ACA, Southwest Fall Campference

Date

September 29 – October 1, 2026

Location

Girl Scouts Arizona- Cactus Pines
1611 E Dobbins Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85042-8501

Register Here!

Cost

Registration will open in early July. Please continue to check back as we are building the program.

CECs

6.75

The Southwest Fall Campference is built for camp pros at every level—directors, leadership staff, and anyone who wants to grow in their role. Whether you're recovering from a wild summer or gearing up for the year ahead, you belong here.

At the regional gathering, you’ll have the space to:

Unpack your summer – Celebrate wins, reflect on challenges, and share creative solutions with peers who’ve been in the trenches with you.
Plan for the off-season – Dive into collaborative sessions on marketing, staffing, risk management, programming, facilities, and more.
Connect with your camp people – Build your community, swap ideas, and return home with fresh energy and real support.

What’s a Campference? It’s not exactly camp, and it’s not your typical conference. It’s something better. We’re reimagining how we gather—more connection, more creativity, and more of the camp magic we all love.

This event is for camp directors, assistant directors, year-round staff, and emerging leaders who are looking for a refreshing space to think deeply, share openly, and reconnect with why they do this work.

2024 Southwest attendees posing for group photo.

Registration coming in early July!

This is a bargain—and we mean it. Your Campference registration includes:

All educational sessions, workshops, & facilitated discussions
Lodging at Cactus-Pines. This will be cabin style, and we will do our best to keep cabins spacious and give everyone a lower bunk.
Tuesday night dinner, Wednesday- breakfast + lunch, Thursday breakfast + snacks. We will go out to dinner on Wednesday night to a local restaurant (this will be an out-of-pocket expense).
Community building, networking, and time to reflect with other amazing camp pros

For the cost, it’s one of the best professional development investments you can make all year. You get time away to recharge, tools to take back to your team, and a chance to grow alongside people who get camp life.

Let this be your fall reset—you’ve earned it.

Register Here!

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

Type	Early-Bird	Standard
Member	$325	$350
Nonmember	$350	$375

Why Registration Costs Go Up

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

As we get closer to the conference, our team is busy finalizing meals, lodging, room setups, materials, and more. We’ve contracted with our host site in advance and must submit our final participant numbers well before the event begins. Late additions are always welcome when possible—but they add extra complexity during an already busy time.

Registering early helps us serve everyone better—and ensures you get the full experience without the scramble. Thanks for helping us make it all happen smoothly!

As we continue to develop the program, we will add details.

Tuesday, September 29 | Campference

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Arrival + Check-in
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Welcome + community building
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Belonging Workshop + training
Break
6:00 p.m. - onward Dinner + evening activity

Wednesday, September 30 | Campference

Early risers morning movement
8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Breakfast
10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Workshop Fun
12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Lunch + Pool Time (or free time)
3:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Afternoon Workshop
Break
6:30 p.m. Dinner in town + Evening Fun (Everyone will order and pay for their own food and drinks.)

Thursday, October 1 | Campference

Early risers morning movement
8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Breakfast
9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Closing Workshop

It’s professional development with ROI.
This isn't a fluffy retreat—it’s targeted growth. Attendees gain practical tools, strategic insights, and peer-driven solutions they can bring directly back to camp operations, staffing, risk management, programming, and more.
It’s incredibly cost-effective.
At just $150 for three days, registration includes high-quality workshops, a keynote, rich discussions, and guided camp tours. It’s an unbeatable value for meaningful professional development—and a smart investment for any organization.
It helps retain great staff.
Want to keep passionate, talented team members? Invest in their development. Giving your staff space to connect, learn, and be inspired increases loyalty, motivation, and creativity.
It’s a think tank, not a lecture hall.
This isn’t another conference where you just sit and listen. Campference is built for collaboration and real-time problem-solving. Your team member will return energized and ready to lead new ideas.
It’s time to debrief after the busiest season of the year.
Let’s be honest—summer is intense. This gives camp pros the space to reflect, recalibrate, and plan with others who understand what just happened. That kind of processing leads to better strategy, fewer burnouts, and stronger planning for the year ahead.

The Southwest Resource Share

In an industry that’s constantly evolving, we often find ourselves buried in manuals, handbooks, and standard operating procedures. Do you ever wonder what others are doing or wish you could see how their processes are written? Now’s your chance! At the Southwest Campference, we’re introducing a Resource Share where you can explore and exchange policies, procedures, and best practices. Three tables will be set up, focusing on: Overnight Programs, Day Camp Programs, and Facilities & Hospitality.

How the Resource Share Works

If you have manuals, handbooks, or policies that you’re willing to share, simply create a QR code for your document and place it on the front page. Bring one copy of each document to the conference, and they’ll be available on the topic tables for everyone to view. When you find something helpful, scan the QR code to save it for future reference.

What to Bring

Consider sharing materials like summer staff handbooks, employee manuals, retreat center guides, food service manuals, health center standing orders, staff evaluations, emergency policies, job descriptions, or social media policies—anything you think would benefit others.

Creating QR Codes

The easiest way to generate a QR code is to copy the document link from Google, Box, or Microsoft, ensuring it’s set for public viewing. Then use a QR code generator (like Canva or QR Code Generator), add the code to the first page of your document, and print it (or attach the printed code to the front).

For this to work, we encourage everyone to bring at least one document to share!

Southwest Awards

Do you know someone in the Camp World who is doing amazing things? Nominate them for one of the Southwest Awards.

Award Information

Perched in the foothills above Salt Lake City, the Natural History Museum of Utah is more than a backdrop—it’s part of the experience.

Housed in the striking Rio Tinto Center, this architectural gem offers panoramic views of the valley, immersive exhibit galleries, and a true sense of wonder. During the Southwest Campference, you’ll have time to explore the museum and spark new ideas for your own camp through nature, science, and culture.

Get ready to connect, learn, and be inspired in a setting that celebrates curiosity and creativity.

Support the camp community while showcasing your brand to engaged youth development professionals from across the region. To learn more about this specific event, click here.