Coffee & Camp Chat
2025-09-26 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-10-24 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-11-07 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-11-21 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-01-09 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-02-13 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-02-27 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | 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!

Introduction to MESH (+) Seal: Virtual Info Session
2025-10-08 14:00 - 15:00 | Virtual
An Introduction to the MESH (+) Seal:
At a time when young people and adults are all longing to be seen, feel heard, and sense authentic connection, ACH is exploring the best ways to elevate care for healthier communities. Your desire to obtain the MESH(+) Seal helps us reach that goal by creating an opportunity to examine your program through a comprehensive well-being lens.
The MESH(+) Seal program recognizes camps and programs that intentionally evaluate and integrate Mental, Emotional, and Social Health(+) throughout their operations. MESH(+) Seal programs consciously incorporate practices and strategies that enhance mental health, emotional resilience, social development, and overall well-being in meaningful ways.
MESH (+) is a framework that strives to create intentional communities by integrating mental, emotional and social health into the personal and collective camp experiences. MESH (+) does this through providing resources and evidence-based models to camps for evaluation of activities (or ‘values’) in four key pillars (program, training, screening and medical).
The MESH(+) Seal application process serves as a valuable analysis and reflection framework as you develop your program’s comprehensive approach to camper and staff well-being. Join us so you can identify opportunities to become a part of the #MovementOfCare and to create and #EcosytemOfWellBeing in a meaningful way through current best practice.
This is a free virtual info session for camps who are interested in learning more about the MESH (+) Seal before applying. The submission window for applications is October 1, 2025 to March 1, 2026.
Join ACA, New England and the Alliance for Camp Health on October 8 at 2:00pm ET to explore how the MESH (+) Seal is helping leaders elevate care by weaving mental, emotional, and social health into every part of camp life.
Click Here to Register
For questions about the info session, reach out Gillian Gold, Events & Logistics Coordinator at gillian@acanewengland.org or 781-541-6080 ext. 106.
For questions about the MESH(+) Seal, reach out to Nikki Alvarado-Hobbs, Program Director at Alliance for Camp Health, at nikki@allianceforcamphealth.org
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.

Camp Season Rewind & Fast Forward
2025-10-09 11:00 - 12:00

Coffee & Camp Chat
2025-10-10 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 FRIDAY 10/10: As always, C&CC will be open to any/all questions, topics, musings, etc. around camp. However, we’re going to start Friday with highs from the summer. I want folks to show up prepared to share a moment, person, program, night, meal, etc. from this summer that you’d consider a “high”. It’s something you can build upon, or it’s the culmination of hard work, or it’s simply the thing that will keep you coming back for more camp. See you Friday!
Coffee & Camp Chat is free and open to everyone in camping!

Resource Community Series: Operationalizing DEI at Your Camp
2025-10-21 10:00 - 2025-11-18 11:30 | ACA New England Office, 80 Westview St, Lexington, MA, 02421
Has your camp been talking about or been doing preliminary work around belonging, diversity, inclusion (and similar concepts that may go by a variety of terms)?
Are you ready to take this work to the next level? If so, join ACA, New England and OAAARS for a year-long exploration into how to more deeply operationalize DEIB at your camp. This Resource Community will be a cohort model with monthly meetings from October to May.
Simone Gamble and their colleagues from OAAARS will ask you to identify a specific project to work on and using accountable structure and intersectional lens, they will guide you through a year of reflection and action.
This series is designed to be an interactive, live, discussion-based opportunity for you to grow your camp’s skills in this area while being guided by strong facilitators. This is a 201, intermediate-level offering.
The series will consist of two in-person sessions, 6 Zoom sessions, one informal in-person meet-up at the New England Camp Conference, and a presentation opportunity during an e-session hosted by ACANE in early May. Sessions will not be recorded.
Meeting Schedule

