ACA, Virginias Winter Gathering

Registration is Now Open!

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

Early Bird registration is available through December 15, 2025

For more information about lodging check-out the Site Information

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!

Regular: 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 preparing and planning details, included meal numbers and room setups and materials. Our site needs final numbers in advance. We are always happy to welcome last minute registrants when possible!

Need a hard copy of registration; email [email protected]

Jarod "W" Wunneburger is a visionary education leader and consultant with over 15 years of experience driving transformative change in schools, after-school programs, and camps. As Owner and Education Consultant at Thrive Point Studio, he specializes in leadership development, organizational design, and training programs that improve retention, performance, and culture in summer camp settings. Previously, Jarod served as Director of Programs at Farm and Wilderness and ran Camp Timberlake, an overnight wilderness camp for boys ages 9-14, where he developed hands-on expertise in camp operations and youth development. He has presented at numerous American Camp Association conferences across the country, delivering sessions on classroom management, coaching systems, leadership development, and behavior management strategies. His camp consulting work includes transforming staff observation frameworks, redesigning disciplinary approaches from punitive to restorative models, and developing leadership training programs that have resulted in measurable improvements in staff retention and confidence metrics. He holds a Master's in School Leadership from Harvard University and a Master's in Special Education from St. John's University, and his approach focuses on aligning strong individual habits, intentional community culture, and robust organizational systems to create lasting impact in camp environments. 

Blueprints for Behavior Management

SOP’s, Policies and Team Structure for camp. Join us for an essential training session designed to equip camp leaders and staff with the foundational tools for effective behavior management. "Blueprints for Behavior Management" will delve into the critical components of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), clear policies, and cohesive team structures that foster a positive, productive camp environment.

Session led by Bridgette Barbera-Byrne & Erin Lacotta

Bridgette Barbera-Byrne is the Senior Association Director of Camp & Youth Programming for the YMCA of Greater Brandywine, where she oversees inclusive, innovative youth experiences across eight branches and leads major association-wide initiatives that strengthen safety, belonging, and enrichment for all campers. She also serves as the JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) Chair for the American Camp Association’s Keystone Region Local Council of Leaders and is the Co-Lead for the Keystone Region of EPIC, guiding efforts that elevate equity and belonging across the camp community. In recognition of her leadership and advocacy, Bridgette was honored as the 2024 Community Member of the Year by the LGBT Alliance of Chester County. A sought-after trainer and speaker on unconscious bias, inclusive leadership, and youth development, Bridgette is the author of “Silent Saboteur” (ACA Camping Magazine, Sept/Oct 2025) and is currently writing her first book, expanding on the unseen barriers that shape the camp and youth development experience. Bridgette brings humor, heart, story telling and practical, reflective tools to her work, helping teams grow and creating environments where all humans can truly thrive.

Erin Lacotta, M.A., BCBA, is the Senior Association Director of Behavior Support and Adaptive Programming for the YMCA of Greater Brandywine, where she provides strategic leadership in inclusive practices and behavior support for more than 5,000 children across Chester County, PA. Erin oversees a team of behavior specialists and adaptive programming coordinators to lead county-wide initiatives that promote access, inclusion, and individualized support for individuals with disabilities. A passionate advocate for DEIB, neurodiversity inclusion, and equitable program design, Erin has presented at regional and national conferences and has been invited to train audiences across the country on behavior management, supporting individuals with disabilities and neurodivergence, and addressing unconscious bias. She is a 2025 Vista Next Gen Superstar – 40 Under 40 honoree and holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and special education from Chestnut Hill College and a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis from Ball State University.

Severe Weather Safety and Partnerships

When severe weather is forecasted or impacts your camp, are you prepared to act? Join ACA and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to learn more about how you can enhance your camp safety efforts and become a force multiplier of community preparedness. With a goal of preventing the loss of life and property, knowing where to find and receive accurate weather forecast and real-time information is critical to support decision-making and planning efforts. The hazard focused on in the presentation will be flooding as it is not only a worldwide hazard, but also the number one hazardous weather-related killer in the United States. Special attention will be focused on where to find severe weather resources, how to become a more prepared and safe camp and the importance of having a weather radio.

