ACA, Ohio Camp Conference
Date
Location
Cost
Details below!
Please join us for the 2025 Ohio Camp Conference! The Ohio Camp Conference, located at the Ohio 4-H Center at Ohio State University, is a one-day event for camp professionals. The day will feature breakout sessions covering topics such as camp administration, programming, latest trends, and risk management, and more! Attendees have the opportunity for professional development and networking with peers and experts. Additionally, there is an exhibit hall showcasing products and services for camps.
Coming in Early? Join us the evening of January 15 around 6:30pm at the Hofbrauhaus Columbus for a dinner, drinks and socializing.
Professional Headshots
Need to update your headshot or getting your first one? The Ohio Camp Conference is excited to offer professional headshots throughout the day! We're thrilled to have Eddie Lagucki, from Red Oak Day Camp with us to capture your best look. Simply stop by anytime during the event, and your headshot will be sent to you digitally. Don't miss this opportunity to refresh your professional image!
Registration Open!
Early bird registration is available through December 18 ,2024
- Registration includes full day of professional development, networking and luncheon.
- Not an ACA Member? Join today for FREE and get the best rates for this event!
| Type | Early-Bird | Regular |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Person Member | $125 | $165 |
| 1st Person Nonmember | $175 | $195 |
| Additional person from SAME camp-Member | $110 | $150 |
| Additional person from SAME camp-Nonmember | $155 | $175 |
| Student/Retiree Member |
$95 |
$95 |
| Student/Retiree Nonmember | $100 | $100 |
Check out the Character Academy Preconference Workshops. These workshops are free for members and $48 for nonmembers. Not an ACA member? Join today for FREE!
Character Preconference Gathering - January 15, 2025
Wednesday: 9:00am-4:30pm
Workshop #1 - Character Development at Camp: What it is and How to Get There
Wednesday: 9:00am-12:30pm
The purpose of this interactive research-based workshop is to dive into character development within the context of participants’ unique camps. Camp professionals will engage in facilitated discussions to define and prioritize character goals within the elements of hiring, staff training, programming, and evaluation. Each participant will develop a detailed “map” charting a clear path from their organization’s mission and values to their desired camper outcomes, with a focus on character-based staff practices.
Amanda Palmer, M.S. is a camp researcher, consultant, and doctoral candidate at the University of Idaho, researching youth development within the camp industry. Amanda is a former camper, camp counselor, and mother of four campers of her own. She holds a master’s degree in Recreation, Sport, and Tourism Management. Amanda has designed and conducted on-site research studies for organizations such as 4-H, Girl Scouts, and faith-based camps, with a focus on assisting each camp to align staff practices with their mission-based values.
Workshop # 2 - Funding Character Development at Camp: Steps and Strategies for Successful Grant-Writing
Wednesday: 1:30-4:30pm
The purpose of this workshop is to equip participants with the skills to successfully apply for grants to support their camp mission. With a specific focus on the Character at Camp grant program (opening January 2025), participants will learn the steps and skills necessary for applying for basic grants, including how to find grants, how to tell if they're aligned with your needs, components of a basic grant application, and what happens next if you do or do not receive a grant.
Sterling Nell Leija
Innovative Camp Company, Founder and CEO
Sterling Nell Leija is the Innovative Camp Company CEO, advancing camps through innovative solutions by solving problems with a focus on mission, impact, quality, and safety. Professionally engaged in the nonprofit space for 20 years, Sterling is passionate about the impact of quality programs, equitable access, staff wellness, and education in out-of-school time. Her expertise in nonprofit operations expands into capacity building, operational and capital budget management, fundraising, and business development. As a consultant, educator, speaker, and writer, Sterling has extensive experience as a presenter sharing best practices, research, and tools with industry leaders.
Just a note: Meals will not be provided but we will break for lunch.
New Director Orientation (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 covered include:
- leadership and supervision
- camper and staff development and behavior
- staff training
- risk management
- 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. Participants will be enrolled into the online/asynchronous NDO course and will be contacted by instructors prior to the course to be given instructions on pre-coursework, the virtual meeting and the in-person meeting.
Due to the pre-coursework, registration will close one week prior to the in-person meeting (unless full prior). Early registration is encouraged to allow adequate time to complete online pre-coursework.
