American Camp Association New England

Emergency Preparedness at Camp: A Panel Discussion with Chalmers Camp Insurance
2026-01-12 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Emergency action planning has become a critical focus across the camp community following the devastating flooding in Texas this past summer. This timely webinar brings camp professionals together to learn from peers who have navigated real-life emergencies and discover why a strong camp culture is just as essential as well-crafted policies.
Our panel will share their experiences and highlight key emergency management resources to support programs before, during, and after a crisis. Whether you’re refining an existing plan or building one from the ground up, this session will provide actionable insights to help you prepare with confidence.
Panelists:

Jolly Corley, Co-Director, Camp Robindel
Tony Oyenarte, Camp Director, Camp Emerson
Tonya Roy, Director of Quality Controls, YMCA of the USA
Katie Johnson, Senior Risk Consultant, Chalmers Camp Insurance

When: January 12, 2026 at 1:00pm EDT
Where: Zoom (link will be provided prior to the start of the session)
Cost: FREE
Click Here to Register
*This program is offered by Chalmers Camp Insurance as part of their partnership with ACA, New England.*
Questions, reach out Gillian Gold, Events & Logistics Coordinator at gillian@acanewengland.org or 781-541-6080 ext. 106.
Use of Images and Audio by ACA, New England: Through my registration, I give American Camp Association, New England (ACANE) full rights and permissions with respect to any photographs, video, and audio recordings taken during the ACANE event. These images and recordings may be used by ACANE and its agents in any format or medium and for any lawful purpose.

Youth Mental Health First Aid (blended course)
2026-01-22 09:00 - 16:00 | Zoom
This is an 8-hour education program that teaches participants how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among children and adolescents ages 12-18. Youth Mental Health First Aid uses group activity, role-playing, and simulations to demonstrate:

How to assess a mental health crisis
How to select interventions and provide initial help
How to connect young people to professional, peer, and social support, as well as self-help care.

The course covers:

Common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges and substance use challenges in this age group.
How to interact with a child or adolescent in crisis.
How to connect the youth with help.
Expanded content on trauma, substance use, self-care, and the impact of social media and bullying.

This course is offered in a two-part format and both components must be completed to earn your certification:

2.5 hours of pre-work, which must be completed by Thursday, January 15, 2026
Live, virtual course from 9:00am to 4:00pm on Thursday, January 22, 2026

What will participants learn?
Participants learn the risk factors and warning signs of a variety of mental health challenges common among adolescents including anxiety, depression, psychosis, eating disorders, AD/HD, disruptive behavior disorders, and substance use disorder.
Participants learn to support a youth developing signs and symptoms of a mental illness, or who are in an emotional crisis by applying a core five-step action plan. The Youth Mental Health First Aid USA curriculum is primarily focused on information participants can use to help adolescents and transition-aged youth, ages 8-18.
Participants do not learn to diagnose, nor how to provide any therapy or counseling.
Who should take this course?
This course is designed for any adults who regularly interact with adolescents, and who are either ACA, New England members or who work at camps located in Western Massachusetts.
We are able to provide this course free of charge to ACA, New England members thanks to a SAMHSA grant
Who created this course?
The National Council for Mental Wellbeing was instrumental in bringing Mental Health First Aid to the United States. Mental Health First Aid USA worked with experts at the National Technical Assistance Center for Children’s Mental Health at the Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development to develop the youth program.

Dates & Rates
When: Thursday, January 22, 2026, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (pre-work must be completed by Thursday, January 15 to qualify for the in-person portion of this course).
Where: Online. Participants will receive a Zoom link no later than 24 hours prior to the program.
Cost: This course is FREE for ACA, New England members and folks who work at camps in Western Massachusetts (parameters of the grant funding to support this course).
*Because this course results in a certification, attendees must fully participate in the entire program.*
Click here to register!
Registration Information:
This course is nearing capacity. If the course is full, please email gillian@acanewengland.org with your interest. We will be in touch in the new year.
This workshop has a maximum capacity of 15 participants.
Once you register through ACA, New England, additional communication about the course will come from the course instructors/the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. You will then receive an email with additional details on how to access the pre-work through the Mental Health First Aid Portal. Please allow time to receive that email. Registration will be open until January 8, 2026, and all pre-work must be completed by Thursday, January 15 to ensure you are qualified to attend the in-person component of the program.
Registrations are non-refundable but may be transferred to another eligible individual prior to the start of the event, provided there is enough time for that individual to complete the mandatory pre-work.
Questions: Reach out Gillian Gold, Events & Logistics Coordinator at gillian@acanewengland.org or 781-541-6080 ext. 106.