October 21, 2025: Zoom session, 10 am – 11:30 am
November 18, 2025: In-person session, 10 am – 2 pm – ACA, New England office, Lexington, MA
December 16, 2025: Hybrid session, 10 am – 2 pm (In-Person preferred) – ACA, New England Office, Lexington, MA – OR – Zoom
January 20, 2026: Zoom session, 10:00 am – 11:30 am
February 24, 2026: Zoom session, 10:00 am – 11:30 am
March 17, 2026: Zoom session, 10:00 am – 11:30 am
March 26 or 27, 2026: In person meet-up at the ACANE Conference, Manchester, NH – exact day & time TBD
April 14, 2026: Zoom session, 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Week of May 5, dates/times TBD: Project e-presentation opportunity
May 12, 2026: Zoom session, 10:00 am – 11:30 am

Participants will receive 16 CECs for their participation in this program.
Series registration comes with one hour of complimentary one-on-one coaching with an OAAARS Consultant (a $200 value).
This series has a minimum of 12 and a maximum capacity of 24 participants.
Cost: $329 for ACA members/ $379 for non-members
We never want cost to be a barrier to you getting the professional development you need. Please reach out to kerry@acanewengland.org to discuss financial assistance opportunities. We are happy to help!
REGISTER HERE!
Registration is for an individual, for the full series and is non-refundable. Registration may be transferred to another eligible individual from your camp/organization before the series begins.

About the Moderator:
Simone Gamble is a NYC-based community organizer, educator, and social impact entrepreneur with deep roots in the South Bronx. A graduate of Hunter College and the Silberman School of Social Work, Simone’s work centers on social justice, youth empowerment, and creating safer, more equitable spaces. They have led workshops and trainings across the country for nonprofits, schools, and after-school programs, focusing on intersectional, anti-oppressive practices.
With over a decade of experience in the camping world—from counselor to Assistant Camp Director —Simone now consults with camps nationwide on aligning their practices with Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) values.
They are the founder of OAAARS, a growing network of 90+ BIPOC consultants who bring expertise in organizing, art, education, and advocacy to support transformative change in workplaces and communities.

About OAAARS:
OAAARS is a BIPOC consultancy that leads social justice centered trainings and education to support organizations looking to create safer and equitable workplaces while also cultivating agents of change in the workplace and beyond.

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.

Building an Outstanding CIT Program!
2025-10-24 10:00 - 15:00 | ACA New England Office, 80 Westview St, Lexington, MA, 02421
This course is now FULL
If you’d like to be added to a waitlist, please email gillian@acanewengland.org

Come spend the day evaluating your CIT program!
Fall is the perfect time to give this invaluable program the attention it needs each year. This workshop will include guidance on how to evaluate and reimagine your program. We all know how important our leadership training is and how it plays a major role in hiring in the future. Bring your curriculum, program and experiences to share and let’s get to work together.
Too often, we neglect to give this program the time and consideration it deserves. It is essential that camps do not overlook the importance of building and maintaining a strong CIT Program, as our best staff is there, in camp, in the making. Most importantly, the CIT participants need to experience and feel their summer experience is one of professional and personal growth and that being a camp counselor is an important step into their future endeavors. You will walk away with a more clear direction and solid program for summer 2026.
This workshop is for the most beginner to experienced CIT Director/Camp Director/Camp Professional.
What will you go home with by the end of the day:

How to thoughtfully evaluate your own CIT Program.
How to develop specific tools to build a stronger CIT Training Program.
How to identify and retain young leaders as high performing future staff members.

Join seasoned camp professional, Whit Ryan, for a hands-on day of reflection and action!
Click here to register!
About the Instructor
Whit Ryan has more than 35 years of experience in camping. She has served as Director of Staff Recruitment and Leadership Training at Wyonegonic Camps in Maine. Previously, Whit was a senior staff member at Alford Lake Camp, ME and director of Waukeela Camp, NH. As a career educator and founder and owner of Clearview Life Coaching, Whit focuses on working with schools and individuals to build stronger citizens and communities. She has extensive experience in building leadership training programs that will produce lasting benefits for camps. Whit has presented at both ACA National and New England conferences and the ACA Staffing Summit.
Info & Details
When: Friday, October 24 from 10:00am to 3:00pm
Where: ACA, New England Office – 80 Westview Street, Lexington, MA 02421
Cost: $85 for Members; $115 for non-Members
Please come prepared with any and all materials you will need for the day. If you are using a laptop/tablet, please be sure to bring a charger. Dressing in light-layers is recommended as temperatures may fluctuate.
Light snacks and lunch will be provided.
Registration is non-refundable, but may be transferred to another eligible member of your organization.
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.