Just a note that meals will not be provided but if you are staying at the hotel breakfast is provided.
$115 Member | $175 Non-Member |January 15, 2025
Angus Fletcher
Angus will provide three new, science-backed, story exercises for using wonder to cultivate your own unique character, building personal purpose, growth, and resilience. During the talk, you'll have the opportunity to practice the exercises--so that you can teach them to your campers later.
Angus Fletcher is Professor of Story Science at Ohio State's Project Narrative. His research into cultivating emotional resilience, creativity, and commonsense has been endorsed by the National Council of Teachers of English and has been called "mind-blowing" by Malcolm Gladwell, "life-changing" by Brené Brown, and "polymathic" by Martin Seligman. His most recent books are Wonderworks (Simon and Schuster, 2021), Storythinking (Columbia University Press, 2023), and Primal Intelligence (Penguin Random House, 2025).
▶️ Watch this message from Angus
Follow up breakout session led by Sarah Lagrotteria
Sarah Lagrotteria
Sarah will expand on Angus's keynote by talking about how wonder can be used to heal grief, shame, and burnout so you and your campers can strengthen your character through hard experiences, not just good ones.
Sarah Lagrotteria (MA, Stanford) runs the Just Bloom training program, based on Dr. Angus Fletcher’s pioneering theory of creativity, which has been called “mind-blowing” by Malcolm Gladwell, “life changing” by Brené Brown, and was awarded the 2023 Commendation Medal for groundbreaking research with US Army Special Operations. In 2019, Sarah was honored as one of 50 women nationwide as a Tory Burch Foundation Fellow for women in business. Just Bloom’s training methods have been featured in Harvard Business Review, including in the 2024 Best of HBR: How to Lead Now. Sarah offers her narrative-based workshops privately through Just Bloom and in partnership with the Columbus Museum of Art.
Chris Rehs-Dupin, Founder of Transplaining for Camps and Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of TQAMP.
Chris Rehs-Dupin is the Founder of Transplaining for Camps, and Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of TQAMP. For the past 4 years, Chris has been working in training and internal policy work on behalf of 2SLGBTQIA+ young people and staff with a specific focus on summer camps and youth organizations- and has become one of the most established and prolific camp industry subject matter experts in this area. Chris has spoken at conferences from California to New Hampshire, and has trained thousands of direct service camp leaders to support campers of all genders and sexualities- with compassion and joy.Chris has 21 years of camp experience under his belt and has been at the forefront of building spaces of belonging at summer camps- especially for trans* young people. Besides working with camps, Chris loves gardening, building wooden art, women’s college basketball, and spontaneous dance parties with his wife, Amy and their two children, Hayden and Milo. You can read more about Chris’ background and experience here.
Tracey Gaslin PhD, CPNP, FNP-BC, CRNI, RN-BC
CEO, Alliance for Camp Health
Dr. Gaslin completed her PhD in Educational and Organizational Leadership and taught for 10 years specializing in pediatric development, service leadership, and research on gratitude. Dr. Gaslin publishes the majority of her work in the areas of pediatrics, camp nursing, behavioral health, and service leadership and has co-authored several texts. She currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the Alliance for Camp Health where she travels and trains individuals regarding health services and well-being of youth and young adults. She continues to be an active speaker, writer, and publisher representing the Leading Voice in Camp Health to promote hope and healing in youth serving programs across the US and Canada.
Trevor Dunlap & Matthew Broda
Trevor is a 1997 graduate of Wittenberg University with degrees in Elementary and Special Education. Trevor has published and presented in numerous local, state, and national venues on the use of experiential methodologies in building personal and organizational capacity. As Executive Director of Nuhop, Trevor is an innovative facilitator of experiential methodology who 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. When not "working" Trevor can be found adventuring with his wife, Sarah, and their three amazing children - Ashton, Mattie, and Lydia.
