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Sponsor Gallery

-11/28/2023

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Sponsor Gallery

11/28/2023 1:00 PM
Cascadia Camp Conference - Tuesday

-11/28/2023

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Cascadia Camp Conference-Tuesday

11/28/2023 1:59 PM
Registration & Check-in

-11/28/2023

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Registration & Check-in

11/28/2023 2:00 PM

Location--Wright Hall

Welcome and Opening Keynote--Summer Camps as a Catalyst for Change

General Session -11/28/2023

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Welcome and Opening Keynote Summer Camps as a Catalyst for Change

11/28/2023 3:15 PM
In this keynote session, we will take a deep dive into the state of the world around us and the role of camps in this changing world. This keynote will provide valuable insights into the profound impact of summer camps as a catalyst for change. In a world marked by constant evolution, the impact of summer camps reaches far beyond the traditional notions of outdoor adventures and camaraderie and over the years have emerged as dynamic platforms that foster social awareness, inclusivity, and the development of changemakers. Summer camps can answer the call to action. But it starts with us, the camp leaders. We must first understand our role and our power and what that means in regards to the environment and culture we create at our camps and the impact on the larger world. We will explore how we as leaders have the power to create camps that can go beyond traditional programming and cultivate advocates for change and play a pivotal role in nurturing a generation that is committed to making the world a better place for all.

Simone Gamble, Community Organizer and Independent Consultant

Simone Gamble

Simone Gamble is a community organizer and consultant. They have been in the camping world since 10.  At 18, they were hired as a counselor at a camp in upstate New York where they spent over 10 years of their career ranging in roles from counselor to Assistant Camp Director.  Lastly they are the founder of OAAARS - a community of consultants of color that offer social justice centered training to create saf(er) & inclusive workplaces.

Location--Wright Hall

Networking

Networking -11/28/2023

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Networking

11/28/2023 4:45 PM

Location--Wright Hall

Dinner

Meal / Break -11/28/2023

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Dinner

11/28/2023 6:00 PM
Cascadia Camp Conference - Wednesday

-11/29/2023

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Cascadia Camp Conference - Wednesday

11/29/2023 7:59 AM
Breakfast

Meal / Break -11/29/2023

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Breakfast

11/29/2023 8:00 AM
Educational Session 1

-11/29/2023

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Educational Session 1

11/29/2023 8:59 AM
Coaching Staff for Success: Using positive coaching techniques to increase staff engagement

Concurrent Session -11/29/2023

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Coaching Staff for Success: Using positive coaching techniques to increase staff engagement

11/29/2023 9:00 AM
Do you want a more passionate and motivated staff this summer? Research-based coaching techniques can intrinsically motivate your staff to show more effort and initiative at camp. I will teach you how I develop relationships with staff, provide feedback, and prompt reflection to build a positive work environment where staff don’t just work, they thrive.

Catherine Comings, Girls Rock Math

Catherine Comings

I have been with Girls Rock Math since 2015 just after graduating with my BA in Elementary Education. I'm also about to graduate with a Masters degree in Education with a focus in Curriculum and Instruction. For 7 years, I was an elementary classroom teacher as well as working for GRM during the summers. In the Spring of 2022, I transitioned to being full-time, year-round at Girls Rock Math and left the classroom. Currently my role at GRM as the Director of Learning involves recruiting and onboarding teen volunteers, designing curriculum, developing and implementing staff development and training, and supervising and coaching staff during the summer. 

Location--Creevey

Creating a Sense of Place for Campers

Concurrent Session -11/29/2023

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Creating a Sense of Place for Campers

11/29/2023 9:00 AM
Campers create connection with camp -- their counselors, the traditions, and new friends -- this is an indisputable part of the camp experience. But do they connect with the nature and the land that they are on? Because camp is such a powerful place, do we work to create this connection to the land and communities for our campers or just let camp take over the whole experience?

