General Session: Opening Playnote
CampJam – Bringing Community Together
led by Faith Evans, PlayFully, Inc.
Experience a community building breakthrough ...a uniquely designed, multi-tasking event, planned with individual AND group learning at the core, within an energized environment of collaboration, competition and FUN!

Participants recognize and celebrate the diversity of strengths, validate talents, try new things and have a blast. Fun and learning flow together toward inquiry, understanding, change, and appreciation of self and others. Laughter is assured, learning is certain!

Which Side Are You On...Left Brain or Right?
Presenter: Faith Evans, PlayFully, Inc.
Tracks: V, GP
Description: Ever wonder why you really connect with some folks and not with others? Open the door to communication and connection through a basic “funderstanding” of the two primary modes of thinking. Take 3 assessments to determine your own “left or right side” inclinations, explore likenesses and differences, and expand your ability to communicate effectively, personally and professionally. Learning is certain, laughter is assured!

Stewards of Children (preventing child sexual abuse)
Presenter: Trey Rust, Darkness To Light
Tracks: V, RM, ST
Description: Recognizing the signs of sexual abuse in children.

Catching People Doing their Best
Presenter: Gwynn Powell
Tracks: V, ST, CA
Description: Setting up staff supervision to allow people to grow is a challenge! Often our policies are designed to keep people from “doing wrong”, rather than encouraging them to “do their best.” Join in this advanced discussion of staff supervision…we’ll pose questions and explore responses together.

Maximizing Resources To Renovate your Camp
Presenter: Michael Silver, The Deering Center
Tracks: F, CA
Description: My experience of founding Christian Family Campground and Retreat Center from an old dilapidated 105 acre and 43 building camp that had been vacant for 10 years. Helping camp directors understand how to maximize every dollar they raise, by buying cheap, getting volunteers, getting companies to donate product, building networks.

Using the Web to Interact with Parents & Campers:
Marketing, Registration and Communication
Presenter: Ed Metzendorf, Bunk1.com
Tracks: CA, M
Description: This session will cover the different ways you can use the web to improve your interactions with parents. Specifically, we will cover ways you can better market your program , improve your registration process, and better communicate with parents (before, during, and after the summer).

Mentor Circles – What Goes Around Comes Around
Presenter: Faith Evans, PlayFully, Inc.
Tracks: V, GP, ST
Description: Experience the process of mentor circles, then create them with your staff. Mentor and be mentored by an expert in the room! Share your wisdom, ask for and receive knowledge in a chosen area for growth, and expand professional connections during the fulfilling experience of a Mentor Circle. Be ready for surprises, good learning, and fun

Cutting Out the Printing?
Marketing 101 1/2, A Not So Introductory Course
Presenter: Kat Shreve, Camp Consultant
Tracks: M, CA
Description: Find your scratching your head when it comes to Marketing? From your website to print material to public appearances- what works? What are the best practices out there? What are the most cutting edge creative things to do to get your camp full? What are you doing to be successful in camper recruitment and the promotion of your site/facility? Let’s exchange this information and capture even more of it during our time together…

Mentoring the YP (young professional)
Presenter: Jill Allison , Girl Scout Council of Northwest Georgia
Tracks: V
Description: Working with YPs; challenges and rewards; building the future of ACA.

10 Ways to Facilitate an Inclusive Camp Experience
Presenter: Teresa Tucker, Clemson University
Tracks: V, SP
Description: This session explores the role of recreation and social activities in facilitating an inclusive camp environment. Based on best inclusive practices in both education and recreation, ten strategies will be presented to assist camp directors, administrators, and staff in creating an environment where all campsers are welcomed and valued. At the end of this session, participants will be able to: (1) identify strategies for building and supporting inclusion, (2) discuss the pivotal role camp directors and staff have in creating inclusive camp environments, and (3) identify the importance of camp activities in promoting a sense of belonging for campers with special needs.

Conservation Easements: Paying Forward
Presenter: Jody Oates, Kaleidoscope Inc., SC United Methodist Camps
Tracks: F, V, G
Description: This workshop will share 3-4 case studies of camp and retreat centers that have entered into varying kinds of conservation easements. Information will be shared so that camp and retreat centers can explore an easement for their property and weigh the advantages and disadvantages.

Round Up
Presenter: Panel Discussion
Tracks: F, G
Description: Join a panel of riding directors and equine program directors from throughout the SE as they discuss today’s horseback riding programs at camps, best practices, challenges, innovative new ideas, and meeting ACA standards for horseback riding.

RESEARCH SESSION:

Creating a survey is so easy,
a monkey could do it!
Presenters: Dr. Erik Rabinowitz and Dr. Eric Frauman
Tracks: CA

Teacher Interest in and Perceptions of Participating in Education Experiences at a Camp During the School Year: An Examination of Elementary Versus Grade 6-12
Presenter: Dr. Eric Frauman, Appalachian State University
Tracks: CA, GP
Description: The overall purpose of this study was to aid Camp Broadstone in better understanding teacher interest and perceptions of coming to Broadstone for education experiences. This paper specifically looks at how elementary education teachers are similar or different from grade 6-12 teachers across a select number of questions from the larger study. The rationale for this dichotomy was that since elementary school teachers are generally responsible for most class subjects they might be more interested in attending and have fewer constraints associated with off campus outdoor and environmental education programs that commonly incorporate one or more subject areas (e.g., creek ecology program could address math, science, and writing).

