ACA, Ohio Camp Conference

Registration Open!

Register by December 18, 2025 to get the early bird rate!

• Registration includes full day of professional development, networking and luncheon.
• Not an ACA Member? Join today for FREE and get the best rates for this event!

 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!

Regular: 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 preparing and planning details, included meal numbers and room setups and materials. Our site needs final numbers in advance. We are always happy to welcome last minute registrants when possible!

From Home to Camp: What Boys Teach Us About Culture, Connections, and Care

Boys and young men are falling behind in increasingly alarming ways, such academic performance and college enrollment, mental health, and well-being, so much so that some say we are facing a crisis of masculinity. We see this at camp in terms of declining enrolling, fewer male-identifying staff, and behavioral issues, like bullying and violence.  But to focus only on the “crisis of masculinity” is to miss what we know to be true:  that boys have complex emotional lives and seek belonging, support, and acknowledgement as all youth do. Character development is one way we can help boys build the skills to recognize, regulate, and express emotions, develop empathy, and make intentional choices in their relationships and communities. In this keynote, Jonah Canner will challenge each of us to consider what the research tells us about boys and young men today, and to think about how we support character development among the boys and young men in our lives, whether they are campers, staff, colleagues, friends, or family. Together, we will think about building camp environments in which boys and young men can practice feeling, naming, and understanding their emotions so they can navigate their inner lives and the outer world.

Learn more about this topic in advance of the Ohio Camp Conference, consider reading this recent Edweek article.

 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.

Thursday, January 15, 2026

* Our exhibit hall will be open at 9am and open throughout our conference! Feel free to visit in-between sessions and during unopposed exhibit hall time.

9:00a.m.-9:30a.m.- Registration and Continental Breakfast & Exhibit Hall

9:30a.m.-10:45a.m.- Welcome and Opening Session

10:45a.m.-11:00a.m.- Unopposed Exhibit Hall Time

11:00-12:00- Educational Breakout Session I

12:15 p.m.-1:30p.m.- Luncheon and Awards 

1:30p.m.-1:45p.m.- Unopposed Exhibit Hall Time

1:45p.m.-2:45p.m.-Educational Breakout Session II

2:45-3:00 p.m.- Unopposed Exhibit Hall Time

3:00p.m.-4:00p.m.-Educational Breakout Session III

4:00p.m.- Safe Travels!

Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Time: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Location: Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center
Columbus, OH
Fee: No cost

Application is required by December 12, 2025 ; space is limited.

ACA is the only national accrediting body for camps of all types. Accreditation volunteers are the heart and soul of the program. Being an accreditation volunteer provides you with the experience to build your network, polish your risk management skills, and develop mentoring opportunities for both you and the camps you work with. As much as you give to this experience, you’ll gain from new ideas, perspectives, and approaches to the mission-driven work of the camp industry. 

Participation in this AVC Part 2 requires completion of the AVC Part 1 (online, asynchronous) by Friday, January 9, 2026.

More details available at https://www.acacamps.org/accreditation/volunteers/become-visitor.

For more information, contact Bekah Carmichael, [email protected]. 

APPLY NOW to become an accreditation volunteer (for this or other course dates)

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. High-Value, budget-friendly professional growth. Access to expert-led sessions make it one of the most affordable ways to build staff capacity and bring fresh, actionable ideas back to your 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, vendors, 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 conference offers a much-needed chance 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 smarter planning for the season ahead.

SITE INFORMATION

Our event will be taking place at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center in Columbus, Ohio. The Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center is a facility for youth, adult volunteers, community organizations, and Ohio State University partners.

Our pre-conference and conference events will be taking place at the center.

Click Here For Parking Information

HOTEL INFORMATION

If you plan on spending the night in Columbus, check out the Hyatt Place Columbus/OSU . 

Book

The exhibit hall date is January 15, 2026

Exhibit:

Booth cost:  Member $300 / non-member $800

Register to Exhibit

Sponsorship Opportunities:

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

Thursday-January 15, 2026

^{* The exhibit hall will be open at 9am and open throughout our conference! participants will be able to visit in-between sessions and during unopposed exhibit hall time.}

• 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.- Exhibitor Setup
• 9:00 a.m. -9:30 a.m. - Unopposed Exhibit Hall Time and Continental Breakfast
• 10:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. -  Unopposed Exhibit Hall Time 
• 1:30p.m.-1:45p.m.- Unopposed Exhibit Hall Time
• 2:45-3:00 p.m.- Unopposed Exhibit Hall Time 
• 3:00 p.m. - Exhibit Hall Closed

All sponsorships come with logo recognition on signage at the event, and on the events web page.

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

For questions regarding sponsorship opportunities, contact Kim Fitzgerald [email protected]

Chris Rehs-Dupin (he/him) is a nationally recognized camp leader, speaker, author, and consultant. He is the founder of TQAMP, which helps camps and youth-serving organizations create cultures of belonging for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and staff. With decades of experience in identity, inclusion, and youth development, Chris is also known for his articles in Camping Magazine—and for his notoriously bright wardrobe. In April 2026, Chris will publish his first book: Impounded:  Lesson in Leadership, Humanity and Holding the Line, which expands on his philosophy that leadership thrives at the intersection of courage, vulnerability, and joy. A sought-after speaker and storyteller, he is recognized for blending humor, strategy, and heart to help communities move beyond good intentions into meaningful, lasting impact.

Trevor Dunlap is a 1997 graduate of Wittenberg University with degrees in Elementary and Special Education. Trevor has published and presented in numerous local, state, and national venues on the use of experiential methodologies in building personal and organizational capacity. As Executive Director of Nuhop, Trevor is an innovative facilitator of experiential methodology who loves fostering creative environments where people can succeed through self-discovery and teamwork. His high energy and zeal creates a contagious atmosphere of transforming fun where people can develop a new appreciation of themselves and their peers. When not "working" Trevor can be found adventuring with his wife, Sarah, and their three amazing children - Ashton, Mattie, and Lydia.  

Matthew Broda is an Associate Professor of adolescent and young adult education and chair of the Department of Education at The College of Wooster. His areas of expertise include instructional technology, curriculum design, and instructional methodologies, teacher leadership, experiential and adventure education, and professional development. He received his B.S. from Kent State University (1999), M.Ed. (2004) from Ashland University, and a Ph.D. (2007) from Kent State University. Prior to his work at the College, Matthew served as a K-12 curriculum and instruction specialist, and middle school science, social studies, and language arts teacher. Matthew has published and presented in numerous local, state, national and international venues on the use of experiential methodologies in teaching, learning, and student development. If you can't find him, chances are he and his wife Kristin, are out searching for the perfect stretch of gravel to ride.