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!
• Scholarships are available! Please reach out to [email protected] for more 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.

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
• 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Character Academy Workshop
• 6:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. EPIC Social at the Nutty Squirrel Sports Saloon

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: Risk Management Bingo - How to Plan for Emergencies

This session uses bingo cards to guide you in learning about and planning for emergencies and crisis at Camp. It will help you prioritize and focus on planning, along with a basic template to play for a Bingo!

Andrea Yenter is the Camp Director for the Wisconsin Lions Camp, which serves Wisconsin youth and adults with disabilities free of charge. Her entire camp career has been here, starting in 1987 as a camper, and from there she was seasonal staff for five summers, before taking on her first full time role as the Program Director in 1999.  After a brief stint as the Assistant Camp Director she moved into her current role as the Camp Director in 2003.  This is her 23rd year in this role, and she is beginning to plan for her retirement at 30 years.  

Andrea is currently a member and Secretary of both the Rosholt Lions Club and Rosholt Area First Responders. She has many volunteer roles in ACA: chair of the National Volunteer Engagement Committee, Standards Instructor and Visitor, and a NDO Instructor.  Andrea and her husband Craig share their home with their cats Maximus, Big Floof and Little Floof. Her attempts at work/life balance includes canning the garden produce, volleyball, reading all the books and enjoying all things outdoors. 
 

• 2:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. Break / Travel to Falcon Center
• 3:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tour of Falcon Center & opportunity to try out the 38-foot climbing wall and bouldering wall. 

The Falcon Center for Health, Education, and Wellness is an incredible $63.5 million dollar facility designed to serve students, faculty, staff, and the community. It sits on the South edge of campus and houses a 15,000 square-foot fitness center, classrooms, gyms, ice rink, labs, indoor climbing center, state-of-the-art performance lab, and multipurpose studio. The Falcon Center is also home to Falcon Outdoor Adventure (FOA), where students are able to register for Adventure trips, ranging in activity from backpacking to kayaking to ice climbing. No matter your skill level or interest, FOA has something new for you to explore. 

• 6:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. EPIC Networking Social - Come mix and mingle at the Nutty Squirrel Sports Saloon (110 S. Main St, River Falls)! Food and drinks are on your own, so grab what you love and settle in for some good company and easy conversation.

Character Academy Workshop Schedule | Wednesday, March 18

• 12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Check-In
• 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. The Characteristics Series

Member: $0; Non-Member: $48

Register Now for Character Workshop at Winnekota

The Characteristics Series is geared toward supporting camp-based character programming with shared language, practical tools, and immersive learning experiences. Grounded in the idea that character is shaped through everyday decisions, the series focuses on how capacity, stress, fatigue, and support impacts our ability to live in alignment with our values.

This workshop engages the full camp ecosystem, staff, and campers in shared character development. Using the familiar lens of heroes and villains, participants explore real personal and professional challenges, examine aspirational character strengths, and move beyond simple “good vs. bad” thinking toward a more nuanced understanding of character.

Through interactive activities and reflection, participants gain practical, replicable tools they can integrate into daily camp life, strengthening connection, consistency, and intentional character development across their community.

Participants will:

•    Explore language and tools that add nuance to how we think about character
•    Understand how capacity affects our ability to show up at our best
•    Practice applying these concepts in camp-ready processes with colleagues and campers 

Jonah Canner is an ambassador from the world we have not yet built. He believes in people, community, and the sacred obligation we have to make positive change in the world around us. Jonah’s primary areas of focus include racial equity, restorative justice, experiential education, identity development and working with boys and young men.  

He has worked as a classroom teacher, a summer camp director, and a consultant offering mentoring, training, and support for individuals and organizations. Jonah has a Masters in Education from the New School University, was the 2024-25 Education Fellow in the Religion and Public Life program at the Harvard Divinity School, and is currently on the faculty of the Institute for Democratic Education in America, and the Foundation for Jewish Camp’s Cornerstone Fellowship. He is currently most interested in the work of conversation across difference, and building practices that align our actions with our values. 

Delma Jackson III is the founder of the Sankofa Project for Social Justice, LLC and a Senior Fellow at the Center for Whole Communities, a facilitator, writer, and lecturer on social justice topics.  

He studied African-American Studies and Psychology at Eastern Michigan University and later obtained his Masters degree in Liberal Arts with a concentration in American & African-American Studies at the University of Michigan’s Rackham School of Graduate Studies. He has conducted research on Afro-European identity in the Netherlands in both 1999 and again in 2014—studying slavery in the Netherlands, 21st century migration and immigration across Western Europe, and the impact of racialized pop-culture on Afro-Dutch identity. He has lectured and/or facilitated workshops at New York University's, Tisch School for Performing Arts, Toledo University's Graduate School for Criminal Justice, the University of Michigan-Flint's School of Health and Professional Studies, the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education (NCORE), the United States Conference on AIDS, The Office of Sustainability at Dartmouth College. He also annually conducts workshops for Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and The National Convening of City Leads for the Nature Conservancy. 

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. 

• Competition is Not a Bad Word!
• Setting Yourself Up for Year Round Fundraising in the Summer
• Emergency Preparedness at Camp: Beyond the Dusty Binder
• Infusing Environmental Education into your Camp Program
• Resilience Building at Camp
• Projects on a Nickel
• Coaching Gen Z to Success!
• Feedback that Fuels: Reframing Staff Evaluations into Growth Conversations
• So...Your Shop Just Burned Down. Now What?
• Were we Lucky, or Were We Good? Everyday Debriefing to Improve Risk Management
• If They Can, I Can Too! Fostering First-Gen Retention through Representation
• Reimagining Camp Leadership: How to Make Your Camp Not Suck
• Camp Concierge: Elevating the Parent Experience
• Leave No Trace at Camp
• Innovative STEM: Designing High-Impact, Low-Prep STEM Experiences for Camp Programming & Staff Training
• Know Your Why
• 2025 ACA Crisis Hotline: Lessons Learned for Camps
• Beyond Good Camp: Creating Optimal Youth Experiences
• Staffers Unite: Enriching Your Camp Culture
• Your Camp Game Expansion Pack!
• It Gets the People Going
• Grant Writing 2.0: Through the Reviewer's Lens
• Songs on the Move: Using Camp Songs and Ambulators to Build Energy, Connection, and Culture

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. 

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

Quality professional growth without the high price tag. The Leadership Summit is one of the most budget-friendly ways to build staff capacity and bring fresh, actionable ideas back to 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 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 gives camp pros the space 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 stronger planning for the year ahead.

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.