Reflecting on 2025 to Prepare for 2026 (A Chalmers Camp Insurance e-session)
2025-11-06 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
Most camps have had a chance to look back on the summer—and many are already deep into planning for 2026. But as teams settle back into the day-to-day rhythm of the off-season—staff hiring, camper registration, and marketing—some of those great reflections and ideas from 2025 can get pushed aside. This webinar is a chance to bring those insights back to the forefront. We’ll revisit key themes from the past season that camp leaders should keep top of mind as they shape the year ahead.
*This program is offered by Chalmers Camp Insurance as part of their partnership with ACA, New England.*

Resource Community Series: Mid-Career Camp Leaders (register to join starting in November)
2025-11-07 10:00 - 13:00 | ACA, New England/Zoom (depending on session)
While the first session of the group already happened in October, we are able to accept additional registrants to the group prior to the November 7 in-person meeting, if you are still interested in joining us!
A 201, intermediate level offering
For camp professionals who have been in director/leadership roles for 3-7 years and are looking to deepen and further develop their experiences, skills, and networks in the camping industry. If you have fewer than 3 summers of leadership experience, but feel that this group fits your level, reach out and let’s chat!
Building community with colleagues from a variety of camps throughout New England is an important part of staying connected in our industry. As you take on increasing responsibilities in your role, advance your skills and expertise, and look to deepen your professional networks, we invite you to join this cohort of like-minded colleagues. Join us for a series of monthly facilitated discussions (October to May) where you’ll have the opportunity to share ideas and resources, get feedback, troubleshoot challenges, and explore opportunities in a safe and professional space.
Topics will be flexible based on the group’s needs/interests, but may include:

Your personal mission and staying invested in camp
Growing your camp
Counselor hiring and retention
Setting your camp culture
Building a team you trust with the expertise you need
Industry trends

Mark Lipof, Director/Co-Owner of Camp Micah with over 40 years of camping experience, will facilitate the sessions. His role will be to encourage participant-led discussions, provide resources, offer observations and insights, all while keeping the conversation and session flow going!
(Both day and resident camp directors are welcome! As this cohort will be limited to 24 participants, we can only accommodate one director per camp at this time.)
This series is not designed to be a how-to, but an interactive discussion-based opportunity for directors looking to build their professional network and resource sharing as leaders. Sessions will not be recorded. For 2025-26, there will be two sessions in-person (one local to Lexington, MA and one at the New England Camp Conference in Manchester, NH), one hybrid session, and six Zoom sessions.
Meeting Schedule

Friday, October 17, 10:00 am – 11:30 am – Zoom
Friday, November 7, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm – In-person at ACA, New England, 80 Westview Street, Lexington, MA
Friday, December 5, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm – In-Person preferred, ACA, New England Office, Lexington, MA – OR – Zoom
Friday, January 9, 10:00 am – 11:30 am – Zoom
Friday, February 6, 10:00 am – 11:30 am – Zoom
Friday, March 6, 10:00 am – 11:30 am – Zoom
Friday, March 26/27, In-Person during ACA New England Camp Conference in Manchester, NH (60-minutes, exact day & time TBD)
Friday, April 10, 10:00 am – 11:30 am – Zoom
Friday, May 8, 10:00 am – 11:30 am – Zoom

Participants will receive 15 Continuing Education Credits (CECs) for their full participation.
Trying to decide if this is a good fit for you? We’d say yes if you can prioritize and commit to attending the full series of sessions, have been in a director-level role for 3-7 summers, and your job responsibilities include key leadership functions such as overseeing staff teams (including HR functions and training); establishing policies for your camp/organization; setting and managing a budget; and being involved with strategic business decisions for your camp/organization.
Cost: $279 for ACA members/ $329 for non-members
We never want cost to be a barrier to you getting the professional development you need. Please reach out to kerry@acanewengland.org to discuss financial assistance opportunities. We are happy to help!
REGISTER HERE!
Minimum of 10 participants, maximum of 24 participants for program to run.
Registration is for an individual, for the full series and is non-refundable. Registration may be transferred to another individual from your camp/organization before the series begins.

