ACA Winnekota Leadership Summit

Date

March 19-20, 2026

Location

University of Wisconsin - River Falls
University Center
River Falls, WI 54022

Register today!

Cost

See pricing details below.

CECs

6.50

Plan to join fellow camp and youth development professionals for top-notch education and networking opportunities at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in River Falls, WI. Bring yourself, your full-time teams, and your seasonal leaders to this can't miss leadership summit. It promises to get you fired up for summer 2026!

Call for Proposal Now Open!

We are now accepting session proposals for the 2026 Winnekota Leadership Summit! The planning committee invites you to submit ideas for engaging, relevant sessions that inspire and support fellow camp professionals. Educational breakout sessions are 60 minutes in length. Check out the guidelines and submit your proposal using the form below. The deadline to submit is Friday, December 19, 2025.

Submit your proposal today!

Register by February 6, 2026 to get the early bird rate!

Your registration includes the full conference program, lunch on Thursday, networking events, and lunch on Friday.
Not an ACA member? Join today for FREE and get the best rates for this event!

Type	Early-Bird	Regular	Final Wave
Member	$176	$192	$212
Non-Member	$246	$268	$296
Additional person from same Organization - Member	$126	$138	$151
Additional person from same Organization - Non-Member	$176	$192	$211
Retiree	$96	$96	$105
Speaker	$96	$96	$96
Student / Season Staff	$96	$96	$105

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!

Wednesday, March 18, 2026 - Preconference

1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. EPIC Workshop
7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. EPIC Social

Thursday, March 19, 2026

10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Conference Check-In
10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Welcome to Winnekota!
11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Opening Playnote
12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. Lunch & Exhibit Hall
1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. Educational Breakout Session #1
2:40 p.m. - 3:40 p.m. Educational Breakout Session #2
3:40 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Exhibit Hall
4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. Educational Breakout Session #3
5:15 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Affinity Group Meetups & Exhibit Hall
6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Networking & Conference Social

Friday, March 20, 2026

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Kindred Group Meetups
10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Educational Breakout Session #4
11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Lunch
12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. Educational Breakout #5
1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Closing Keynote
2:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Closing Message

Join fellow EPICs (Emerging Professionals in Camping) to connect about the issues that matter to you! This half-day preconference workshop, will focus on networking, learning side-by-side, and sharing resources.

Register Now for EPIC Workshop at Winnekota

EPIC Workshop Schedule | Wednesday, March 18

12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Check-In
1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. EPIC Workshop Kickoff
1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Education Session #1
2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Networking Activity
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Education Session #2
7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. EPIC Networking Social

Closing Keynote: The Character We Carry, The Community We Build

When people who care about young people gather in the same room, the energy changes. You can feel the purpose. You can feel the hope. This keynote is about what happens when we choose to show up with character that young people can trust.

Dr. Tim will take you inside real stories and shared moments where presence, compassion, and consistency turn a group of campers into a community. The research backs it. Our experience confirms it. Young people grow when they feel seen and supported by leaders who are steady and intentional.

You'll laugh. You'll move. You'll connect with the mission that brought you here. Most importantly, you'll leave with grounded, practical strategies you can rely on all summer long.

Come ready to remember the truth. How we show up shapes who they become, and the community they get to belong to.

Let's step into summer confident, prepared, and full of purpose.

Timothy A. Raines, PhD, CDE® — also known as Dr. Tim — is an educator, consultant, and coach who helps youth-serving organizations strengthen belonging and build communities where young people can thrive. As CEO of Dr. Tim Raines Consulting, he partners with camps and afterschool programs to turn values like equity, cultural humility, and purposeful leadership into everyday practice. He also serves as Vice President of Quality Initiatives at the Indiana Afterschool Network, supporting statewide efforts to elevate out-of-school time programs. Across all his work, Dr. Tim honors belonging, leads with integrity, and helps people move with intention, shaping environments where every young person and youth professional can feel seen, valued, and supported.

Program session details will be added soon.

The Winnekota Leadership Summit will be held at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls in the University Center. The University Center is in the heart of campus and is a vibrant and welcoming gathering place where meaningful connections and lasting memories are made.

Hotel Information

Lodging arrangements will need to be made on your own. There are many hotel options that you can check out between River Falls, Wisconsin and Hudson, Wisconsin.

Exhibits

Member booth $400
Non-member booth $900

Register to Exhibit: https://acacamps.formstack.com/forms/allconferenceexhibit

Exhibit Hall Schedule - Thursday, March 19, 2026