Ashley Lookenhouse, Mt. Adams Institute

Ashley Lookenhouse

Originally from rural northwestern Pennsylvania, Ashley now lives in the Portland, Oregon metro with her husband and two dogs. Ashley graduated from Gettysburg College with a degree in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Political Science. She served a year with AmeriCorps, working on community environmental education and engagement in northeast Iowa, before continuing her education by earning a Masters in Student Affairs Administration from Lewis & Clark College. Ashley has served as Director and Assistant Director of two different Girl Scout summer camps and currently serves as the Summer Camp Manager at Mount Adams Institute in Trout Lake, Washington.

Location--Ballard

How Innovative Partnerships Provide Multiple Benefits for our Camps

Concurrent Session -11/29/2023

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How Innovative Partnerships Provide Multiple Benefits for our Camps

11/29/2023 9:00 AM
Join Brian and Burt to hear about leveraging partnerships with schools and volunteer organizations to accomplish facilities and maintenance projects while offering learning opportunities for students and young adults interested in building/construction and conservation. We will discuss our work with Sabin-Schellenberg Professional Technical School and Career Tech High School's innovative high school programs and our shared partnership with AmeriCorps NCCC.

Brian Klippert, Westwind and Burt Keplinger, Camp Namanu

Burt Keplinger is the Director of Property at Campfire Columbia/Camp Namanu. He has been with Camp Namanu since 2021. Part of his position includes managing volunteers and groups, such as Americorps NCCC program participants.

Brian Klippert is the Site Manager at Camp Westwind. He has been with them since 2021. Brian has been working with a couple of vocational high school programs to offer practical experience as part of their education, in addition to managing various volunteer groups.

Location--Greenhouse

So you want to be an Executive Director?

Concurrent Session -11/29/2023

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So you want to be an Executive Director?

11/29/2023 9:00 AM
Join a panel of executive directors in all different types of camps for a fantastic session about 1) What kinds of skills need to be developed to be a viable executive director candidate 2) What kinds of questions do you need to ask in your interview to make sure you are well informed about the position and 3) What to expect in the day to day demands of an ED from different types of organizations.

Raina Baker—Camp Beausite Northwest, Janette Kunkel—Namanu, and Allison Morbacher—Camp Gallagher

Location--Wright Hall

Educational Session 2

-11/29/2023

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Educational Session 2

11/29/2023 10:14 AM
Inclusion and Accessibility Through Community Partnerships

Concurrent Session -11/29/2023

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Inclusion and Accessibility Through Community Partnerships

11/29/2023 10:15 AM
Community partnerships can be a powerful way to enrich, diversify, and broaden the camp experience. Building those relationships and supporting them through the entire camp season also takes work, time, feedback, and often learning from mistakes. Westwind began investing in partnerships over a decade ago and has finally begun to understand how delicate, meaningful, and empowering this process can be. Learn how to find community partnerships that connect to your camp's mission, invest in their journey, and include them in your camp's experience through a culturally responsive lens. We will also discuss financial impacts, registration hacks, and suggestions on creating an inclusive camp experience for specific needs.

Laura Chase, Reishelle Hoeschen, Sarah Keplinger, and Izzy Quattrucci, Camp Westwind

Laura Chase joined the Westwind team as the Program Director in 2019 after a decade spent guiding, leading programs abroad, and working as an experiential educator for various organizations in the Pacific Northwest.

Sarah Keplinger has worked as Westwind's Business Director for 13 years and enjoys supporting Westwind's growth through partnership and program development.

Izzy Quattrucci supports Westwind as the Volunteer and Program Coordinator, providing care and enthusiasm in connection with Westwind's widespread community of volunteers and partner

Location--Creevey

Music in your Camp Program

Concurrent Session -11/29/2023

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Music in your Camp Program

11/29/2023 10:15 AM
Music is a cheat code in camping. You can turn the energy up and get every camper excited and joyful together or you can turn it down and create meaningful and sentimental moments. Music also builds tradition and cultivates positive moral values. In this session we will discuss the role music can play in your program. We will see a few performances and Lincoln will share sheet music for the songs he has cultivated and brought to his program. More than anything else music is a way to teach the idea that vulnerability and confidence can co-exist and make that a cornerstone of your campers’ experience at your camp.

