ACA Winnekota Leadership Summit

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!

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

Opening Playnote: Growth Mindset and a Bonsai Tree

The playnote session, Growth Mindset and a Bonsai Tree, is designed to prepare our minds for the camp season ahead while fostering meaningful connections with other conference attendees. This session will explore the importance of adopting a growth mindset, embracing challenges as opportunities, and committing to continuous learning. Also, attendees will learn what's so important about a bonsai tree.

Dr. Chad E. Nelson is an Instructional Associate Professor at Texas A&M University and the Camp Director of Camp Millican, bringing together academic expertise and hands-on camp leadership to advance youth development through experiential learning. Since joining Texas A&M in 2015, he has taught across the Departments of Health and Kinesiology, Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Sciences, and Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications, reaching more than 3,400 undergraduate and graduate students.

Dr. Nelson earned his Ph.D. in Youth Development from Texas A&M University in 2019. His teaching spans experience design, youth programming, physical education, leadership, and camp management, with a strong emphasis on applying theory to real-world youth and camp settings. Guided by the principles of Positive Youth Development, he designs dynamic learning environments that foster critical thinking, reflection, and practical skill-building through collaborative and experiential approaches.

From 2015 to 2022, Dr. Nelson served as Camp Director of Deerfoot Youth Camp, a Texas A&M–affiliated nonprofit dedicated to providing underserved youth with free access to sports-based summer camp experiences that promote self-esteem, discipline, respect, and academic motivation. He currently serves as Camp Director of Camp Millican, a day camp for children ages 4–14 that emphasizes healthy discovery, outdoor adventure, and inclusive programming.

Dr. Nelson’s commitment to teaching excellence has been recognized with several prestigious honors, including the Texas A&M Provost & Center for Teaching Excellence Honor Faculty Excellence Award and the Association of Former Students College-Level Teaching Award. His teaching evaluations consistently exceed departmental averages, reflecting his strong impact on student learning and development.

Beyond the classroom, Dr. Nelson has played a significant role in shaping the Applied Youth Development Initiative and the Master of Applied Youth Development (MAYD) Program through curriculum development, graduate student mentorship, and high-impact learning experiences. He is also deeply committed to strengthening connections between higher education and the camp industry. Through faculty-led camp career job fairs, he has helped bring more than 80 camps and retreat centers to campus annually, expanding professional pathways for hundreds of students across disciplines.

Dedicated to continual professional growth, Dr. Nelson participates in the Aggie Experience Project, part of the national Student Experience Project, where he integrates evidence-based practices that support student belonging, resilience, and engagement. He also serves as Chair of the ACA Texoma Emerging Professionals in Camping, supporting leadership development and workforce growth within the camp community.

Dr. Nelson’s work reflects a deep belief in the power of camps, education, and intentional relationships to shape confident, capable, and connected young people.

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

• 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Exhibitor Setup
• 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Exhibit Hall Open
• 3:40 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Exhibit Hall Open
• 6:00 p.m. Exhibit Hall Closed

Sponsorship opportunities

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

Sponsorships with an (*) come with a booth and two minutes to address the participants.

Please contact Kim Fitzgerald, [email protected], with any sponsorship inquiries.