Coffee & Camp Chat
2026-01-23 10:00 - 11:00 | Zoom
Coffee & Camp Chat is a bi-weekly space for informal, yet purposeful, discussion among summer camp people! Sip your favorite beverage as we share insights, swap stories, and discuss trends in camping. Cozy into your Friday with fellow camp folk while we brew ideas, forge new connections, and remind each other why there’s no place like camp!
For more information or to suggest a topic for a future Chat, email bud@acanewengland.org
Coffee & Camp Chat is free and open to everyone in camping!

This Coffee & Camp Chat is sponsored by our partners at Chalmers Camp Insurance.

AI Essentials for Camp Professionals: From First Prompt to Custom Assistant
2026-01-27 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
Summer camps are often technology-free for campers, but camp professionals are discovering that AI tools can help them work smarter. This hands-on 60-minute workshop takes you from complete beginner to building your own custom AI assistant – no technical experience required
This is a workshop, not a lecture. You’ll need access to an AI platform during the session (free accounts work fine), and we’ll build together. Perfect for anyone who’s curious but hasn’t really dove in yet, or for folks who’ve been experimenting but want to understand the fundamentals better.
By the end, you’ll have practical skills, working examples, and a custom tool you build yourself.
Dates & Rates
When: Tuesday, January 27, 2026; 11:00am to 12:00pm EDT
Where: Zoom (meeting links will be sent prior to the start of the session)
Cost: Members $25; non-Members $40
Click here to register!
About the Instructor
Joseph Rosenbaum | CEO | Synaptic Labs

Joseph has an MSW from Boston College and over 10 years of experience in nonprofits and adult education. Joseph co-founded Synaptic Labs, an AI Agency dedicated to providing equitable access to AI for nonprofits and small businesses through education and integration services.
Learn more about Synaptic Labs

Interviewing with Intention, Part 2: Reading Between the Lines - Interviewing New Staff with Intention, Insight, and Integrity
2026-01-29 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
Interviewing with Intention: A Two-Part Series for Camp Hiring Leaders
Hiring is one of the most important responsibilities a camp director has – but the interview process is often underused as a tool for growth, learning, and leadership development. In this two-part series, Donna Johns-Thomas, SHRM-CP, founder of Indigo Consulting, explores how to make every interview count.
Part One helps camp leaders turn returning-staff conversations into opportunities for leadership building, skill development, and shared ownership of camp culture.
Part Two focuses on interviewing new staff — asking better questions, reducing bias, and using what you learn to shape stronger, more intentional pre-camp training.
Whether you’re hiring your 100th counselor or your first, these sessions will help you turn interviews into meaningful conversations that strengthen your team and your summer.
Reading Between the Lines: Interviewing New Staff with Intention, Insight, and Integrity
Anyone who’s hired for camp long enough has said it – “I can tell within five minutes if they’ll be good.” But while instinct plays a role, great hiring isn’t about hunches; it’s about information. Every interview is a chance to learn who this person might be in your camp community – how they’ll handle conflict, feedback, exhaustion, and a bunk full of campers. The key is asking questions that reveal more than rehearsed answers.
This session focuses on how to design and conduct interviews that are engaging, legally sound, and deeply informative. Participants will learn to move beyond stock questions (“What’s your favorite part about working with kids?”) to ones that uncover mindset, emotional intelligence, and real readiness for camp life. We’ll discuss how to:

Structure interviews that feel conversational yet consistent and purposeful.
Ask questions that draw out authentic responses from Gen Z candidates.
Avoid bias traps and recognize how personal assumptions can cloud judgment.
Navigate interviews for “must-fill” roles when ideal candidates aren’t available — assessing risk, readiness, and potential while meeting supervision ratios.

We’ll also explore how to use what’s learned in interviews to shape pre-camp training. If multiple staff express anxiety about parent communication or camper behavior management, that’s not just an individual concern — it’s a training theme. When interview insights directly inform staff development, teams feel heard, supported, and better prepared for the summer ahead.
Registration Info:
When: Thursday January 29. 2026; 11:00am to 12:00pm (eastern)
Where: Zoom (link provided prior to the start of the session)
Cost: $25 for Members; $40 for non-Members
Click here to register
Registration is non-refundable but may be transferred to another member of your organization. Registration in based on individual membership status.
About the Instructor

