National Conference

As of 1/2/2025.  Subject to Change

ACA reserves the right to make any and all adjustments to the program. Additional event details will be added as they are finalized.

ACA National Conference and Exhibits

We would like to make you aware of a situation that has been brought to our attention.  There are companies using various names who have been contacting our exhibitors to "assist" with hotel reservations.  They sometimes disguise themselves as the American Camping Association (ACA) Housing Bureau or claim to represent the conference hotel.   They may claim they can get better rates, that rooms are limited, or use other sales pitch methods.   They are NOT the official housing bureau and are NOT affiliated with the ACA in any way. 

When can I set up my booth?

The exhibitor set up is on Wednesday, Feb. 18, from 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. No one will be allowed to set up any earlier, with no exceptions. 

What are the exhibit hall hours?

Take advantage of the opportunity to tie your brand to ACA and the educational aspects of this conference. Your sponsorship might be tax-deductible. Check with your tax advisor.

Premier Sponsorships

• Conference Title Sponsor - Call/email for a quote
• Name Badge & Tote Bag Sponsor - SOLD
• Acorn Dinner - $12,000
• Mobile App Sponsor - SOLD
• Grand Opening Keynote Speaker - $12,000
• Second Keynote Speaker - $10,000
• Exhibit Hall Grand Opening - $15,000 
• Exhibit Hall Coffee and Bagels, Thursday morning - SOLD
• Exhibit Hall Lunch, Thursday afternoon - $10,000
• Exhibit Hall Dessert, Thursday late afternoon - $10,000
• Meeting Room Sponsor - $10,000

Friend of Camp Sponsorships

• Closing Celebration - $8,000
• Resource Center - $8,000 
• Research Forums (3) - $8,000
• Emerging Professionals in Camping (EPIC) Pre-Conference and EPIC Cafe - $8,000
• Camps on Campus - $5,000 
• Gathering of Internationals - $6,000
• Research Evening Social - $5,000
• Faith-based Camps Cafe - $4,000
• Research Poster Session - $3,000
• Informal Cafe Discussions with coffee and bagels - $3,000 per cafe
  • Day Camp Café 
  • Non-profit Council Café
  • Spanish Speaking Café
  • Medical and Disability Camping Café
  • Camp Includes Me Café
  • Faith-based Camps Café
  • Camp-School-Community Partnership Café

• First-Timers Orientation - SOLD
• Volunteer Gathering - $2,000 - SOLD
• Pioneers Luncheon - $3,000 - 
• EPIC (Emerging Professionals in Camp) - $3,000
• Hand Sanitizing Station - $1,000 per station, includes company logo and booth number
• Underwriting opportunities:  AV, Mainstage, Snack breaks, or Live entertainment - $2,500 - $20,000

Each sponsorship includes a customized package of benefits. 
Sponsorship of $10,000+ will include a booth, a tote bag stuffer item, a pinned Facebook post on the national conference group page, and a lead retrieval license.
ACA will allow more than one sponsor in an area but not in the same industry product category.

Advertising Opportunities

The 2026 conference CFP site will open in June.

The American Camp Association is accepting proposals from high-quality presenters for innovative, timely, and dynamic educational sessions to be presented at the ACA National Conference, February 18-21, 2025 in Dallas, TX.

Review of previous conference evaluations and informal feedback gathered from attendees, indicate that camp and youth professionals seek high-level knowledge in these areas:

• Business and Operations, including Camp-School Partnerships — Topics for camps, conference centers, and out-of-school time programs are welcomed addressing areas of operation like marketing, budgeting, risk management, crisis communications, site and facility, environmental issues, health services, food service, transportation, technology, board development, fundraising, and public policy. This year, we are including within this track camp-school partnerships and other innovative community-based partnerships.
• Camp Includes Me — The intention of Camp Includes Me is to create a space where we can exchange ideas and increase our competence around issues of inclusion, equity, and cross-cultural agility. Join the conversation as we move beyond “representational diversity” and integrate true inclusion by expanding our awareness and cultural intelligence and by bringing together various world views, research, experiences, and subject matter experts.
• Camps on Campus — Presentations will address opportunities and challenges for camps and other youth programs in higher education and K-12 settings. Topics will include issues unique to school settings, including programmatic and logistical concerns, risk management practices, safety issues, youth protection, staff training, as well as navigating institutional processes.
• Emerging Issues, Tools, and Technology — Cutting-edge topics which provide new challenges and/or opportunities for camps and conference centers. May include public policy, health care, social issues, and innovative tools and resources.
• Executive Leadership Forum — Consider topics targeted for seasoned professionals who have executive leadership responsibilities within their organizations including achieving missions and visions, cutting-edge leadership concepts, board development, strategic planning, finance, fund-raising, and other sessions which will help camping organizations thrive.
• Innovative Programs and Activities — We’re seeking the 400-level series of programs and activities that showcase the best the camp experience has to offer presented by seasoned camp professionals and industry experts.  Keep in mind the audience will include camp owners, directors, and mid-level managers who are seeking innovation, fresh ideas, programs that enhance what they currently offer, and activities that can take the camp experience to the next level. 
• Medical Camping — We are seeking proposals that address the challenges and opportunities of providing meaningful camp experiences for campers and their families living with chronic and serious illness. Camp and medical professionals working with these programs serve as the primary audience, however; all attendees are welcome. Topics may include unique staff and volunteer training issues, working effectively with the host site and personnel, medical risk management and quality assurance, serving children with higher medical acuity, adaptive programming, and helping healthcare professionals and volunteers relate and work well in a camp environment, among others. 
• Staff Training and Leadership — In addition to critical areas in human resources like skillfully recruiting, selecting, managing, training, and motivating staff and volunteers, we’re seeking programs that address goal-setting, leadership, outcomes attainment, youth involvement in decision making, and developing life skills on the job. Sessions that address staff behavior, and staff health and wellness are also appropriate. Please note: an overwhelming majority of submissions are received in this track, making selections challenging for the Program Review team.

• Youth Development and Behavior — Presentations should demonstrate how camp professionals can effectively use the camp experience to help prepare young people (including campers and/or counselors) for healthy and successful lives. Topics may include: participant development and behavior, health and wellness, creating a community of respect, program design to achieve youth development outcomes, and program evaluation.

Here is your chance to volunteer to help. Whether you would like to work as a volunteer to receive a partial rebate on your registration fee (registration rebates are limited) or simply to contribute to your association, you can help make this an amazing event.

Partial registration rebates can be earned by volunteers fulfilling significant volunteer time commitments. Priority for the registration rebates is provided to members of ACA and, specifically, to those members local to the event.

Most volunteers enjoy the opportunity to be involved as both attendees and contributors. The cross-section and volume of volunteers enrich the event. A list of key volunteer areas with brief descriptions follows. Keep in mind the needs for the conference remain fluid. We never turn away good help!

The Process

We seek volunteers who commit in advance and welcome those who sign up on-site. If you would like to volunteer, please complete the online volunteer form. Assignments will be confirmed before the conference. On-site, you may check opportunities in one of two locations — the Speaker Services Counter and the Hospitality Area. 

Please register in advance for the conference at the normal rate. After the conference, volunteer chairs will provide ACA with a list of volunteers who have earned a rebate on their registration fee. The rebate will be processed at that time and a payment issued via the same payment method by which the registration was made (credit card or check).

Opportunities

Hospitality
Hospitality and community building are hallmarks of the ACA National Conference. There are opportunities for hospitality volunteers both before and during the conference. Among others, assignments may include directing attendees in the conference hotel, staffing the Hospitality Area, and welcoming Kindred and Affiliate groups.

Registration
During heavy check-in times (i.e., all day Tuesday), two to three volunteers are needed to work registration alongside ACA staff. Volunteer hours at registration counters are anticipated to be during the following: Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.  

Education Session Room Hosts
We have numerous volunteer room host slots to fill. This is an assignment for volunteers who are comfortable interacting with audiences and presenters. As a host, you will help with handouts, introductions, and, in some cases, may assist speakers during their question-and-answer period. This is a great volunteer option for those who wish to volunteer and still take advantage of educational sessions. 

General Session Assistance
There are three general sessions. Volunteers will help usher, aid conference team members, chaperone entertainers, set out special event items, and perform a variety of miscellaneous tasks.

While volunteering, no products or services may be promoted to attendees.