Matthew is an Associate Professor of adolescent and young adult education and chair of the Department of Education at The College of Wooster. His areas of expertise include instructional technology, curriculum design, and instructional methodologies, teacher leadership, experiential and adventure education, and professional development. He received his B.S. from Kent State University (1999), M.Ed. (2004) from Ashland University, and a Ph.D. (2007) from Kent State University. Prior to his work at the College, Matthew served as a K-12 curriculum and instruction specialist, and middle school science, social studies, and language arts teacher. Matthew has published and presented in numerous local, state, national and international venues on the use of experiential methodologies in teaching, learning, and student development. If you can't find him, chances are he and his wife Kristin, are out searching for the perfect stretch of gravel to ride.
David Phillips- Principal of Immersive1st
David Phillips is Principal of Immersive1st, a firm that assists with fundraising, planning & analysis, capital projects, governance, public relations, program creation & implementation, lay/pro coaching and acute issues. David works primarily with nonprofits such as camps, retreat & conference centers, community centers, houses of worship and schools. David has held roles senior executive roles including Major Gifts Officer at United Way of Allegheny County, President & CEO of Capital Camps & Retreat Center in Maryland and the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County. Over his career he has helped raise $150+ million. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Pittsburgh with a master’s degree in social work, focused on community organizing and development. He has a trademark British sense of humor. He is married to Karen and they have two children and a dog called Murray. His not-so-secret hobby is refereeing football-the real one!
Check out the full detailed schedule: Ohio Camp Conference Schedule!
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Character Preconference Gathering - January 15, 2025
Wednesday: 9:00am-4:30pm
Workshop #1 - Character Development at Camp: What it is and How to Get There
Wednesday: 9:00am-12:30pm
The purpose of this workshop is to understand what character is (and what it's not!) from the perspective of science of learning & development. With this knowledge, participants will identify specific character development goals for their campers and staff and develop a road map for achieving those outcomes through staff training, program design, and parent and community engagement.
Workshop # 2 - Funding Character Development at Camp: Steps and Strategies for Successful Grant-Writing
Wednesday: 1:30-4:30pm
The purpose of this workshop is to equip participants with the skills to successfully apply for grants to support their camp mission. With a specific focus on the Character at Camp grant program (opening January 2025), participants will learn the steps and skills necessary for applying for basic grants, including how to find grants, how to tell if they're aligned with your needs, components of a basic grant application, and what happens next if you do or do not receive a grant.
Just a note: Meals will not be provided but we will break for lunch.
Thursday, January 16, 2025
* Our exhibit hall will be open at 9am and open throughout our conference! Feel free to visit in-between sessions and during unopposed exhibit hall time.
9:00a.m.-9:30a.m.- Registration and Continental Breakfast & Exhibit Hall
9:30a.m.-10:45a.m.- Welcome and Opening Session
10:45a.m.-11:00a.m.- Unopposed Exhibit Hall Time
11:00-12:00- Educational Breakout Session I
12:15 p.m.-1:30p.m.- Luncheon and Awards
1:30p.m.-1:45p.m.- Unopposed Exhibit Hall Time
1:45p.m.-2:45p.m.-Educational Breakout Session II
2:45-3:00 p.m.- Unopposed Exhibit Hall Time
3:00p.m.-4:00p.m.-Educational Breakout Session III
4:00p.m.- Safe Travels!
SITE INFORMATION
Our event will be taking place at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center in Columbus, Ohio. The Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center is a facility for youth, adult volunteers, community organizations, and Ohio State University partners.
Our pre-conference and conference events will be taking place at the center.
Click Here For Parking Information
HOTEL INFORMATION
If you plan on spending the night in Columbus, check out the Hyatt Place Columbus/OSU . We have reserved a block of rooms at an ACA discounted rate.
The exhibit hall date is January 16, 2025
Exhibit:
Booth cost: Member $300 / non-member $800
Sponsorship Opportunities:
- $3,000 Title Sponsor*
- $2,000 Keynote sponsor*
- $1,500 Meal sponsor*
- $1,000 Session sponsor
- $500 Snack/Break sponsor
All sponsorships come with logo recognition on signage at the event, and on the events web page.
Sponsorships with an (*) also include a booth and two- minutes to address the participants.
For questions regarding sponsorship opportunities, contact Kim Fitzgerald kfitzgerald@acacamps.org
Thanks to our sponsors!
Event Sponsorship Opportunities
Sponsoring an ACA event will extend your brand identity and marketing capabilities. For questions regarding sponsorship opportunities, contact Kim Fitzgerald.
