ACA, Great Rivers Fall Conference

Date

November 15-16, 2023

Location

Carol Joy Holling Conference & Retreat Center
Ashland, NE 68003
Great Rivers Fall Conference Logo

Cost

See pricing details below.

CECs

7.50

Please join us for the Great Rivers Fall Conference! A variety of educational sessions and networking opportunities will be featured. Enjoy a time of inspiration, first-rate professional development, and fun at Carol Joy Holling in Ashland, NE. 

Call for Presenters

The professional development committee is now accepting proposals for educational sessions for the Great Rivers Fall Conference.  Submit your Great Rivers Fall Conference proposal

The program planning committee is seeking proposals for speakers and sessions on the following (but not limited to) topics:

  • Day Camp Best Practices
  • Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI)
  • Innovative Programming
  • Facility Management
  • Food Service
  • Staff Recruitment / Staff Retention / Staff Training
  • Traditions at Camp

Lectures, hands on presentations, and panel discussions are welcome. The deadline to submit proposals to be considered is September 1, 2023. 

Safe and Healthy Meetings 
ACA is committed to providing opportunities to engage in the safest and most enjoyable in-person experience possible. Learn more.

Early Bird registration is available through October 18, 2023.

  • Registration includes conference program, Wednesday night double lodging and meals (Wednesday lunch and dinner, Thursday breakfast and lunch). 
  • Commuter registration is available for those staying offsite and includes conference program, Wednesday lunch and dinner and Thursday lunch. 

Registration information coming soon!

Type Early-Bird Regular
Member $200 $280
Non-Member $280 $360
Additional person from same organization - Member

$175

$200

 

Additional person from same organization - Non-Member $235 $285
Retiree / Student / Speaker $155 $180
Commuter - Member

$125

$150

Commuter - Non-Member $150 $175

 

Trevor Dunlap Profile Pic

Trevor Dunlap

Trevor, 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 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.

Trevor and his wife Sarah enjoy taking their three children on adventures, and can often be found trail running/hiking, skiing, and working the soil in their family garden.

Opening Playnote

Let's put an exclamation point on the 2023 Great Rivers Fall Conference. During this keynote, we will revisit a time where screens didn't obscure our vision; where human interaction wasn't mediated through posts and qualified by "likes"; where we sat eye-to-eye, connected over the simplest of tools; where friends were made by simply asking, "Want to play?" Join us as we tap into our intra-kindergartener-consciousness and explore the renewed promise of the first teambuilding activity we ever knew - the power of Play! During this Playnote we will unpack how we can flip our perspective and build upon our conference connections to create lasting networks through purposeful play! Participants will walk away feeling renewed, excited to engage and equipped with interactive activities they can use right away!

 

Tuesday, November 14

  • 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Pre-Conference Workshop - Behavior Management Strategies for Camp with Trevor Dunlap
  • 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Dinner for Pre-Conference Attendees and Early Arrivals

Wednesday, November 15

  • 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Early Bird Breakfast for November 14 arrivals
  • 8:30 a.m. - 9:25 a.m. Registration
  • 9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. Opening Playnote with Trevor Dunlap
  • 10:55 a.m. - 11:55 a.m. Educational Breakout Session #1
  • 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. Lunch
  • 12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. Hot Topic Roundtables
  • 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Educational Breakout Session #2
  • 3:10 p.m. - 4:10 p.m. Educational Breakout Session #3
  • 4:20 p.m. - 5:20 p.m. Educational Breakout Session #4
  • 5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. LCOL Update & Awards
  • 6:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. Dinner
  • 7:30 p.m. Evening Social

Thursday, November 16

  • 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Breakfast
  • 8:30 a.m. - 9:20 a.m. Hot Topic Roundtables 
  • 9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. Breakout Session #5
  • 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Closing Keynote
  • 12:15 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. Lunch

More information coming soon!

Picture of the Swanson Center building at Carol Joy Holling in Nebraska

Enjoy a time of education, renewal, and fun at Carol Joy Holling Retreat and Conference Center located on 317 acres of rolling hills outside of Ashland, Nebraska. Conveniently located halfway between Omaha and Lincoln, Carol Joy Holling Center features hotel style lodging, beautiful meeting spaces, and comfortable spots for visiting with friends. 

Lodging

Registration includes double hotel style lodging on Wednesday and four meals (Wednesday lunch and dinner, Thursday breakfast and lunch). 

Single rooms are available for an additional fee. Rooms are available on a first-come first-served bases. When registering online, please select this option in step 4.

  • Single hotel style lodging additional fee for November 15 - $75

If you are attending the preconference or arriving early on Tuesday, please select single or double overnight lodging for Tuesday, November 14. Overnight lodging on Tuesday includes dinner that evening and breakfast Wednesday morning.

  • Single hotel style lodging on November 15 - $165
  • Double hotel style lodging on November 15 - $125

If you are not staying for the Great Rivers Fall Conference, but need lodging on November 14, please contact Abbie Parker (aparker@ACAcamps.org, 765-349-3526).

Behavior Management Strategies for Camps with Trevor Dunlap 

What are the ABC's? We are not talking about the alphabet. We are talking about the environments we create as camp professionals that provide campers with that sense of awe and those "ah ha" moments where kids build skills that count!

This pre-conference program will focus on behavior management techniques that help to ensure a positive and safe camp experience for all participants. The program will cover a range of topics related to behavior management, such as identifying and responding to challenging behaviors, creating positive relationships with campers, and preventing conflicts. The goal is to equip camp staff with practical strategies and skills to handle various behavior situations that may arise during the camp, promoting a positive camp environment for all. 

This interactive workshop will be conducted through a variety of methods, including interactive presentations, role-playing activities, and group discussions. The program will also provide an opportunity to learn from each other's experiences, share insights, and brainstorm solutions. Through this comprehensive and engaging trailing model, camp staff can feel more confident and prepared to manage challenging behaviors, resulting in better outcomes for our campers in 2024.

Tuesday, November 14

1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Member Cost: $60

Non-Member Cost: $100

Registration Coming Soon!

Event Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsoring an ACA event will extend your brand identity and marketing capabilities.  For questions regarding sponsorship opportunities, contact Kim Bruno.

Thanks to our sponsors!

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