Tri-State CAMP Conference:
Pre-Conference Day is Monday, March 10th, 2025
The Tri-State Pre-Conference Day falls on Monday, March 10th, and is intended to have workshops only. This day is designed to give you specialized opportunities to continue your education outside of general conference hours. These workshops are not included in your conference fee unless otherwise stated.
The Tri-State CAMP conference starts on Tuesday, March 11th, 2025.
EPIC Pre-Conference
Information coming soon
Session time: 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Cost: $45 per person
New Director’s Orientation
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: 3/5/25 - virtual pre-requisite (date subject to change): 3:00pm - 5:00pm & in-person, 3/10/2025: 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
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.
Finger on the Pulse: Why (And How!) You Should Be Thinking About Your Staff Culture Now, Before It’s Too Late
in collaboration with ACA Project Real Job
As camp people, we love to talk about our culture. And since most camps generally have the same “stuff,” it’s our traditions, values, and quirks that are often the only things that truly separate one program from another. While we spend a lot of time focusing on our camp culture, are we spending enough time on our organizational culture, as it pertains to our ability to recruit, hire, and retain quality staff?
At the end of the day, camp is a workplace, and within each workplace exists a very delicate and ever-evolving environment, shaped by a shared set of beliefs, behaviors, and best practices. A strong organizational culture can enhance staff engagement, promote collaboration, and drive overall performance, while a negative culture can lead to low morale, high turnover, and reduced capacity. Join ACA’s Project Real Job as we dig deeper into how camps can more effectively craft, communicate, and champion their organizational culture before, during, and after the summer.
In this interactive workshop, attendees will learn more about the changing needs of staff, and will participate in multiple exercises that can help them (re)define their organizational culture, and how they can more effectively share and implement certain practices with their staff, including for Summer 2025! Participants will also have multiple networking opportunities with industry experts and peers, and will walk away with tangible takeaways for this summer and beyond!
Some key topics camp professionals can expect to discuss and learn about during this session:
Changing Staff Demographics & Expectations
De-Escalation Tips, Tricks, & Tools – including at a cultural level
How Camps Can “Operationalize” Their Values – let’s turn camp culture into organizational culture!
Late-Hire Best Practices for Onboarding, Orientation, & Training
Simple Ways to Engage and Evaluate Staff – before, during, and after the summer
Session time: 1:00 pm - 5:15 pm
Cost: $55 per person
BIPOC Pre-Conference Workshop
This pre-conference is for anyone of any racialized experience/of any continuously marginalized culture. Starting with a group activity, Surviving to Thriving, and then breaking into smaller groups covering Being a Staff of Color at a PWI, Advocating for Campers of Color, Organizing and more. This will be a time to connect, network, learn and grow within an affinity space.
Session time: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Cost: $20 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
CampWell x Tri-State 2025
This pre-conference is run by CampWell and is not an ACA, NY & NJ led course. CampWell is a six-hour skills-based, in-person, multi-tiered, training course that guides participants to identify, understand, cultivate, and create a community of well-being. Created in collaboration with the American Camp Association and supported by the H.E. Butt Foundation the CampWell training program aims to help all be well at camp and seeks to create consistent care across the spectrum of all summer learning spaces. As an immersive learning program CampWell is uniquely designed to help leaders shape programs that incorporate the tools, self-awareness, and understanding needed to enhance the experience and safety for all.
Session time: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm - please note this pre-conference runs on Monday 3/10 and Tuesday 3/11.
Cost: $250 per person
Registration: Click here to register directly with CampWell
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
Connect with other camp professionals.
Have a better understanding of ACA Standards and be more prepared for your visit.
Opportunity to see other camps and gain new ideas to improve your program.
Receive a discounted ACA membership.
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