"Success is not a straight line, it is a squiggly line."
 – Adam Grant

If there were one proven formula for staffing a camp, we would have found it by now.

Instead, this past summer reminded us that successful staffing looked very different from one camp to the next. Some camps hired more staff than ever before. Others navigated last-minute vacancies, adjusted programming, or made difficult decisions about enrollment. Some found success through international staff, while others relied almost entirely on domestic recruiting. No two stories were exactly alike.

That's why Adam Grant's observation, "Success is not a straight line, it is a squiggly line," captures the spirit of this year's ACA Staffing Summit so well.

There Are Many Paths to Successful Staffing

The value of the Staffing Summit has never been about discovering the answer. It's about discovering your answer.

Since the first Staffing Summit in 2021, each year's theme has reflected where camps found themselves at that moment in time. Early on, collaboration helped camps weather unprecedented staffing shortages. More recently, we focused on strengthening hiring processes and building sustainable recruitment practices. This year recognizes something equally important: every camp begins from a different starting point and every staffing journey follows its own course.

A camp's mission, culture, size, location, budget, reputation, applicant pool, leadership team, and local workforce all influence what success looks like. An idea that transforms one camp may need thoughtful adaptation before it works somewhere else.

Gathering With Fellow Camp Professionals Matters

Throughout the two-day virtual Staffing Summit, you'll hear stories from camps of every size and type. Some presenters will share ideas that produce immediate results. Others will be candid about strategies that didn't work as expected and what they learned along the way. Both are valuable because every experience leaves clues.

Rather than searching for a blueprint to copy, you'll leave with something even more useful: perspectives, questions, and practical ideas that you can adapt to fit your own camp's culture and circumstances.

Learn From People Who've Walked the Path

This year's October keynote features Tony McGaharan, an internationally respected leadership consultant and former camp director who has spent decades helping organizations build stronger leaders, healthier workplace cultures, and high-performing teams. Drawing from his extensive experience in both camping and leadership development, Tony will challenge attendees to think differently about attracting, supporting, and leading today's staff.

Across both Summit days, you'll also find educational sessions, collaboration hubs, and conversations with camp professionals who are eager to share what they've learned. Whether your staffing season felt smooth or was full of twists and turns, you'll leave with fresh ideas that can help shape the next step on your own journey.

Why Virtual Still Works

The Staffing Summit continues to be virtual because accessibility matters. Directors can participate without travel costs or time away from camp and can revisit recordings for 30 days after each event. The conversations don't end when a session closes. They continue through in-person collaboration hubs at various conferences, follow-up discussions, and the professional relationships built throughout the year.

No Two Camps Will Ever Have Identical Staffing Stories

And that's exactly the point.

This year's Staffing Summit celebrates the many paths camps take toward success. Come prepared to share your experiences, learn from others, and discover ideas that fit your camp. Because while success may not be a straight line, we can all learn from one another's squiggles.

Whether your staffing season felt like a smooth climb or a series of unexpected turns, we hope you'll join us for this year's ACA Staffing Summit. The destination may be similar, but every camp's path is unique, and together we'll discover what the next step looks like.

Register Now

Take advantage of early bird rates through October 1! Not a member of ACA? Take advantage of the free membership special for discounted registration on the Staffing Summit and other PD events.

This blog was written on behalf of ACA's Project Real Job, whose goal is to support camps in their efforts to recruit, hire, and retain staff. 

Kim Aycock, MST, has several decades of experience equipping young people with skills robots are unable to do. While blending the talents of a master teacher with the knowledge of a seasoned camp expert, Kim ignites learning for varying levels of camp pros worldwide through her interactive and innovative presentations. Kim speaks at regional and national conferences, contributes regularly to Camping Magazine, and serves as co-chair of ACA’s Staffing Summit. She can be contacted at [email protected]. 

Photo courtesy of Camp Odayin in Oakdale, MN