jersey, where they trained a staff of over 400 each summer.

State Meetings

Concurrent Session -11/15/2022

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State Meetings

11/15/2022 4:45 PM

North Carolina: Burnham

South Carolina: Harris

Puerto Rico & Other States: Olmstead

Florida: Lakeview

Georgia: Glenwaters

Social Reception-"Friendsgiving"

-11/15/2022

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Social Reception-"Friendsgiving"

11/15/2022 6:00 PM

Location: Lakeshore Ballroom

Dress in your best blue jeans and flannel and join us for "Friendsgiving." Join us for an evening of games, fellowship and fun!

Not only will be playing games and having a grand time together BUT we are going to be collecting food items and toiletires for the Jamil Niner Student Pantry. This food pantry helps students and staff at University North Carolina- Charlotte. 

Please feel free to bring food items or tolietries to donate. Just a note to not bring expiered goods.

Food Items: dried lentils, dried red lentils, dried and canned chickpeas, dried and canned black beans, peanut butter, jelly, canned tuna, pasta, pasta sauce, chicken broth, vegetable broth, oatmeal, cereal, granola bars, cereal bars, potatoes, onions, crackers, ramen noodles, popcorn.

Toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, body wash, bar soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, period products, deodorant, floss.

Wednesday, November 16

-11/16/2022

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Wednesday, November 16

11/16/2022 8:00 AM
Breakout Session 1

-11/16/2022

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Breakout Session 1

11/16/2022 9:00 AM
Campfire, Marshmallows and Screening of Campers

Concurrent Session -11/16/2022

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Campfire, Marshmallows and Screening of Campers

11/16/2022 9:00 AM

Campfire, Marshmallows and Screening of Campers

Children are most vulnerable to child sexual abuse between the ages of 7 and 13. During this session, we will learn tips and best practices to increase awareness of children who prey on other children. We will learn about children sex offenders and how to screen for those attending your camp.

Location: Olmstead

Jamal Stroud is the Mentor and Outreach Manager for Camp HOPE America. Jamal has received his master's in mental health counseling from Lenoir-Ryne University. He has over a decade of experience working with nonprofits, at-risk youth, children, and adults with disabilities. Jamal is devoted to assisting others on their growth path and creating awareness to improve hope and healing. Jamal was featured on The Ellen DeGeneres show for his endless community service and the advocation for the youth.

Starr Sanders a retired law enforcement officer, is the Director of Protection of Minors on Campus at UNC-CH. She has previous experience as a lead planner for Crime Prevention where she designed courses for law enforcement, school resource officers, parent, educators and faith based communities on how to reduce risk of armed intruders and other crimes in schools, colleges, houses of worship, etc. Starr holds a BS in Criminal Justice from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and a Master of Public Administration degree from Florida International University and a certification in Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design.

Make Every Minute Count

Concurrent Session -11/16/2022

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Make Every Minute Count

11/16/2022 9:00 AM

Make Every Minute Count

How do you make every minute of the camp day a unique and special part of the experience?  How do you mitigate the program consequences of unexpected rain or an absent activity specialist?  How do you empower your staff to turn down-time into fun-time all the time at camp?  Join us to learn/play a creative collection of easy games and activities that you can share with your staff. You will leave this exciting and interactive session with new engaging ideas to add to each counselor’s toolbox as you prepare them to make every minute count for their campers this summer!

Location: Harris

This session will be led by our Keynote speakers Roz & Jed Buck. Roz and Jed Buck have done what many married couples consider to be “the impossible”...They have worked together, side by side, for almost 20 years. From 2004 – 2016, they owned and directed Meadowbrook Day Camp, a large private day camp in New Jersey, where they trained a staff of over 400 each summer.

Mission, Vision, Values: Speaking to You, Speaking Through You

Concurrent Session -11/16/2022

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Mission, Vision, Values: Speaking to You, Speaking Through You

11/16/2022 9:00 AM

Mission, Vision, Values: Speaking to You, Speaking Through You

Often a camp’s mission, vision, and/or values (MV and V) are front and center on a website or signs in the camp office, but the real test to the integrity of these three statements lies in how they are carried out on a day-to-day basis. Using examples, we will explore the meanings of MV and V, how to make them come alive in camp, the importance of ongoing revisions to reflect cultural shifts, and how different stakeholders often impact camp principles. Being clear about expectations that align with the MV and V, reinforcing behaviors that demonstrate the MV and V, and addressing behaviors that
conflict with the MV and V are ways to ensure that these principles not only speak to you, but speak through you as well.

