Additional events and event details will be added as we receive them.
Current as of 9/7/23
4-H Camps Kindred Meeting
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
8:00 am – 12:30 pm
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
Join 4-H camping colleagues from around the country for a morning of learning, fun and sharing to kick off your conference. We are pleased to have Jessica Andrews- Wilson, executive director of GUIDE, inc. speaking on the topic of meeting the needs of today’s youth through the camp experience. Join us as we spend time on this important issue!
Registration Fee: $75.
Preregistration closes January 16.
For more information, contact Shawn Tiede, srt28@cornell.edu.
Accreditation Volunteer Course
Pre-registration is required; space is limited.
Monday, February 5, 2024
12:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
Fee: No cost
ACA’s accreditation program is the only national peer review program of its kind for the camp industry. Being an ACA accreditation volunteer as an associate visitor provides you with the experience to build your network, polish your skills in observation and risk management, and develop mentoring opportunities for both you and the camps you work with. As much as you give to this experience, you’ll gain from new ideas, perspectives, and approaches to the mission-driven work of the camp industry.
Registration Coming Soon!
For more information, contact Teresa Tucker, ttucker@ACAcamps.org.
BIPOC Affinity Group Meetup
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
9:30 – 11:00 am
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
The BIPOC Affinity Group is a safe and inclusive space dedicated to fostering the success and support of Black, Brown, Indigenous, and people of color. This space is designed for those who identify as Black, Brown, Indigenous, people of color. We hope this time serve as a space where people who identify as BIPOC can find support, common ground, and solidarity. Join us as we celebrate our cultures, support each other through our unique experiences, and build community.
For more information, contact Christen Peterson, cpeterson@ACAcamps.org.
Camp Fire National Network Kindred Meeting
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
8:00 am – 12:30 pm
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
Camp Fire affiliates unite! For the first time in a long time, Camp Fire NHQ is hosting a kindred meeting prior to the ACA conference this year in New Orleans. With Camp Fire’s presence increasing at the ACA conference every year, we thought we’d officially make some time and space to be together. Join Camp Fire National staff and leaders from affiliates throughout the Camp Fire network to learn, grow, and most of all have some fun!
Registration Fee: $0
Preregistration closes January 16.
For more information, contact Ben Matthews, ben.matthews@campfire.org, 918-348-1525.
Camp Owners & Directors Association (CODACON) Preconference
February 4-6, 2024
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
CODACON is a conference event run by camp professionals from all over the country. The program will offer camp owners, directors, and other summer camp pros the opportunity to share and exchange ideas with one another, while also learning from experts in the business world and beyond. We hope to see you there!
For more information, contact Cliff Lissner, cliff@chippewaranchcamp.com, 312-593-0246.
Camp Researcher Preconference Workshop
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
The purpose of the pre-conference researcher gathering is to share ideas, build relationships, and find connections and shared interests. Participants should self-identify as a camp researcher and are not required to be a presenter at the 2024 Camp Research Forum. Students, researchers, and faculty at all levels are welcome. In this session, participants will engage in an immersive, collaborative experience that focuses on art-based evaluation methods. Attendees will acquire strategies for planning, implementing, analyzing, and reporting these methodologies in their interactions with children and other stakeholders in camp settings. Guiding this session is Michelle Lawrence Bidwell, MPH, a seasoned professional from Gulf Coast Eval Network, and the founder and CEO of Granted Advisors. Michelle has over a decade of expertise in empathy and equity-focused evaluation.
Registration Fee: $50 ACA members, $75 nonmembers
Preregistration closes January 16.
For more information, contact Ann Gillard, anngillard@gmail.com.
Camps on Campus (COC) Preconference
February 5-6, 2024
Monday, 1:00 pm – 5:30 pm & Tuesday, 8:00 am – 1:00 pm
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
Join fellow higher education and K12 professionals as we come together to learn from each other and discuss issues affecting youth camps and programming on our campuses. Learn more about this group.
Registration Fee: $80 ACA members, $120 nonmembers
Preregistration closes January 16.
For more information, contact Ruthi Hernandez, rhernandez@ACAcamps.org or 765-349-3539.
DECA’s 2024 Diabetes Camping Conference
Sunday and Monday, February 4-5, 2024
8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
Join other leaders for networking and learning opportunities relevant to the administrative/operational aspects of running a thriving diabetes camping organization. Listen to inspiring and knowledgeable speakers. Share ideas, successes and challenges with others also committed to providing quality diabetes camping programs.
Questions? Contact Terry Ackley, terry@diabetescamps.org or 239-984-3554.
Emerging Professionals in Camping (EPIC) Preconference
Tuesday, February 6, 2026
Additional details to come.
Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) Camp Professionals Kindred Gathering
February 5-6, 2024
Monday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm & Tuesday, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
Join us for a gathering of Girl Scout camping professionals for a day and a half of networking, peer to peer learnings, guest presentations, and updates & previews of GSUSA developed camp resources. Registration includes Coffee & Snacks both days, and Lunch on Monday.
Registration Fee: $129
Preregistration closes January 16.
For more information, contact Evan Krueger at ekrueger@girlscouts.org.