Session led by presenters Steven Pyle, Sarah Chappel & Jack King

Steven Pyle: Steven Pyle is the Team Lead for VDEM's Flood Intelligence Unit and has 16 years of experience in both local and state government. Shortly after being hired in early 2022, this new division was created within VDEM to construct a new statewide flood monitoring system to help detect early warning on flash flood and high-water events across the Commonwealth which is now known as the Virginia Flood Monitoring System (VFMS). Steven attended Virginia Commonwealth University and enjoys traveling the world and everything outdoors from the mountains to the beach.

Sarah Chappel: Sarah currently serves as the Flood Intel Unit hydrologist for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. She manages the Virginia Flood Monitoring System’s network of 185 water level, rain, and weather gages throughout the Commonwealth to help state, federal, and local partners better prepare for, alert, and respond to flooding in Virginia. Prior to joining VDEM's Flood Intel Unit, she spent three years with the Surface Water Investigations Team under the Virginia Dept. of Environmental Quality as a hydrologist specializing in river and stream flow data collection and calculations. Before moving her career to the Commonwealth, her chemical oceanography-focused graduate degree led her to join the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps in 2014 where she spent two years aboard NOAA Ship Rainier, surveying bathymetry to update nautical charts in coastal Alaska. After her time aboard Rainier, she served as the Officer in Charge of R/V Bay Hydro II, a survey catamaran based in the Chesapeake Bay. When she’s not working, Sarah enjoys hiking, camping, watching football, and spending time with family and friends.

Jack King: Jack King is the Regional Support Director – East for VDEM. He has been with VDEM for 15 years and has been the Regional Support Director for the past 10 years. In his previous life, he spent 30 years with the City of Richmond Police Department before retiring to join VDEM.

Schedule at a Glance

Monday:

* Join us the night before the gathering on January 26th at Pale Fire Brewing in Harrisonburg, VA at 6pm for a social! We will meet there and grab a few drinks, food and connect together!

Tuesday:

• 9:00-9:30 — Coffee & Check-In
• 9:30-9:45 — Welcome & Introductions 
• 9:45-11:00 — Jarod “W” Wunneburger session
• 11:15-12:15- Blueprints for Behavior Management led by Bridgette Barbera Byrne & Erin Lacotta
• 12:30-1:15- Lunch & Announcements
• 1:30-2:30- Severe Weather Safety and Partnerships Led by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management
• 2:30-3:30- Camp Tour or Camp Showcase-
  •  Camp Showcase:
    Bring your best camp elevator pitch and get ready to shine! Share what makes your camp truly unique and learn how to tell your camp’s story in under 10 minutes. This interactive session is a fantastic opportunity to practice your presentation skills, gain inspiration from fellow camp professionals, and celebrate the strengths of your own camp community.

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. High-Value, budget-friendly professional growth. Access to expert-led sessions make it one of the most affordable ways to build staff capacity and bring fresh, actionable ideas back to your 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, vendors, 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 conference offers a much-needed chance 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 smarter planning for the season ahead.

The ACA, Virginias Winter Gathering will be at Camp Horizons

Want to come the night before? Please reach out directly to the camp to coordinate and in your reach out mention that you are with the ACA, Virginias Winter Gathering. Reach out direct to book at [email protected]. 

The demographic of the attendees is mostly year-round camp professionals. Typically, owners, directors, and program directors.

Sponsorship opportunities:

• $3,000 Title Sponsor*
• $2,000 Keynote sponsor*
• $1,500 Meal sponsor*
• $750 Session sponsor
• $250 Snack/Break sponsor

All sponsorships come with logo recognition on signage at the event, and 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.