Lincoln McLain, YMCA Camp Horsethief Reservoir

Lincoln McLain is the Associate Executive Director at YMCA Camp at Horsethief Reservoir. He has been a director in YMCA Camps for 17 years at 5 YMCA Camps across the country.  Lincoln Is passionate about including everyone and creating a safe summer camp experience where build memories they will cherish for the rest of their lives. 

Location--Ballard

 

Summer Camps as a Catalyst for Change-Strategies you Can Use

Concurrent Session -11/29/2023

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Summer Camps as a Catalyst for Change-Strategies you Can Use

11/29/2023 10:15 AM
In this breakout session, we will explore the strategies to prepare our camps to be catalysts of change in our respective spheres of influence. We will explore with other camp leaders how we can work as both individuals and a collective to cultivate the transformation we want to see. We need all of us!

Simone Gamble, Community Organizer and Independent Consultant

Simone Gamble

Simone Gamble is a community organizer and consultant. They have been in the camping world since 10.  At 18, they were hired as a counselor at a camp in upstate New York where they spent over 10 years of their career ranging in roles from counselor to Assistant Camp Director.  Lastly they are the founder of OAAARS - a community of consultants of color that offer social justice centered training to create saf(er) & inclusive workplaces.

Location--Wright Hall

Lunch

Meal / Break -11/29/2023

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Lunch

11/29/2023 12:00 PM
After lunch walk, informal conversations, free time

-11/29/2023

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After lunch walk, informal conversations, free time

11/29/2023 1:45 PM
Educational Session 3

-11/29/2023

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Educational Session 3

11/29/2023 2:44 PM
Grant Writing 101

Concurrent Session -11/29/2023

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Grant Writing 101

11/29/2023 2:45 PM
Trying to figure out where to start to learn to write grants? Grant writing is a skill that will serve you in all things in your future in the non-profit world. Grant writing can feel scary - so let’s start with the basics on what to expect, some key terminology, how to find the grants, then what to do with them once you have found a grant. This isn’t nearly as hard as you might think. Come join me for your first dive into the world of grant writing.

Raina Baker, Camp Beausite Northwest

Raina Baker is the executive director for Camp Beausite Northwest, a special needs overnight camp in Washington State. With over thirty years experience in the industry, she has worked in traditional and specialty camps, agency & independent camp, for profit and non-profit, and spent five years working for ACA. A life long member of CHA as a master instructor and certifier, a masters degree in Organizational Leadership, and is totally passionate about Corgi’s.

Location--Creevey

 

How to Set and Reach Ambitious Goals

Concurrent Session -11/29/2023

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How to Set and Reach Ambitious Goals

11/29/2023 2:45 PM
Join Meira Spivak as she introduces you to the OKR management system used by Google, Target and Netflix. You will learn the importance of setting one exciting goal and the steps you need to take to reach it!

Meira Spivak, Camp Kesher/Results Driven Innovation

Meira Spivak is the director of Oregon NCSY, where over the past 17 years she has been developing educational programming for teens and parents. Meira helps organizations solve strategic problems through her Results Driven Innovation workshops. Using the Systematic Inventive Thinking (SIT) method of creativity, Meira can teach anyone how to innovate on demand - after all, creativity is a skill that can be learned. As a mother of a large family, Meira understands the stresses of everyday life and when she's not busy stressing from them, she's laughing at them.

Location--Ballard

 

Intersectional Justice at Camp

Concurrent Session -11/29/2023

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Intersectional Justice at Camp

11/29/2023 2:45 PM
This conversation, featuring Simone Gamble (they/them), Chris Rehs-Dupin (he/him), and hosted by Leilani Nussman (she/her), will explore how supporting folks of all marginalized identities must come from an intersectional understanding of justice and belonging. Panelists will explore what they are seeing in camps that are doing justice work well, and what they have learned as thematic areas of growth for the camping industry.

