ACA, Michigan Fall Gathering

Save by registering early! Early bird registration is available through August 28, 2025.

• Registration for the preconference workshop includes the full workshop and lunch on October 8, 2025
• Registration for the Michigan Fall Gathering includes the full conference program and lunch on October 9, 2025 

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

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 registrants when possible. Registering early helps us serve everyone better!

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

• 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Preconference Check-In
• 9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. Preconference Welcome
• 9:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Experiential Nature-Based Programming Tour

Participants will embark on an immersive journey through diverse ecosystems, engaging in hands-on activities, and interactive challenges along the way.

• 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Lunch
• 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Workshop with Dr. Rachel A. Larimore 

Elevating Camp Experiences: Harnessing the Power of Play and Place

This interactive whole-group session will explore how the natural world and thoughtfully designed play experiences for children can foster curiosity, confidence, and care. Through hands-on activities and group discussions, participants will gain practical tools for leveraging their camp's unique setting to create immersive, nature-based experiences that enhance camper engagement. Together, we'll uncover how the power of place and play can transform everyday camp activities into extraordinary adventures where children learn with nature, enriching both the campers' and the camp's experience. Participants will leave the actionable strategies to elevate their camps to the next level of play and learning. 

• 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Networking Opportunities

Thursday, October 9, 2025

• 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Conference Check-In
• 9:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. Welcome to the Michigan Fall Gathering
• 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Tour of Chippewa Nature Center
• 10:20 a.m. - 11:20 a.m. Educational Breakout Sessions
• 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Educational Breakout Sessions
• 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Lunch & Roundtable Conversations
• 1:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Group Activity
• 2:10 p.m. - 3:10 p.m. Educational Breakout Sessions
• 3:20 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Closing Keynote

Preconference Workshop Speaker - Dr. Rachel A. Larimore

Dr. Rachel A. Larimore is an educator, consultant, and former nature-based preschool director. For nearly 30 years her work has focused on the intentional integration of nature to support young children's holistic development by learning with nature to expand their worlds and live rich, full lives. She has written multiple books including Preschool Beyond Walls: Blending Early Childhood Education and Nature-Based Learning, Evaluating Natureness: Measuring the Quality of Nature-Based Classrooms in Pre-K Through 3rd Grade, and her newest book Reimagining the Role of Teachers in Nature-Based Learning: Helping Children be Curious, Confident, and Caring. Rachel is the founder and Chief Visionary of Samara Early Learning, an organization focused on helping early childhood educators start nature-based school or add nature-based approaches into their existing program. Prior to founding Samara, she spent more than a decade starting and directing one of the first nature-based preschools in the United States. 

Michigan Fall Gathering Closing Keynote Speaker

Information coming soon!

Full schedule with session descriptions coming this summer!

• Herding Cats and Heart to Hearts: Supervision & Relationship Building in a Camp Setting
• Songs, Stories, and Security: Creating Camp Community!
• Open to Diversity - Resistant to Change: Making Change That Creates True Welcome
• The Leadership Compass: A Staff Training Tool to Boost Buy-In & Performance
• Creative Camps, Stronger Connections: Using Music to Empower Youth & Staff
• Special Event Planning for the Busy Camp Professional: Six Solid Strategies for Event Success
• The Spirit of Character Development in Camp
• The Ultimate Camp MESH Kit: Simple and Effective Ways to Improve Mental, Social, and Emotional Health for Everyone at Camp

The Michigan Fall Gathering will be held in the NEW Nature Education Center at the Chippewa Nature Center in Midland, Michigan. The Chippewa Nature Center boasts over 2,000 acres and over 70,000 people visit each year, including 1,200 children who attend Nature Day Camps and thousands of school children. 

Hotel Information

There are many hotel options that are near the Chippewa Nature Center. Lodging arrangements will need to be made on your own.

• Title Sponsor - $3,000*
• Keynote Sponsor - $2,000*
• Meal Sponsor - $1,500*
• Session Sponsor - $1,000
• Snack/break Sponsor - $500

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

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

Contact Kim Fitzgerald for exhibitor questions and sponsorship packages and details.