ACA, Great Rivers Fall Conference

Save by registering early! Early bird registration is available through October 8, 2025.

Registration Includes:

• Registration for November 19-20, 2025 includes the full conference program, and meals (Wednesday breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and Thursday breakfast and lunch.)
• Lodging is available at Wesley Woods. See Wesley Woods tab for more additional details. Participants are encouraged to register and select their preferred lodging as soon as possible for the greatest selection.

Not an ACA member? Join today for FREE and get the best rates for this event!

Needing scholarship opportunities for the conference? Check out the Fall Conference scholarship opportunities.

Understanding Registration Pricing:

We encourage you to register early - not just to save money, but to help us plan the best possible event!

Early Bird: Lock in the best rate by registering early! You'll get the lowest price and the best deal.

Standard: This is our standard registration rate, available after the Early Bird period ends.

Final Wave: Begins two weeks before the event and includes onsite registration.

As the conference gets closer our team is finalizing all the details, including meal numbers, room setups, and materials. Our host site needs final numbers well in advance of the event. We are always happy to welcome last minute registrations when possible. Registering early helps us serve everyone better!

Tuesday, November 18

• 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. New Director Orientation 
• 5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Conference Check-In for Early Arrivals
• 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Dinner on own / Social Activity

Wednesday, November 19

• 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Conference Check-In, Breakfast & Networking Activity
• 10:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Welcome to the Great Rivers Fall Conference!
• 10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Opening Playnote
• 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Educational Breakout Session #1
• 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Lunch
• 1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Networking Activity
• 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Educational Breakout Session #3
• 4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. Educational Breakout Session #4
• 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Dinner & Great River Awards Ceremony
• 7:15 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Trivia Night!

Thursday, November 20

• 8:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. Breakfast
• 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.  Roundtable Conversations
• 10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Educational Breakout Session #5
• 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Educational Breakout Session #6
• 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Lunch
• 1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Closing Activity

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 NDO is an interactive course that includes activities, lectures, and discussions in a group problem-solving environment designed to address real-life situations at camp. This course covers five critical areas to help directors and supervisors develop the skills they need to be effective leaders. The core areas to be covered include:

1. Leadership and supervision

2. Camper and staff development and behavior

3. Staff training

4. Risk management

5. Evaluation and assessment

This NDO course will be offered in a hybrid model with participants needing to complete online pre-coursework, participate in a two-hour virtual course meeting, and attend the in-person training.

• Registration Closes: Friday, November 7 - Early registration is encouraged to allow adequate time to complete online pre-coursework. Registration includes course materials and lunch on November 18th. 
• Pre-Course Virtual Meeting: Thursday, November 13 - 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. CT
• In-Person Training: Tuesday, November 18 - 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CT

 $115 - Member

$175 - Non-Member

Register Now for New Director Orientation

Throughout his 35 years working with young people at summer camps, in classrooms, and in after-school spaces, Tobin Paap has sought balance - balance between solidity and freedom, between learning and unlearning, between work and play. His company provides an array of research-based trainings to strengthen organizational culture by shifting the mindsets and building the skill sets of young people and those who support them. Tobin weaves this technical input into a relational approach that includes songs, games, and metaphor. The result is a container of relaxed-alertness in which participants can engage in the productive struggle of reflection and planning.

More details coming soon!

Join us for the Fall Conference at Wesley Woods Camp & Retreat Center located in Indianola, Iowa. Wesley Woods was established in 1956, tucked away near Lake Ahquabi on 344 acres overlooking rolling hills in a woodland retreat. Wesley Woods is only 30 minutes south from the Des Moines International Airport and Downtown Des Moines. Whether you're coming in from out of town or just looking for a quick getaway, Wesley Woods is the perfect location for your next adventure. 

Lodging

Lodging is available on-site at Wesley Woods on November 18th and November 19th. Wesley Woods has a variety of lodging options for the conference. Single, double, and group lodging are available.  All rooms or cabins have twin XL beds and have heat and air conditioning. Participants will need to provide their own bedding and towels. Double occupancy rooms have bathrooms and showers either in the room or in the same building. Group lodging will have access to bathrooms and a shower house a short walk from the cabins.

Participants are encouraged to register and select their preferred lodging as soon as possible for the greatest selection. Lodging is assigned on a first come first served basis. When registering online, please select options in step 4.

Single Occupancy Lodging - $105/night

Double Occupancy Lodging - $60/night

Group Cabin Lodging - $30/night

1. It's professional development with a Return on Investment (ROI). Attendees gain practical tools, strategic insights, and peer-driven solutions they can bring directly back to camp operations, staffing, risk management, programming, and more.
2. It's affordable. Quality professional growth without the high price tag. The Fall Conference is one of the most budget-friendly ways to build staff capacity and bring fresh, actionable ideas back to camp. 
3. It helps retain great staff. Want to keep passionate, talented team members? Invest in their professional development. Giving your staff space to connect, learn, and be inspired increases loyalty, motivation, and creativity. 
4. Bring back ideas, tools, and renewed vision. You'll return not only with new strategies and best practices - but also with renewed clarity about why we do this work and how to do it better. Your team benefits from that kind of energy and direction. 
5. It's time to debrief and grow after the busiest season of the year. Let's be real - summer at camp is nonstop. This gives camp pros the space to pause, reflect, and regroup alongside people who truly get it. That time to process, share lessons, and reset leads to clearer strategy, renewed energy, and stronger planning for the year ahead.

Sponsorship opportunities:

• $3,000 Title Sponsor*
• $2,000 Keynote sponsor*
• $1,500 Meal sponsor*
• $2,000 Trivia Night sponsor*
• $1,000 Session sponsor
• $500 Snack/Break sponsor

All sponsorships come with a table, and logo recognition on signage at the event, and the events web page.

Sponsorships with an (*) also include two minutes to address the participants.

Please contact Kim Fitzgerald, [email protected] with any sponsorship inquiries.