About the Moderator:
Mark Lipof, LICSW
With over 40 years of camping experience as a camper, counselor, head counselor and camp administrator, Mark Lipof is now the Co-Owner and Founding Director of Camp Micah.
Mark graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and earned a High School teacher certification. He then graduated from the Boston College Graduate School of Social Work with an MSW and is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker.
Mark’s experience with youth is extensive and includes evaluation and counseling of at-risk youth and residential camp experience at most administrative levels. From 1990 – 2005, Mark held many positions at Temple Ohabei Shalom in Brookline, MA, including Synagogue Administrator, Counselor, and Youth Director. In 1995, he became the founding Director of the Ansin Religious School of Ohabei Shalom. Mark currently serves on the Board of Directors of Maine Summer Camps and is a member of Maine Camp Experience and ACA, New England. He takes pride in the culture of acceptance and the importance of building resilience in campers at Micah.

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.

Fall Seminar: Finding Your Niche – Effective Camp Marketing
2025-11-12 10:00 - 15:30 | Cedar Hill Day Camp, 265 Beaver St, Waltham, MA, 02452
***Online registration for this event has closed. If you’d like to join us, we can accommodate walk-in registrations on-site. Please email gillian@acanewengland.org to let us know to expect you.***
How was your camp’s enrollment this summer? Are you aiming for more campers (new and/or returning) next year and beyond?
All of your camps are businesses, so for this one-day seminar, we are going outside our camp industry bubble to learn alongside business coaches David Olchowski and Dan Callahan. Their course, 6 Steps to Build a Better Business – and 5 Ways to Grow it, explores key areas for business growth: Mastery, Marketing, Systems, Team, Synergy, and Freedom.
We’ll spend our time together digging into one of these areas – sales and marketing. Marketing, simply defined, is the activity of creating, communicating, and delivering value to customers to satisfy their needs and wants.
Together, you’ll explore effective concepts and strategies foundational to new customer (camper) acquisition and retention that you can adapt for your camp/organization, including:

identifying your Unique Selling Proposition;
diversifying lead generation (e.g. referrals, cross-promotion, online platforms);
measuring your efforts and improving your conversion rates;
mapping out the customer journey; and
increasing your profit margins

Throughout the day, there will also be time to hear what camps have been doing successfully, explore your real-world challenges in mini consultancy sessions, and create action steps for yourselves over the coming months.
Who is this program designed for? Camp leaders and other staff who make strategic decisions about marketing and enrollment.
Check-in will start at 9:30 am, with the program kicking off at 10:00 am.
Lunch will be provided and attendees will receive 5 CECs for their participation.

About our presenters:

David Olchowski, Owner and Head Coach
David had a very successful 30-year career in Connecticut aerospace manufacturing. He spent the last 15 years of his career as an executive with full P&L ownership in president and general manager roles.
Launched in 2020, David’s firm, Acadia ActionCOACH, is a team of certified business and executive coaches. He helps driven and energetic business owners, leaders and their teams grow their top line, increase their profits and have more fun doing it. The critical element to his success has been a focus on people: developing, coaching and mentoring others to succeed.
In the past 5 years, David has helped dozens of business owners and their teams grow their businesses by helping them understand how marketing and sales truly work at a practical level. Specifically, he has worked with camps and other seasonal businesses to understand how these principles apply in their environment. These businesses saw significant top-line and bottom-line growth.
Dan Callahan, Certified Business Coach
Dan has always had a passion for business and helping business owners. After graduating from Providence College with a degree in Business Management, he started his career as a Financial Advisor where he built a book of over 200 clients from the ground up, using a variety of sales and marketing strategies, a strong referral system and customer journey. He then transitioned this knowledge to work with travel agency owners to train their teams in sales and to develop and execute marketing strategies.
Over the past 5 years he has facilitated a plethora of group coaching programs & one-to-one coaching engagements. This includes several seasonal businesses, one of whom grew 40% year-over-year and another who built the systems and management team for the business to run almost entirely without them. Other clients saw as much as 300% growth and successful business secession planning.
About Acadia ActionCOACH
ActionCOACH is the world’s largest and most successful business coaching company. Acadia ActionCOACH is a team of certified business and executive coaches who are passionate about helping business leaders thrive by growing their top line, increasing their profits, and improving their operating efficiencies. Simply put: they help business owners with challenges around TIME, TEAM and MONEY using proven tools, methodologies and systems, tested and perfected over tens of thousands of businesses worldwide over the past three decades.
Registration fees are non-refundable, but may be transferred to another attendee from your camp/organization by emailing gillian@acanewengland.org before the start of the program.
Thank you to our event sponsor, Anchor Industries, for their support!

Learnings from the Field - What Does it Mean to Be Gender Inclusive at My Camp? (RECORDED e-session)
2025-11-14 17:00 | Zoom
This is a recording of a live event that took place on October 16, 2025. This session will be available to view until November 14, 2025.
Many of your camps are exploring ways to support campers and staff across the gender spectrum. Learnings from the Field sessions are designed for YOU to hear from camps doing this work in the field, so we are bringing some of your camp peers together to discuss the prompt “What does it mean to be gender inclusive at my camp?”
We will explore what their camps are doing (including name/pronouns, gender expansive housing, private changing areas, etc.), how and when they made those decisions, any pushback or challenges, and what’s next as it relates to gender at their camp.
You will hear from:
• Cara Bergantino, Director Camp Encore/Coda, an overnight camp in ME
• Sara Clarke, Executive Director, Episcopal Conference Center, an overnight camp also offering family camp in RI
• Hunter Hamlin, Assistant Director, Mansfield Holiday Hill Day Camp, a day camp in CT
• Keri Wood, Director of Camping Operations, West Suburban YMCA, an association with two day camps and one overnight camp in MA
We are not experts, but practitioners. So, come to hear and learn from others and pose questions you might have.
This is a recording of a live event that took place on October 16, 2025. This session will be available to view until November 14, 2025.
Cost: FREE for ACA Members; $25 for non-Members
Attendees will receive 1 CEC for their participation.
Registration fees are non-refundable, but may be transferred to another attendee from your camp/organization by emailing gillian@acanewengland.org before the start of the program.
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.

Accreditation Volunteer Course
2025-11-20 09:00 - 17:00 | Camp Sunshine, Casco, ME
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 November 13th, 2025. 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
When: Thursday, November 20, 2025; 9:00am to 5:00pm
Where: Camp Sunshine – 35 Acadia Road, Casco, ME 04015
Questions, reach out to Haillie Mousseau, Accreditation & Volunteer Coordinator, 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.

What’s the Buzz On: What Does It Mean to be Gender Inclusive at a Single-Gender Camp?
2025-12-04 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
What’s the Buzz On: What Does It Mean to be Gender Inclusive at a Single-Gender Camp?
FREE for ACA members.
Please only register for this session if you work at/represent a single-gender camp.
Whether you attended ACA, New England’s Learnings from the Field – What Does it Mean to Be Gender Inclusive at My Camp? in October and want to dig into this conversation as a single-gender camp -OR- this is a question your single-gender camp is working through, we invite you to join us for a peer discussion session. During our time together, participants will have the opportunity to:

Discuss how you define gender at your single-gender camp;
Explore how you can prepare your camp to create a safe and welcoming environment for all; and
Share challenges and best-practices with others

While ACA, New England staff will moderate the conversation, we are not experts in the topic and will aim to create a forum for open and respectful discussion, crowdsourcing, and resource-sharing.
Come prepared to have your videos on, ask questions, and engage in dialogue. This session WILL NOT be recorded so plan to join us live!
Please only register for this session if you work at/represent a single-gender camp.
When: Thursday, December 4, 1 – 2 pm ET
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
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.