Location: Glenwaters

Kim Aycock, MST, has several decades of experience equipping young people with skills robots are unable to do. While blending the talents of a master teacher with the knowledge of a seasoned camp expert, Kim ignites learning for varying levels of camp pros worldwide through her interactive and innovative presentations. Kim speaks at regional and national conferences, contributes regularly to Camping Magazine and ACA blogs, and serves as co-chair of ACA’s Staff Recruitment and Retention Committee. She can be contacted at kimdaycock@gmail.com.

Deb Jordan: A lifelong educator in formal and informal settings, Deb has been teaching and conducting training workshops for 35+ years. She has made over 150 presentations at the local, state, national, and international levels and she has written leadership and programming textbooks. Much of Deb’s work is related to leadership, group dynamics, DEI, program evaluation, and ethics. Deb is currently chair of the ACA SE LCOL, an active accreditation visitor, and contributor to Camping Magazine.

Position Your Youth Protection Program at the Head of the Pack

Concurrent Session -11/16/2022

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Position Your Youth Protection Program at the Head of the Pack

11/16/2022 9:00 AM

Position Your Youth Protection Program at the Head of the Pack

Comparatively to other functional areas, youth protection is still an emerging field in higher education. Whether you are starting a new youth protection program or striving for growth in an existing program, fostering buy-in and achieving self-advocacy can be difficult to navigate. This session will offer insight on developing buy in and advocating for youth protection priorities, initiatives to address emerging needs, and individuals' professional needs.

Location: Burnham

David Chupak is the Director of Youth Programs: Registration, Safety Assurance, and Education at Michigan State University, a role for which he was appointed in November 2017. In his role, David is responsible for promoting compliance of the youth programs at MSU with the University’s operational requirements for conducting youth programs, training and developing Youth Program directors, and communicating relevant MSU policies, best practices, and tools to MSU Youth Program directors. David earned his B.S.Ed. in Integrated Language Arts from Kent State University and his M.A.Ed. in Student Affairs Administration from at Michigan State University. Currently, David is pursuing his Ph.D. in the Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education program at Michigan State University.

LeeKeshia Williams serves as the Youth Protection Program Director at The University of Texas at Austin. In 2015, LeeKeshia established and presently oversees the Youth Protection Program (YPP), which includes program development, constructing policies and procedures, establishing safeguards, regulations and compliance and the design of a comprehensive website. LeeKeshia is a Harry Potter aficionado and a shoe lover who aspires to have a collection that rivals the late Imelda Marcos.

The Wizarding World of Inclusivity

Concurrent Session -11/16/2022

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The Wizarding World of Inclusivity

11/16/2022 9:00 AM

The Wizarding World of Inclusivity: Uncover the magic of providing campers chance to thrive in a magical environment of diversity.

Pack your bags and wands as we dive into a world of diversity, equity and inclusion. Participants will learn strategies and activities that help build a safe space for all campers to bring their whole magical selves to the table. Free from emotional and social distress leaves room for respect among differences and acceptance among new friends

Location: Lakeview

Tiffany Bryant-Jackson :After performing on a number of local stages', Tiffany Bryant-Jackson adjusted sails and founded Open Cage Productions. With a theatre company that focused on providing culturally diverse theatrical and educational experiences as well as her role in community engagement at a local non-profit , she began to take a closer look at Diversity and Inclusion locally. Within her roles she began to formally and informally study DEI. After aligning her passion and mission, she began to create and facilitate youth and adult DEI programming across the region.

Exhibit Hall!

-11/16/2022

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Exhibit Hall!

11/16/2022 10:15 AM
Located in the University Ballroom 

Located in the University Ballroom 

Breakout Session 2

-11/16/2022

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Breakout Session 2

11/16/2022 10:43 AM
Straight From the Horses Mouth

Concurrent Session -11/16/2022

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Straight from the Horses Mouth

11/16/2022 10:45 AM

Straight From the Horses Mouth

Straight from the Horses' Mouth: Student Panel about Recruiting, Hiring and Supervising US!

Join this student panel to hear from the current college student perspective. Bring your questions (yes, the ones you are afraid to ask your own staff!) and join in the discussion about recruiting, hiring and supervising the current generation of seasonal staff.