Simone Gamble (Community Organizer and Independent Consultant), Chris Rehs-Dupin (TQAMP (formerly Transplaining for Camps), Leilani Nussman (The Northwest School)

Simone Gamble

Simone is a community organizer and consultant. They have been in the camping world since 10.  At 18, they were hired as a counselor at a camp in upstate New York where they spent over 10 years of their career ranging in roles from counselor to Assistant Camp Director.  Lastly they are the founder of OAAARS - a community of consultants of color that offer social justice centered training to create saf(er) & inclusive workplaces.

Chris Rehs-Dupin

Chris is the Founder of TQAMP (formerly 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 & make their biggest impact. Through Transplaining for Camps, Chris has helped hundreds of camps create broader belonging for campers and staff.

Leilani Nussman

Leilani Nussman (she/her) is the Summer Camp Director at The Northwest School in Seattle, on Duwamish Land. She is proud of her Kanaka Maoli (Hawai’i) heritage, and acknowledges that she benefits from white privilege culture. The Northwest School is founded on the principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Leilani works hard every day to make sure that shows up, while knowing that she still makes mistakes. She hopes that someday, summer camps truly will be inclusive of ALL people. 

Location--Wright Hall

 

Educational Session 4

-11/29/2023

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Educational Session 4

11/29/2023 3:59 PM
Camp is for Everyone: Creating Access and Acceptance for All

Concurrent Session -11/29/2023

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Camp is for Everyone: Creating Access and Acceptance for All

11/29/2023 4:00 PM
Join Courtney as she highlights the importance of inclusion and access to the outdoors as a human necessity no matter how you experience the world. In this session, Courtney will discuss how to view your camp through an “accessibility for all” lens, how you can implement small changes to make your camp more inclusive, and how in making camp accessible for one marginalized group can create access and acceptance for all.

Courtney Wiley, Inclusion Specialist/ Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp Alumni

Courtney Wiley

An Alaska girl at heart, Courtney is an inclusion specialist for a school district outside of Seattle and specializes in working with children and adults with disabilities across all settings. When she is not preaching the gospel of inclusion, Courtney can be found attempting to kayak, karaoking in local dive bars and traveling around the PNW with her road dog Sulley. 

Location--Creevey

Foundations for Trans* Inclusion for Executive Leadership

Concurrent Session -11/29/2023

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Foundations for Trans* Inclusion for Executive Leadership

11/29/2023 4:00 PM
This session is a great starting point for executive leaders who are exploring engaging in trans* inclusive practices. Join Chris as he defines terms, the “why” for inclusive practices, and dispels many myths that keep organizations from doing this work. The session will include how to talk to your board and stakeholders, as well as practical first steps to take.

Chris Rehs-Dupin, TQAMP (formerly Transplaining for Camps)

Chris Rehs-Dupin

Chris is the Founder of TQAMP (formerly 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 & make their biggest impact. Through Transplaining for Camps, Chris has helped hundreds of camps create broader belonging for campers and staff.

Location--Wright Hall

Training Success in the Virtual Space Using Google Classroom

Concurrent Session -11/29/2023

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Training Success in the Virtual Space Using Google Classroom

11/29/2023 4:00 PM
Three years ago a colleague talked about using google classroom as a part of training as a “fever dream,” also known as a goal that kept being pushed too, “next summer.” Today, it’s a key component to our summer success. By building an online classroom we are able to provide a quality training that our staff and volunteers can do on their own time before arriving at camp. With our best practices in mind, we are able to ensure that, even in a virtual space, training and development can be effective for volunteers of all ages.

Corey Gerberdolan, Camp Fire Seattle

I’m Corey Gerberdolan, aka Treetop, and I’ve worked year-round in the summer camp industry for 6 years. With my undergraduate degree in Outdoor Recreation and my master’s in Business Administration, I am currently the Day Camp Director for Camp Fire Central Puget Sound, managing and operating 3+ day camps in the Seattle-area. While I’m not enjoying camp I’m an avid disc golfer and friendship bracelet pro.