A Closer Look at On-Campus Outdoor Summer Jobs Fairs
Presenter: Krista Griffin, Appalachian State University
Tracks: CA
Description: In the spring of 2008, student researchers conducted a study regarding Appalachian State University’s annual Outdoor Summer Jobs Fair. The purpose of the study is to collect data on the importance of several controllable fair elements to the overall satisfaction of organizations in attendance with the fair. Researchers were able to do an importance performance analysis by using a pre-fair and post-fair study. The post-fair study also collected data about the current and future use of camp fairs and recruiting staff efforts. The results and conclusions of this study are relevant to the interests of camp or outdoor summer jobs fair hosts, camp recruiters, and camp director

The Big Screen Playing a Big Role in Staff Orientation
Presenter: Kat Shreve, Camp Consultant
Tracks: ST, CA
Description: Why not change the picture of your staff orientation, literally...

Give Me Some Feedback
Presenters: Roundtable
Moderator: Jill Allison, Girl Scout Council of Northwest Georgia
Tracks: V, CA
Description: Embracing evaluation - campers, staff and parents; ideas and best practices; "roundtable"

Getting into the Camp Profession
Presenters: Panel Discussion
Moderator: Gwynn Powell , UGA: Recreation and Leisure Studies
Tracks: EP
Description: You’ve been to camp your whole life, and now you want to grow into a career in youth development. What are the tips, strategies, experiences that help you get that first “real job” in the camp profession. Join us for a moderated panel of people with less than 5 years professional camp experience. Hear their joys and sorrows and share your own.

So You Want to “Go Green?”
Presenters: Eric Robbins, Executive Director & Cynthia Gentry, Special Initiatives, Camp Twin Lakes
Tracks: F, G
Description: Camp Twin Lakes is “going green” and would like to share our journey with others. Many camps are in the same process or are looking to jump in, but are overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. We would like to tell our story and share the “best practices” we are learning along the way. This will help some get started and will give others already on their way some fun ideas for program s, processes, and even buildings. Some of our projects include an organic farm program , LEED certification, and our exciting new universally-accessible treehouse (complete with planted green roof, rain barrels, camper-woven dream-catcher exterior, composting toilet, solar panels, and more!).

We will examine our process and use it to help the audience establish their own plans. We hope every person in attendance will leave with understanding the steps needed to take their own facility “green.” Of course, going green is more than just about the facilities. We will also share some of our program s developed to give the campers a better understanding of the environment and their impact on it.

Establishing a research partnership:
What can research do for me?
Presenter: Panel of Researchers
Tracks: CA
Description: A round table of researchers will discuss how researchers and research can be used to determine, facilitate and improve the current and emerging issues that influence and impact your work. This discussion is being conducted to build relationships among academic and youth-serving organizations with similar interests, responsibilities, and goals around understanding the camp experience and related phenomenon. The primary desired outcome of the presentation is to incorporate discussions that could result in future opportunities for collaboration and intersection across organizations and academic communities.

"Greening" Your Administration: Go Online!
Presenter: Rob Carmichael, CampBrain
Tracks: M, CA, G
Description: Let's see how registration, payment, forms, staff applications, inquiries can all go online.

"How to Do a Sustainability Assessment of your Camp: A Case Study"
Presenter: Ryan T. Lubbers, Master's Degree in Sustainability from Prescott College
Tracks: F, CA, G
Description: Ryan will discuss the results of a comprehensive sustainability assessment at the Green River Preserve. This presentation will provide tools for measuring and integrating the sustainability perspective into any established camp or program .

It's Not Just for Girls: Gender Issues, Males, and Camp
Presenters: Matt Hoisington and PJ Arnold, YMCA Camp Greenville
Tracks: GP
Description: We will cover gender issues for males in society, how camps can help, and how to prepare campers to return back into society.

Bringing Camp to Those Who Can’t Always Make It
Presenter: Michele Rothstein, Camp Sunshine
Tracks: SP
Description: Development of an innovative day camp program on the oncology floor of the hospital.

Staff Prep, be ready on Monday (mmddyyyy), to Rock 'em
Presenter: Coach Robert Strauss, Swim Gym Aquatics, Inc., SG Aquatic Sports Camp
Tracks: ST
Description: Get your staff to "buy into” being the heart of the organization.

Green Staff Recruiting Through Facebook
Presenters: John Paul McNeal and Katy June Abrams, Camp Broadstone
Tracks: CA, M, G
Description: Why pound the pavement when you can point and click? Using Facebook, you can recruit staff without traveling to staff fairs. Facebook's staff recruiting tools are eco-friendly, time-efficient, and broad-reaching.

Preventing Child Abuse: Implementing CDC Recommendations
Presenter: Deborah A Ausburn, Attorney at Law, Flint & Connolly, LLP
Tracks: V, RM, ST
Description: Interactive program to help ACA members implement recommendations into their program s.

What is Your Camp Doing to "Go Green?"
Presenters: Panel Discussion
Tracks: F, CA, G
Description: Panel of camps who have made tremendous strides in "going green" share their experiences and knowledge.

Incorporating STEM into your camp sessions
Presenters: Amy Foster & Rebecca Amy, Girl Scouts West Central FL
Tracks: GP
Description: STEM what? STEM cells? No! STEM is the acronym for (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), and is one of the hottest topics in recent years. This session will cover.. 1. Why STEM curriculum is important for our future generations. 2. Possible funding sources for your program s. 3. How to incorporate STEM into your D and R experiences in fun and engaging ways for youth. You will leave this hands on session with ideas for both high tech and low tech activities (No need for expensive equipment) and tools for weaving EE with STEM for a multi disciplinary approach. If just the thought of Science, Technology, Engineering or Math –scares you no worries. You will take home a newly found confidence no matter where your skill or comfort level begins.

Camps, the Environment, and the Experience of God
Presenter: Jordan Blevins, National Council of Churches, Eco-Justice Program
Tracks: F, D, R, RE, G
Description: Camps have a unique role to play in protecting Creation and maintaining places where people of faith come to experience God.