Location: Harris

Dr. Gwynn Powell is Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management faculty at Clemson University. Formerly, a camp professional in the USA, now, she loves her time volunteering in youth camps in Greece, Nigeria, Russia, South Africa and Turkey. She served on ACA National Board and Steering Committee for International Camping Fellowship.

Team Building from the Toy Aisle General Session

Concurrent Session -11/16/2022

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Team Building from the Toy Aisle General Session

11/16/2022 10:45 AM

Team Building from the Toy Aisle General Session

It’s time to open Grandma’s game closet and re-see some of the many game classics (and new to you crowd favorites) in a new light. Using design, game-based, and experiential theories, we will deconstruct a wide range of existing mass-market games and re-envision them for use as purposeful and engaging tools for personal and organizational development.  At the end of this session you will feel renewed and learn games to add to your team building toolkit!

Location: Lakeview

Trevor Dunlap is the  Executive Director of Nuhop and Co-Founder of Switchback Designs is passionate about experiential learning and loves fostering creative environments where people can succeed through self-discovery and teamwork. His high energy and zeal creates a contagious atmosphere of transforming fun where people can develop a new appreciation of themselves and their peers. Trevor is the co-author of  Co-Author of:  Team Building from the Toyaisle and Crowdwords: Doing a Lot with a Little, as well as the designer of CrowdCubes, Pathfinder, and Performance Cubed, experiential tools used across the globe.

 

Tik Tok, Ya Don't Stop

Concurrent Session -11/16/2022

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Tik Tok, Ya Don’t Stop

11/16/2022 10:45 AM

Tik Tok, Ya Don’t Stop

TikTok has changed the way we tell our stories and likely how we connect with potential staff. It also might be more important to parents than we’re ready to acknowledge. In this session we will cover the history and ownership of the platform and provide a detailed overview on how to produce TikTok videos that perform. We’ll wrap up the session with a reflection on a few #SummerCamp TikTok videos that found their audience this summer.

Location: Burnham

Kelley Freridge's photo

Kelly Freridge is the chief marketing officer for the American Camp Association (ACA). With more than 10 years of senior leadership roles in the outdoor industry at Eastern Mountain Sports, Patagonia, and Chaco, she brings brand building and consumer and trend insights to her role with the American Camp Association. Kelley points to her childhood experiences growing up at Van Buren Youth Camp as the compass she leverages in every business decision. As a National Outdoor Leadership School graduate, Rockford Public Schools trustee, and mother, Kelley spends a lot of time talking about what it looks like to be a great leader inside and outside the classroom.

Train Your Summer Staff to Greatness using Impactful, Teachable Moments

-11/16/2022

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Train Your Summer Staff to Greatness using Impactful, Teachable Moments

11/16/2022 10:45 AM

Train Your Summer Staff to Greatness using Impactful, Teachable Moments

How do you create the teachable moments that empower your staff to act as positive role models and mentors for your campers?  Experiential learning, combined with meaningful reflection and debriefs, provides the tools you need to effectively communicate to your staff your key training messages that are consistent with your camp’s culture.  We will introduce, play and effectively debrief a variety of activities that will add intentionality to your staff training and bring out the greatness in your staff.  You will leave this session with a collection of exciting and interactive ideas that you can easily incorporate into your upcoming summer’s Staff Orientation.

Location: Glenwaters

This session will be led by our Keynote speakers Roz & Jed Buck. Roz and Jed Buck have done what many married couples consider to be “the impossible”...They have worked together, side by side, for almost 20 years. From 2004 – 2016, they owned and directed Meadowbrook Day Camp, a large private day camp in New Jersey, where they trained a staff of over 400 each summer.

A trauma-informed approach to managing camper (and staff) behavior

Concurrent Session -11/16/2022

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Trauma-Informed Approach To Managing Camper And Staff Behavior

11/16/2022 10:45 AM

A Trauma-Informed Approach to Managing Camper (and staff) Behavior

A trauma-informed approach to managing camper (and staff) behavior.
The emotional and mental health of our campers and staff are finally getting the attention they deserve. Yet as an industry, we have been slow to understand and respond to the impacts of trauma on our campers and staff. Camps need to build programs that emphasize the physical, psychological and emotional safety of those we serve. Unfortunately, few Camps have the resources to implement a trauma-informed system of care. By making simple changes to the way our staff view and react to camper behaviors, we can gain many benefits from trauma-informed programs. In this workshop, you will learn how implementing a trauma-informed approach to behavior management reduces negative behaviors including bullying and homesickness, and increases camper resiliency while improving camper/camper and camper/staff relationships. Trauma-informed approaches to childcare have repeatedly shown to increase staff engagement, job satisfaction, morale and retention while reducing staff burn-out. Additionally, you will have to make fewer calls to parents.