Donna Johns-Thomas, SHRM-CP, is the founder of Indigo Consulting, providing training, strategy, and HR-informed support for camps and youth-serving organizations. An HR-certified camp professional, Donna brings over 30 years of experience in camp, human resources, and professional development. She previously served as Director of Learning & Development for Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston and as Director of Professional Development for the American Camp Association, New England. Known for her humor, clarity, and real-world approach, Donna helps camp professionals turn everyday challenges into opportunities for connection, growth, and stronger workplace culture. Her sessions combine insight, practicality, and just enough edge to keep things real.
Learn more about Donna at IndigoConsultingJT.com

So, You Think You're Ready, But Are You? Proactive and Reactive Strategies in Emergency Response
2026-02-27 11:30 - 13:00 | Zoom
Emergencies don’t wait for the right moment — and neither should your readiness. This dynamic online session is designed specifically for summer camp directors and leadership teams who want to take their emergency preparedness to the next level. Participants will explore how to move beyond checklists and drills to build a culture of readiness. Our focus will be on assessing your camp’s current level of preparedness and identifying critical gaps. Develop proactive prevention and mitigation strategies tailored to your camp’s environment. Strengthen reactive response plans for medical, environmental, and behavioral crises. You’ll learn how to identify risks before they escalate, strengthen your camp’s crisis communication plan, and effectively lead staff and campers through unexpected events — from medical emergencies and severe weather to behavioral crises and community-wide incidents. Whether you’re a seasoned director or new to the role, this course will help you balance proactive planning with reactive leadership, ensuring your camp is prepared not just to respond—but to recover and thrive.

About the Instructor:

Jonathan Bundt is the founder and owner of Masa Consulting Inc. and has worked in mental health, public safety, healthcare, and emergency management for over 35
years, specializing in first responder care, disaster behavioral health, workplace violence prevention, crisis mitigation, incident response, and recovery. He regularly provides consultation and training services to EMS, police, fire departments, the private sector, hospitals, and state/federal agencies. Jonathan has provided incident and post-incident consultations for more than 3,000 local, regional, and national crisis, disaster, and violence events. He balances his background as a licensed mental health professional with 28 years of experience, and he is a certified emergency manager and
security professional. He also has a lifetime of experience as a camper and staff leader in the 70s and 80s. Then, he transitioned to his professional career, providing on-site and off-site support and consultative services for YMCA and Jewish Camps throughout the Midwest.

Click here to register!

Questions, reach out Gillian Gold, Events & Logistics Manager at gillian@acanewengland.org or 781-541-6080 ext. 106.
Use of Images and Audio by ACA, New England: Through my registration, I give American Camp Association, New England (ACANE) full rights and permissions with respect to any photographs, video, and audio recordings taken during the ACANE event. These images and recordings may be used by ACANE and its agents in any format or medium and for any lawful purpose.

From Plan to Practice: A Virtual Tabletop Session that Actually Works
2026-03-05 10:00 - 11:30 | Zoom
Now more than ever, camps are investing more resources into making sure their staffs are adequately prepared for any emergencies that may arise. But a comprehensive action plan isn’t enough. The real test of preparedness comes when the plan is put into action. Join Patrick Dollason, founder and CEO of The Base Camp Initiative, for a hands-on session to practice translating your emergency plans into practical tools that build confidence and empower your staff to act.
Base Camp’s services are designed specifically for the camp environment and are grounded in FEMA and DHS principles. Through guided discussion and facilitated tabletop exercises, participants will learn the actionable steps for creating their own tabletop exercises that they can in turn facilitate with their own staff teams.
When: Thursday, March 5, 2026
Where: Zoom (meeting links will be sent prior to the start of the session)
Cost: 1st Person: Member $40; Non-member $55, 2nd and Additional: Member: $30; Non-member $45
Click here to register!
Questions, reach out Gillian Gold, Events & Logistics Manager at gillian@acanewengland.org or 781-541-6080 ext. 106.
Use of Images and Audio by ACA, New England: Through my registration, I give American Camp Association, New England (ACANE) full rights and permissions with respect to any photographs, video, and audio recordings taken during the ACANE event. These images and recordings may be used by ACANE and its agents in any format or medium and for any lawful purpose.