International Camping Fellowship (ICF)
There will not be an ICF Camp Tour in 2024, but we plan to coordinate an informal welcome dinner on Monday night (meet in the conference hotel at 6pm to walk to a local restaurant - pay for your own meal). On Tuesday morning, we will host a "Gathering of Internationals and Friends" from 10am-noon in the international room (check conference information for location). We hope you will stop by and visit the international room during the ACA conference!.
The International Camping Fellowship seeks to involve camp and youth development professionals from around the world in conversations. We gather with a heart and desire to create enthusiasm, knowledge, and commitment by empowering each other through the camp and outdoor experience. Visit this hospitality space where we share the dream of a “better world through camping”. Everyone is welcome to come and celebrate catching the vision of our common experiences.
For more information, contact Cheryl Gans, cherylgans@hotmail.com.
Medical and Disability Camp (MDK) Kindred Preconference
Monday, February 5, 2024
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
The 2024 Medical and Disability Camping Kindred will be held on Monday, February 5, bringing together camp professionals to share knowledge, deepen connections, and build the skills of the medical and disability camping community. Whether you have been a part of medical camping for 10 years or 1 day, we invite you to join us as we continue to build the medical and disability camping community.
Registration Fee: $75 ACA members, $95 nonmembers
Preregistration closes January 16.
For more information, contact Gay Bruner, gbruner@ACAcamps.org, or 765-349-3524.
New Director Orientation (NDO) Training
Monday, February 5, 2024
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
The ACA New Director Orientation (NDO) is a course for seasonal or newer camp directors, assistant directors, program directors, and others moving into camp leadership positions. The course includes an overview of all the aspects of the director's job with the primary focus on the summer operation. The NDO course materials have been designed to help newer directors and supervisors develop the skills they need to be effective leaders for their camp program. (Lunch is not included.) Learn more about NDO.
Limited to 40 participants. Registration available on a first come, first served basis.
Registration Fee: $150 ACA members, $200 nonmembers
Preregistration closes January 16.
For more information, contact Erin Flores, eflores@ACAcamps.org, or 765-349-3527.
Not-for-Profit Council (NFP) Breakfast
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
7:00 am - 8:15 am
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
Join others from nonprofit camps for breakfast and conversation. The NFP Council leadership will share recent and upcoming activities. Network with existing and make new friends. Learn about ACA’s ongoing research and how it benefits nonprofit camps. This is a ticketed event. Learn more about ACA's Not-for-Profit Council.
Registration Fee: $45/person
Preregistration closes January 16.
For more information, contact Grechen Throop at gthroop@ACAcamps.org, or 765-349-3517.
Pride at Camp
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
6:45 - 7:45 pm
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
Please join us for the Pride at Camp LGBTQIA+ gathering. This networking event for members of the LGBTQIA+ community happens at the beginning of the conference so participants will make friends that they will see throughout the week. This welcoming and supportive environment creates a safe space to feel community, share resources and expand a professional network.
For more information, contact John Beitner, jbeitner@ACAcamps.org, or 765-349-3525.
Quality Programs Level 1 Training
Monday, February 5, 2024
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
Quality Programs Level I teaches participants what safe and supportive staff practices are, how they can promote social-emotional learning for youth, and how these practices can be incorporated into staff trainings. This training will also prepare participants to effectively use and score the Social Emotional Learning Program Quality Assessment for Camp tool. It is recommended for two individuals from each organization participate in this training. For organizations who have multiple staff complete the training, each additional attendee from your camp may receive a rebate of $50 to go toward another program quality training! There will be a break from 12:00 – 1:00 pm for lunch on your own.
Registration Fee: $100 ACA members, $200 nonmembers
Preregistration closes January 16.
For more information, contact Jessie Dickerson, jdickerson@ACAcamps.org, or 765-349-3516.
Salvation Army Camping and Outdoor Ministries
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
11:30 am
Lunch Offsite
We will gather for lunch to connect, network, and discuss opportunities, innovation, and new horizons dawning in the world of Salvation Army camping. Meet in the conference hotel lobby Tuesday, Feb 6th, at 11:30 am and we will leave from there for lunch.
For more information, contact Ed Covert, ed.covert@usw.salvationarmy.org, or 831-461-2005.
YMCA Kindred Gathering
February 5-6, 2024
Monday, 12:00 am – 5:00 pm & Tuesday, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
Join your Y Camp friends and colleagues for an afternoon and morning of networking, resource sharing, and updates from the Y Camp Cabinet & YUSA. You can meet the new Directors of Strategy and Quality Practices for Overnight Camp, Out of School Time, and Mental Health and hear more about their roles and focus for the coming year. Registration includes coffee and snacks both days.
Registration Fee: $0
Preregistration closes January 16.
For more information, contact Laura Mahan, laura.mahan@YMCA.net, or 312-348-6135.
Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) Training
Monday, February 5, 2024
12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
The Youth Mental Health First Aid Course is designed to teach individuals how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders. The scenarios used throughout the course are camp based.
Please note there are 2 hours of pre-course work required before arrival. The YMHFA instructor will contact all registrants in January 2023 with details on how to access the course work. (Lunch is not included.) Limited to 30 participants. Registration available on a first come, first served basis.
Registration Fee: $100 ACA members, $140 nonmembers
Preregistration closes January 16.
For more information, contact Erin Flores, eflores@ACAcamps.org, or 765-349-3527.