Location: Olmstead

Dave Boyle is currently the Executive Director of a Regional YMCA Day Camp in Tampa, Florida. Like so many people before and since, his career path was shaped by a single summer of camp in 1997. After 25 years, Dave has worked in almost every conceivable camp position from Cabin Counselor to the Executive Director of a YMCA Residential Camp. During a camping sabbatical, Dave worked as a Policy Officer for the Scottish Government where he wrote proposals for the Department of Education’s Youth and Young Families Division. In 2004, he moved to the U.S. to work as a Wilderness Guide and then Chief Administrator of two residential programs for VisionQuest, a national provider serving at-risk and adjudicated youth. Dave is also the Regional Standards co-chair for the American Camping Association’s Southeastern Region.

Luncheon

Meal / Break -11/16/2022

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Luncheon

11/16/2022 12:00 PM
Located in the Lakeshore Ballroom!
Exhibit Hall!

-11/16/2022

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Exhibit Hall!

11/16/2022 1:00 PM
Located in the University Ballroom 

Located in the University Ballroom 

Breakout Session 3

-11/16/2022

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Breakout Session 3

11/16/2022 1:45 PM

Concurrent Session -11/16/2022

You Selected This Session

Campfire, Marshmallows and Screening of Campers

11/16/2022 1:45 PM

Campfire, Marshmallows and Screening of Campers

Children are most vulnerable to child sexual abuse between the ages of 7 and 13. During this session, we will learn tips and best practices to increase awareness of children who prey on other children. We will learn about children sex offenders and how to screen for those attending your camp.

Location: Walden

Jamal Stroud is the Mentor and Outreach Manager for Camp HOPE America. Jamal has received his master's in mental health counseling from Lenoir-Ryne University. He has over a decade of experience working with nonprofits, at-risk youth, children, and adults with disabilities. Jamal is devoted to assisting others on their growth path and creating awareness to improve hope and healing. Jamal was featured on The Ellen DeGeneres show for his endless community service and the advocation for the youth.

Starr Sanders a retired law enforcement officer, is the Director of Protection of Minors on Campus at UNC-CH. She has previous experience as a lead planner for Crime Prevention where she designed courses for law enforcement, school resource officers, parent, educators and faith based communities on how to reduce risk of armed intruders and other crimes in schools, colleges, houses of worship, etc. Starr holds a BS in Criminal Justice from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and a Master of Public Administration degree from Florida International University and a certification in Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design.

Creating a Just Safety Culture in Camps

Concurrent Session -11/16/2022

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Creating a Just Safety Culture in Camps

11/16/2022 1:45 PM

Creating a Just Safety Culture in Camps

Organizational culture in camps is critical to successful outcomes for campers. This workshop will focus on practical ways that camp leadership can create a culture focused on a just culture focused on safety: one in which staff are well-trained and empowered with the discretion to make hard judgment calls and one in which the front line worker is respected and trusted and also expected to push back on leadership regardless of the organizational hierarchy. The presentation will feature data collected across a number of projects implementing safety science in child welfare and will demonstrate how a just "safety" culture affects child protection efforts vs. a "blame" culture.

Location: Olmstead

Debbie Ausburn is a social-worker-turned-lawyer who first started helping her parents run week-long summer came while in high school, and who has volunteered and advised camps for more than 40 years. Since law school, she has served as a foster parent, criminal prosecutor, and litigation attorney. Her experience includes successful cases before the United States Supreme Court in constitutional claims, extensive work in free speech and religious freedom issues, and dozens of successful jury trial. She has volunteered with and defended youth-serving organizations throughout the United States in matters ranging from minor injuries to sexual abuse. She assists with internal investigations and advises clients about child protection policies, staff screening, and best practices for safety policies. She has put the lessons that her foster and stepchildren taught her into her recent book Raising Other People’s Children: What Foster Parenting Taught Me about Bringing Together a Blended Family.

How to Communicate and Say No to Us (Gen Z)

Concurrent Session -11/16/2022

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How to Communicate and Say No to Us (Gen Z):

11/16/2022 1:45 PM

How to Communicate and Say No to Us (Gen Z)

Join a conversation with a panel of undergraduate students to discuss communication strategies and challenges between front-line staff and supervisors. We will start with exploring how to help staff feel seen and heard, progressing to situations where you need to say "no" and then see where the conversation goes. It is sure to be an insightful discussion.