Interviewing with Intention, Part 1: Winterviews that Matter - Turning Returning Staff Check-Ins into Real Leadership Conversations
2025-12-09 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.
Winterviews That Matter: Turning Returning Staff Check-Ins into Real Leadership Conversations
Every camp has them – those quick, casual “returner interviews” that happen over coffee, a phone call, or in between school and finals week. Too often, these meetings feel like a rubber-stamp ritual: “You coming back?” “Great, see you in June.” But what if those conversations could be one of the most powerful tools you have for shaping next summer’s staff team?
In this session, we’ll flip the script on the returning-staff interview. Participants will learn how to make these discussions both meaningful for the employee and useful for the camp. The goal isn’t just retention – it’s growth. We’ll explore how intentional questions can help identify who’s ready for a bigger role, who might shine as a unit lead or pre-camp trainer, and who needs additional coaching or redirection before stepping into new responsibility.
We’ll discuss strategies for:

Asking questions that go beyond “Are you coming back?” to uncover motivation, self-awareness, and hidden leadership potential.
Using the returning interview to co-create professional goals for the upcoming season.
Spotting patterns — both positive and concerning — from a returning staff member’s previous performance.
Giving constructive feedback during re-hire conversations without killing enthusiasm.
Inviting returning staff to play a role in pre-camp orientation or peer mentoring, turning “veterans” into teachers.

Directors will walk away with sample questions and frameworks to help evaluate staff not just for rehire, but for leadership readiness. These interviews can also serve as a form of recognition — a way to signal that staff are valued, heard, and growing. When returning staff feel seen and challenged, they don’t just come back – they come back better. And your leadership bandwidth expands before summer even begins.
Registration Info:
When: Tuesday December 9, 2025; 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

Coffee & Camp Chat: STAFFING
2025-12-12 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!
This week, we’re going to lead with and lean into staffing conversations. What’s good? What’s great? What needs work? Who are you looking for? How are you finding them? What are you pitching them? What are you hearing from them? What did we miss? Don’t say it, just bring it on Friday 12/12.
Coffee & Camp Chat is free and open to everyone in camping!

Coffee & Camp Chat LIVE!
2025-12-15 11:00 - 14:30 | Queen’s Head Pub, 271 Main Street, Bridgton, ME, 04009, United States
It’s not a Friday, but it is Coffee & Camp Chat!
Join EPIC New England and friends from Maine Summer Camps as they host a LIVE! edition of C&CC. The floor will be open to questions and topics about everything happening in summer camp: staffing, enrollment, programming, inclusion, accessibility, food, fun, growth, etc.

Part I – Challenges we’re facing and talking through solutions
Part II – Innovation at camp. What’s new at your camp and what’s coming next?
Part III – What did we miss? Circling back to “parking lot” items or continuing previous unfinished business.

When: Monday, December 15, 2025; 11am – 2:30pm EDT
Where: Queens Head Pub, 271 Main Street; Bridgton, ME 04009
Cost: $15 for members of ACA or Maine Summer Camps; $20 for non-Members
(fees go directly to providing food/refreshments)

Got questions? Feel free to contact bud@acanewengland.org
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

