Northern California Campference
Date
Location
Napa, CA 94558
Cost
Details Coming Soon!
CECs
8.00Welcome to the Northern California Campference!
We’ve heard you—and we’re listening. This year marks a big shift: we’re expanding from a one-day workshop to a full two-night, three-day retreat-style experience for camp professionals. Why? Because meaningful connection, thoughtful reflection, and innovative problem-solving take time—and you're worth it.
This isn’t just a longer conference. It’s a Campference.
What’s a Campference? It’s not quite camp. It’s not quite a conference. It’s something better.
We’re reimagining how we gather—with intention, inspiration, and the spirit of camp at the heart of it all.
At the Northern California Campference, you’ll have the space to:
🌲 Unpack the summer – Celebrate the wins, reflect on the challenges, and swap stories with peers who truly get what it’s like to run a camp.
🛠 Get strategic for the off-season – Join collaborative sessions on marketing, staffing, programs, and more—designed to spark ideas and offer tangible takeaways.
🤝 Think, dream, and grow with your camp community – Expect a think-tank vibe, small-group discussions, and new connections that will sustain you all year long.
Who is this 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.
| Type | Early-Bird | Regular |
|---|---|---|
| Member | $$$ | $$$ |
| Nonmember | $$$ | $$$ |
This is a bargain—and we mean it. Your Campference registration includes:
🌲2 nights of lodging at the beautiful Enchanted Hills Camp
🍽 5 delicious meals starting with dinner on Tuesday and ending with breakfast on Thursday
🧠 All educational sessions, workshops, and facilitated discussions
🎉 Community-building, inspiration, 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.
Tuesday, October 14
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1:00-2:00 p.m. | Arrival & Check-In
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2:00-5:00 p.m. | Welcome Workshop: Unpack the Summer & Generate What's Next
Join your Western ACA team—Anne and Janette, who bring over 40 years of experience in camp leadership and youth development—for a dynamic, hands-on session. Together, we’ll reflect on the past summer, surface key takeaways, and co-create the conversations that matter most for the year ahead. This is a facilitated forum for honest reflection, peer learning, and strategic planning. Come ready to share, listen, and set the tone for a meaningful conference.
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5:00- 6:00 p.m. | Break / Optional Nature Walk / Free Time
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6:00- 7:30 p.m. | Opening reception & Dinner
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7:45-9:30 p.m. | Optional: Campfire Connections
Wednesday, October 15
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7:00-8:00 a.m. | Morning Movement Options
Choose your start: Sunrise Yoga, Nature Walk, or Coffee Chats in the lodge
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8:00–9:00 AM | Breakfast & Morning Welcome
Coffee, carbs, and camp people—start your day with good food and even better company. We’ll share a few updates, spotlight what’s coming, and give you one solid reason to be glad you showed up early.
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9:15–10:30 AM | Morning Workshop 1
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10:30- 11:00 AM | Debrief + Connect
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11:00- 12:15 PM | Morning Workshop 2
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12:30 - 1:30 PM | Lunch + Affinity Group Meetups (Optional)
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2:00- 3:15 PM | Afternoon Workshop
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3:15- 4:00 PM | Walk + Talk Activity
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4:15- 5:30 PM | Facilitated Roundtable Discussions
Join us based on your needs for cross-track topic-based discussions to share perspectives
(e.g. "Hiring: What’s Working," "Summer Staff Training," "Facilities Fixes").
- 5:30-6:30 PM | Break / Optional Nature Walk / Free Time
- 6:30- 7:30 PM | Dinner
- 7:45- 9:00 PM | Evening Experience: Camp Games + Connection Time
Thursday, October 16
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7:00-8:00 a.m. | Morning Movement Option
Choose your start: Sunrise Yoga, Nature Walk, or Coffee Chats in the lodge
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8:00–8:45 AM | Breakfast & Morning Welcome
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9:00- 10:30 AM | Closing Panel
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11:00 - 1:00 PM | Optional Camp Tours in the Area
Welcome to Enchanted Hills Camp (Yes, it’s as magical as it sounds)
Tucked into the redwood-draped hills of Napa, Enchanted Hills Camp is the perfect spot to hit pause, catch your breath, and reconnect after the whirlwind of summer. This one-of-a-kind facility—built with intention and inclusion for the blind and visually impaired—is not only inspiring, it’s a reminder of how powerful thoughtful design and community can be.
Think of this as your well-earned retreat: cabins nestled in the woods, morning coffee under the trees, deep conversations with other camp pros who get it. Whether you're still unpacking the chaos (and brilliance) of the past 12 weeks or dreaming up next summer’s magic, this is the place to reflect, reset, and reimagine together.
Lodging is available in shared cabins, with options for roommate-style rooms and a limited number of single rooms. Bring a sleeping bag, your camp spirit, and maybe a notebook—you’re going to want to remember what happens here.
1. 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.
2. It’s affordable—and all-inclusive.
For one low price, you get lodging, meals, and high-quality learning. No extra hotel bookings or per-diem budgeting. It’s an incredibly cost-effective way to invest in your team’s growth.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