New Camp Director Workshop 3/25/26
2026-03-25 08:00 - 18:00 | DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown, 700 Elm St, Manchester, NH, 03101
ACA, New England: New Camp Director Workshop
(a 101-level offering)
ACA, New England’s New Camp Director Workshop is a fast-paced, one-day program designed to give new and aspiring camp directors greater understanding of the scope and key functions of the professional role of the camp director, including the following:

Transition to Leadership and the Camp Director Role
Knowing your Camp – mission & values, culture, your audience
The Business of Camp – finances, policies & procedures, continuous improvement
Risk Management & Emergency Planning – best practices, mandated reporting, assessing risk, emergency action plans, and crisis response
Building and Managing a Team – recruitment, hiring, training, supervision, retention
Hot Topics & things you don’t think of

Participants will also be assigned a “Resource Group” with other attendees and an instructor and can expect the opportunity to connect with them at least three times within a year of taking the course.
Ideal participants are full-time and part-time camp directors in their first three years of the role, and aspiring camp directors.
The course is taught by instructors from a variety of different camp backgrounds who have at least 7 years of experience as a camp director.
Participants will come away from the day with:

A welcome to the American Camp Association, New England, which serves camps throughout the region with programming, resources, and accreditation services;
Increased knowledge related to the topics above;
A library of handouts and resources to utilize; and
Connection with experienced instructors and a network of new colleagues to connect with for ongoing support

ACA Core Competencies covered in this workshop:

Business Management
Evaluation
Family & Connection
Health & Wellness
Human Resources
Leadership
Risk Management
Youth Development

*Please note: this course does not cover basic youth development, curriculum, or program design principles.
When: Wednesday, March 25, 2026; 8:00am to 6:00pm
Where: DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown, Manchester NH
Member Price: $110
Non-Member Price: $140
The New Camp Director Workshop is a full-day program. Attendance for the entirety of the program is required to receive education credits and a certificate of completion.

Have questions? Reach out to Gillian, Events & Logistics Manager, at gillian@acanewengland.org, or call our office at 781-541-6080
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Use of Images and Audio by ACA, New England: Through my registration, I give American Camp Association, New England (ACANE) full rights and permissions with respect to any photographs, video, and audio recordings taken during the ACANE event. These images and recordings may be used by ACANE and its agents in any format or medium and for any lawful purpose.

Accreditation Volunteer Course 3/25/26
2026-03-25 09:00 - 18:00 | Goffstown YMCA, 116 Goffstown Back Road, Goffstown, NH, 03045, United States
ACA New England needs YOU to join an amazing team of volunteers! Join us for our next Accreditation Volunteer Course (formerly known as the Associate Visitors Course).
This course is an in-person training. Participants must attend all learning sessions over the timeframe to successfully become an accreditation volunteer. This course requires active participation and engagement.
ACA’s accreditation program is the only national peer review program of its kind for the camp industry. Being an ACA accreditation volunteer (visitor) provides you with the experience to build your network, polish your skills in observation and risk management, 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.
To become an accreditation volunteer, please complete these steps:

Submit an Accreditation Volunteer Application (online)
Register for this Accreditation Volunteer Course (formerly known as the Associate Visitors Course)

Once you are registered for the course, you’ll be enrolled in the required online pre-course work. The online pre-course work includes the Accreditation Process Workshop so you are up to date. This online pre-work must be successfully completed in order to attend the Accreditation Volunteer Course. To become an accreditation volunteer, you must fully attend and participate in ALL parts of the training.
If this course date does not work for your schedule, when you complete the Accreditation Volunteer Application, you will have other live virtual and in-person course options to select from.
Additional steps:

Review the ACA Associate Visitor/Visitor Service Description.
Review and be ready to sign the Volunteer Conflict of Interest and Code of Conduct.
Be a current ACA individual member (contact us if you have questions about this. We also offer a discounted membership rate for visitors).

The registration Deadline is March 16, 2026. Pre-registration is required for this course.
There is an online portion that must be completed prior to the in-person portion of this course.
Click here to register
Cost: Free
Where & When: Goffstown YMCA, 116 Goffstown Back Road, Goffstown, NH 03045; March 25, 2026 from 9:00am to 6:00pm
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In conjunction with the New England Camp Conference, this course will be held in person as part of our pre-conference programming. To register for the NE Camp Conference, click here.
Questions, reach out Haillie Mousseau, Accreditation & Volunteer Manager at haillie@acanewengland.org or 781-541-6080 ext. 100.
Use of Images and Audio by ACA, New England: Through my registration, I give American Camp Association, New England (ACANE) full rights and permissions with respect to any photographs, video, and audio recordings taken during the ACANE event. These images and recordings may be used by ACANE and its agents in any format or medium and for any lawful purpose.

2026 New England Camp Conference
2026-03-26 08:00 - 2026-03-28 15:00 | DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown, 700 Elm St, Manchester, NH, 03101
Registration for the 2026 New England Camp Conference is OPEN!
Join us in Manchester, NH for 3 days (March 26-28) of education, connection, and FUN!
Click here for registration details
