Quality Programs Level 1
Date
Location
San Diego, CA 92108
Cost
1st Person ACA Member: $200
1st person Nonmember: $400
2nd Person ACA Member: $150
2nd Person Nonmember: $350
Become A Member and Save!
Quality Programs Level I is immersive, in-depth training designed to help camps build stronger, more supportive environments where youth thrive.
Participants will:
-
Strengthen Program Environments – Gain the tools to create safe, supportive, and engaging settings that promote youth growth and positive camp culture.
-
Integrate SEL Practices – Learn how to embed social-emotional learning into staff training and daily camp operations through intentional, evidence-based strategies.
-
Use the SEL Program Quality Assessment with Confidence – Develop the skills to observe, score, and apply insights from the Social Emotional Learning Program Quality Assessment for Camps tool to drive improvement.
-
Lead Continuous Improvement Efforts – Leave equipped to collaborate with your team on intentional, data-informed steps that enhance program quality and help your camp grow with purpose.
Camps that invest in this training are better prepared to lead with intention and grow with purpose. For maximum impact, enroll at least two team members and take the first step toward a meaningful and lasting program improvement.
Steph Love, MS Experiential Education, has spent her career at camp, working in almost every role imaginable from CIT to camp director. In 2004, Steph co-founded her own camp, Positive Energy Outdoors, providing access to unique outdoor programming, including dog sledding and driving draft horses, kayaking, rock climbing, and her community’s first nature play-based after-school childcare program. Through camps and program partnerships, she has created safe and supportive outdoor experiences for thousands of children and adults of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Steph uses her camp expertise to design and facilitate workshops on social emotional learning, equity, character, and quality. She has coached camps and out of school time programs in 35 states and around the world through her work with the Forum for Youth Investment’s Weikart Center, and her current work with ACA and the SeriousFun Children’s Network. Steph lives in Duluth, MN with her teenage son, sled dogs, and rescue black lab. She is a volunteer adaptive alpine skiing and kayak instructor, and is slowly transforming her lawn into a pollinator garden.
Karen Greenesmith, ACA (bio coming soon)
McKenna Crews, ACA (bio coming soon)
Part 1 (3 hours) 1:00–4:00 p.m.
- Welcome and Introductions: Prepare for Continuous Program Quality Improvement
- Central Ideas:
- What is continuous program quality improvement?
- Prepare to Assess the Quality of Programs
- Observation Practice: Safe and Support Environment Scale Review
- Implementation: Planning your assessment process
Part 2 (2 hours) 4:00–6:00 p.m.
- Central Ideas: Safe and Supportive Staff Practices: Emotion Coaching
- Practice: Creating Safe and Supportive Environments at Camp
- Implementation: Planning your staff training
- Closing Reflection and Next Steps
Earn 5.0 CEC for this event. More information on CECs can be found here.