PechaKucha Office Hours
2025-12-18 11:00 - 12:00
Programs drive camp — and new experiences make it unforgettable. Is your camp doing something awesome you want to share with fellow camp professionals?
Welcome to Program Innovation Powered by PechaKucha!
Camp is a shared experience, join us in continuing that tradition!
ACA, New England invites you to submit your program innovations to be included in our Saturday plenary. For full details and to submit your idea, visit our submission form. From counselors to directors, all levels of staff are encouraged to submit. Submissions are due by January 6, 2026.
Have some questions? Have an idea and want to get some feedback? Pop into our “office hours” on Thursday, December 18 from 11:00am to 12:00pm (eastern) to chat with members of our Conference Committee and learn more about how you can help shape innovation at summer camp!
Learn more about PechaKucha here.
Ready to submit? Click here!
Click here to register for the 2026 New England Camp Conference.
*Note: all related expenses for conference registration and session preparation and delivery will be the responsibility of the presenter unless otherwise requested by the presenter and agreed upon with ACA, New England. We do not want cost to be a barrier for first-time speakers or camp professionals looking to share a program innovation, so please reach out if you have any questions about this.
Want to chat with someone on the ACANE team? E-mail Gillian at gillian@acanewengland.org or call our office at 781-541-6080.

Introduction to MESH(+) Seal: Virtual Info Session
2026-01-09 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
An Introduction to the MESH(+) Seal:
At a time when young people and adults are all longing to be seen, feel heard, and sense authentic connection, ACH is exploring the best ways to elevate care for healthier communities. Your desire to obtain the MESH(+) Seal helps us reach that goal by creating an opportunity to examine your program through a comprehensive well-being lens.
The MESH(+) Seal program recognizes camps and programs that intentionally evaluate and integrate Mental, Emotional, and Social Health(+) throughout their operations. MESH(+) Seal programs consciously incorporate practices and strategies that enhance mental health, emotional resilience, social development, and overall well-being in meaningful ways.
MESH(+) is a framework that strives to create intentional communities by integrating mental, emotional and social health into the personal and collective camp experiences. MESH(+) does this through providing resources and evidence-based models to camps for evaluation of activities (or ‘values’) in four key pillars (program, training, screening and medical).
The MESH(+) Seal application process serves as a valuable analysis and reflection framework as you develop your program’s comprehensive approach to camper and staff well-being. Join us so you can identify opportunities to become a part of the #MovementOfCare and to create and #EcosytemOfWellBeing in a meaningful way through current best practice.
This is a free virtual info session for camps who are interested in learning more about the MESH(+) Seal before applying. The submission window for applications is October 1, 2025 to March 1, 2026.
Join ACA, New England and the Alliance for Camp Health on January 9, 2026 at 12:00pm ET to explore how the MESH(+) Seal is helping leaders elevate care by weaving mental, emotional, and social health into every part of camp life.
Click Here to Register
For questions about the info session, reach out Gillian Gold, Events & Logistics Coordinator at gillian@acanewengland.org or 781-541-6080 ext. 106.
For questions about the MESH(+) Seal, reach out to Nikki Alvarado-Hobbs, Program Director at Alliance for Camp Health, at nikki@allianceforcamphealth.org
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.

Emergency Preparedness at Camp: A Panel Discussion with Chalmers Camp Insurance
2026-01-12 13:00 - 14:00 | 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 offer another course in the spring.
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. Pre-work should be completed by Thursday, January 15 to ensure you are qualified to attend the in-person component of the program (some flexibility exists if you need a few extra days, just let us know).
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 Manager 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). This session will be recorded.
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

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.

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). This session will be recorded.
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

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.

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.
When: Friday, February 27, 2026; 11:30am – 1:00pm (eastern)
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!
This e-session will be recorded.
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: An Emergency Response Tabletop E-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.
About the Instructor

Patrick Dollason is a certified Emergency Management Specialist with the Charleston County Emergency Management Department and
founder of The Base Camp Initiative, LLC, a consulting practice helping camps build a culture of preparedness and resilience. He holds degrees in Disaster and Emergency Management and Organizational Leadership, blending field expertise with academic insight into team development and organizational culture. As a Training and Exercise Coordinator, Patrick designs and facilitates emergency exercises that identify gaps, strengthen leadership, and build resilience. He brings both professional experience and a passion for youth development to help camps protect what matters most.

When: Thursday, March 5, 2026; 10:00 – 11:30am (eastern)
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!
This e-session will not be recorded.
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.