Location: Harris

Gwynn Powell, Ph.D. is a learning experience designer in the Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management at Clemson University. She has three decades of experience with day and resident camp in USA, Russia, Turkey. She is a long-time volunteer with the International Camping Fellowship and ACA.

Introducing New Staff to the Culture & Competencies of Camp

Concurrent Session -11/16/2022

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Introducing New Staff to the Culture & Competencies of Camp

11/16/2022 1:45 PM

Introducing New Staff to the Culture & Competencies of Camp

Coming to camp for the first time is HARD. With camps relying on younger and more new-to-camp staff than ever before, staff are struggling to learn the ins-and-outs of camp, and supervisors are struggling to find the time and best ways to explain the bits and pieces. Walk through tactics camps can use starting during the hiring process to make sure these staff have the understanding, connection, and skills they need for Summer 2023.

Location: Burnham

Allison Krabill :Starting as a YMCA overnight camp director just three days after college graduation, Allison Krabill has made a career growing camps. She began as the camp director at Warner-Tully YMCA Camp, moved to serve as the director of camp and youth programs at Camp Weed & Cerveny Conference Center (Episcopal Diocese of Florida), and eventually made a home at YMCA Camp Immokalee. During her time at YMCA Camp Immokalee, Allison grew the number of unique campers by more than 90%, the budget by more than 100%, and both the number of board members and amount of donations by more than 100%. Allison recently stepped back from full-time camping to focus on her newborn son and now serves as the executive director of The Summer Camp Society, a professional development organization for camp directors.

The Leadership Challenge 500

Concurrent Session -11/16/2022

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The Leadership Challenge 500

11/16/2022 1:45 PM

The Leadership Challenge 500

In the higher education environment, those who specifically work in youth protection, are an "army of one." However, the role and responsibilities of those working in this professional field impact the entire university community - from ancillary services, to those on the front line delivery programs, to senior leadership. This presentation will focus on how to develop leadership influence across the university. As stated by John Maxwell, “Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.” This lecture/interactive session will provide practical advice on how exercise your influence as a subject matter expert and be seen as a leader within your institution - regardless of your position.

Location: Glenwaters

Sandy Weaver is the Director of Youth Program Compliance at Penn State University. Her position is in the Office of Ethics and Compliance, and she is responsible for coordinating compliance with the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law and university policies that impact employees, volunteers, and minors who participate in a variety of university youth programs across the Commonwealth. Sandy earned her B.S. in Secondary Education from Mansfield University of PA and her M.S. in Psychology from Shippensburg University of PA.

David Chupak is the Director of Youth Programs: Registration, Safety Assurance, and Education at Michigan State University, a role for which he was appointed in November 2017. In his role, David is responsible for promoting compliance of the youth programs at MSU with the University’s operational requirements for conducting youth programs, training and developing Youth Program directors, and communicating relevant MSU policies, best practices, and tools to MSU Youth Program directors. David earned his B.S.Ed. in Integrated Language Arts from Kent State University and his M.A.Ed. in Student Affairs Administration from at Michigan State University. Currently, David is pursuing his Ph.D. in the Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education program at Michigan State University.

What You Are Doing Wrong at Staff Training AND How to Fix It

Concurrent Session -11/16/2022

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What You Are Doing Wrong at Staff Training AND How to Fix It

11/16/2022 1:45 PM

What You Are Doing Wrong at Staff Training AND How to Fix It

Ever feel like you find yourself answering questions a week into camp, scratching your head, saying, “I KNOW I said that during staff training?!” During this session, participants learn a simple five step process for creating more effective learning experiences. Ruby also discusses a variety of the most common struggles and pitfalls that camp directors face when delivering pre-camp orientation. Learn best practices and a few easy changes you can make this summer to leave your staff feeling prepared and pumped about their jobs before campers arrive.

Location: Lakeview

Ruby Compton has worked over fifteen years in the outdoor industry in summer camp and environmental education. She focuses on building inclusive work cultures, creating impactful staff training, and developing systems and processes. Ruby presents at conferences around the world and is one of the hosts of the staff training podcast Camp Code.

Exhibit Hall!

-11/16/2022

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Exhibit Hall!