Location--Ballard

Dinner

Meal / Break -11/29/2023

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Dinner

11/29/2023 6:00 PM
Cascadia Camp Conference - Thursday

-11/30/2023

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Cascadia Camp Conference - Thursday

11/30/2023 7:59 AM
Breakfast and Check-out

Meal / Break -11/30/2023

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Breakfast and Check-out

11/30/2023 8:00 AM
Educational Session 5

-11/30/2023

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Educational Session 5

11/30/2023 8:44 AM
Don’t Sleep Naked During Tornado (or Camp) Season

Concurrent Session -11/30/2023

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Don’t Sleep Naked During Tornado (or Camp) Season

11/30/2023 8:45 AM
Camp is a unique job and there are a lot of things camp leadership staff end up learning through experience. This session aims to shine light on some of the hidden things nobody really tells you about leading camp. Learn tips, tricks and advice curated from seasoned camp pros to make your life a little easier.

PJ Sweeney, Camp River Ranch

PJ Sweeney

Katie “PJ” Sweeney loves to tell everyone how going to camp changed her entire world as a kid! She has spent the last decade growing Girl Scouts of courage, confidence and character through nature and the outdoors. She is currently the Director of Camp River Ranch with the Girl Scouts of Western Washington. She holds a B.A. in Journalism from Baylor University with a minor in social work. Before becoming a full-time camp professional, she worked for several years in the public relations/communications field, her favorite PR job being for SeaWorld San Antonio.

Location--Creevey

From Start to Finish: Supporting Seasonal Staff With Intention and Empowerment

Concurrent Session -11/30/2023

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From Start to Finish: Supporting Seasonal Staff With Intention and Empowerment

11/30/2023 8:45 AM
Many programs employ youth and young adults to support seasonal education programs such as camps, after-school, preschools, field trips, museum tours, or whole-family weekend experiences. Unfortunately, many organizations do not have the capacity to appropriately support these vital staff members in their development as confident, well-equipped leaders. In addition, the training, ongoing support, and evaluation strategies used by many organizations are lacking a cultural lens, marginalizing staff of color and often leading to bad experiences and poor retention. This presentation will examine ELSO, Inc.’s approach to training our seasonal staff, called Camp Guides, using a culturally responsive empowerment lens, incorporating the perspectives of Youth of Color to describe proven practices to advance equity and inclusion and build cultural competence into seasonal staff training and support.

Jamie Newsome and Walter Topete, ELSO Inc.

Jamie Newsome

Jamie Newsome is ELSO’s Wayfinders Program Director, and was born and raised in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. After graduating from Lee’s Summit West High-School, she attended Indiana State University where she majored in Human and Environmental Systems. While attending Indiana State, she was involved in Black Student Union and was a member of the Indiana State Track team. After graduating from Indiana State, she received an internship with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as a Park Ranger at Loon Lake in Oregon. Once the internship ended, Ms. Newsome relocated to Eugene where she worked as a brand ambassador for a local company. While working, she found time to volunteer as a garden educator for elementary school youth. Ms. Newsome is currently the Co Chair for the Long Tom Watershed Council. Ms. Newsome also sits on the board of directors for Friends of Tryon Creek. In her spare time, Ms. Newsome enjoys coaching track and field/ cross country for 1st - 8th graders at Runner2Runner. Newsome has worked for ELSO Inc. for 3 years and is committed to providing STEAM learning to Black and Brown youth.

Walter Topete is ELSO’s Program Assistant with the Wayfinder’s Program. Walter was born in Mexico and has had the opportunity to work a variety of outdoor jobs across the United States. From native honey bee research in the Hawaiian islands to removal of non-native plants the American Southwest, Walter learned intimately the delicate balance at play in our natural spaces. From here, he hoped to impart this sense of wonder onto the next generation, working as a field educator for Teton Science School and then as a senior instructor in wilderness therapy. Walter currently finds himself at ELSO, Inc, where he hopes to support the intentional growth and development of programming he believes in. Walter is looking forward to creating inside jokes with the Wayfinders students and hopefully connecting with their parents on sunny hikes. Walter does this work because he believes in the power of planting trees knowing he'll never sit in their shade.

Location--Wright Hall