11/16/2022 3:00 PM
Located in the University Ballroom 

Located in the University Ballroom

Breakout Session 4

-11/16/2022

You Selected This Session

Breakout Session 4

11/16/2022 4:00 PM
Deconstructing Your Staffing Structure: Creative Staffing Solutions & Safe Management Practices

Concurrent Session -11/16/2022

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Deconstructing Your Staffing Structure: Creative Staffing Solutions & Safe Management Practices

11/16/2022 4:00 PM

Deconstructing Your Staffing Structure: Creative Staffing Solutions & Safe Management Practices For Integrating Camp Into The ‘Gig Economy’

Summer after summer, finding enough staff to work at camp has become the major challenge for today’s camp professional. More and more young workers are choosing the autonomy and flexibility awarded through the "gig economy." Have you ever wondered if summer camp could be “gigged”? Come prepared to this session with an open mind to help stack the odds in your favor for the future by learning how the “gig economy” can be safely infused into your recruiting and hiring processes.

Location:Burnham

Brandie Le Clair is a Risk Control Specialist at Church Mutual Insurance, S.I. (a stock insurer)1 with the primary focus of providing risk control programs and services designed specifically for the unique needs and risk exposures associated with camps and conference centers. Brandie brings extensive knowledge having over two decades of professional experience in directing both day and resident camp and youth development programs. Serving most recently as Standards Manager supporting the ACA Accreditation program with the American Camp Association, Brandie is passionate about sharing her professional experience to help camps and youth serving organizations elevate their health, safety, and risk management efforts to aide in providing a safer environment for their camp community overall.

Christine Le Clair has spent over 20 years working with various Girl Scout Councils across the country in their camping, property, membership and customer service departments. In these roles she has over-seen full construction projects, managed annual budgets over 5 million dollars, directed year-round programs for girls and adults, recruited 125 seasonal staff, and administered 2 full data base system migrations. Since 2000 she has been an active volunteer with the American Camp Association as a local board member, instructor, standards visitor and chair of various committees. Christine has also held certifications as an American Red Cross (ARC) Instructor in First Aid/CPR and Sailing, ARC Small Craft Safety (boating), ARC Lifeguard, ARC Wilderness First Aid/CPR and a Leave No Trace Instructor.

Staffing. Safety. Society.

Concurrent Session -11/16/2022

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Staffing. Safety. Society.

11/16/2022 4:00 PM

Staffing. Safety. Society

We talk about “safety”, but what does it actually mean in an ever-evolving legal climate? Staffing is a challenge, societal expectations have changed – all of which have a direct impact on the day-to-day operations of camp. How do we simplify risk and safety with so many moving parts? In this session, we’ll talk about incidents and claims from the past few summers and use data to point us towards practical steps you can take at camp to create safer environments for your campers, staff, and parents.

Location: Olmstead

Meredith Stewart is a Consultant with The Redwoods Group where she provides insight, tools, and a collaborative approach to keeping children and families safe. Prior to Redwoods, Meredith worked in Safety and Risk Management for the YMCA, with a specialization in camping and the safety of children. Her 22 years of front line experience in camping and youth-serving organizations have shaped her career into a platform for child advocacy. Sharing her experiences in youth programming, education beyond the classroom, overnight and day camping, aquatics, childhood trauma, abuse prevention, and risk management helps focus and progress her goal to build safer communities for all.

The Kids are Alright: Co-Creating CIT & Teen Programs with Gen Z

Concurrent Session -11/16/2022

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The Kids are Alright: Co-Creating CIT & Teen Programs with Gen Z

11/16/2022 4:00 PM

The Kids are Alright: Co-Creating CIT & Teen Programs with Gen Z

The kids may be different, into Crocs, TikTok and 90s fashion, but they’re alright. CIT and Teen Programs offer an opportunity not just for leadership development, but for a combination program audit, creation space, and think-tank, all run by those who know your program best and are willing to shake things up: the oldest campers/teens. Lean in for a conversation on leadership, disagreements, and teenage dreams as we reimagine and rediscover the future of camp: our Counselor-In-Training programs.

Location:Harris

Katie Thurson (she/her) is a Ph.D. student at Clemson University, studying data science & diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in youth programs. She spends her summers at Camp Zeke, as an Assistant Director, assisting with camper and staff needs throughout the summer, and she is involved in all aspects of camp management. She serves on a number of committees as a camp and DEI consultant, both within the Southeast and nationally.