Behind the Scenes...

It's All About the Change...

2011-10-16T17:31:00.000-07:00

FALL IS HERE...

Leaves are changing, weather is changing, even my bus ride home is changing - the sun is gone by the time I get on the bus.

Camp life is full of change...

Rainy weather at camp creates change
The economy creates change
Sending out an email to campers about a brand new program at camp creates change
A long-time key staff member leaving two weeks before camp starts creates change
A new configuration of your bunk layout for the upcoming summer creates change

This list is endless. Coping with changes at camp is a constant thing, especially during the summer when everything just continues to move forward (and at times in a rapid pace). It is how you are able to mana

ge change with others around you that will make your change a success and in some

cases not a success but a learning tool to better yourself even more later on down the line.

I read a great book this summer called SWITCH by the Heath Brothers. It is all about how to manage Change. One of the brothers actually was a successful keynote at last year's ACA National Convention in San Diego.

There are outside forces that create constant change for the summer camp industry - the economy, how we market to our parents, youth development issues (right now it is Bullying). It's not just about having the characteristic of being an open-minded person - it is much more. You must understand the process and commit to make "change" even with the forces that support you and challenge you.

Our year-round offering of "Everything Tri-State"has been off to a great start with our new VIRTUAL TRI-STATE Series. Our early-bird Tri-State CAMP Conference attendees that have already registered for the Conference got "ditterized" in September and October by Bob Ditter.

Next month, we are bringing you Jess Weiner who is one of our returning speakers for 2012. She will be discussing confidence, which is something every camp director posses and is reall

y important when trying to design change. Jess will share a different level revealing how to teach it to your teen campers and staff.

Here are the details: Wednesday November 16, 1:00pm EST

Changing The Way You Think (And Teach) About Confidence

Jess Weiner , Talk to Jess, LLC

In a perfect world, we want our campers to have self-esteem of steel but in their real world they often struggle with the pressures of achievement and academic success all while hoping to improve their rank on the popularity food chain. Having strong self-

confidence remains high on their"to-do" list but why does it seem to never get checked off? What if we as teachers, mentors, and counselors can begin talking about confidence in a completely different way? This webinar is designed to engage adults in a subtle but effective paradigm shift around what it means to be confident for a teen. We'll look at traditional markers for high self-esteem and challenge and explorethe reality of what it takes to foster true confidence in today's busy (and over-achieving) world.

If you have not registered for the Tri-State CAMP Conference, do it now so you can take advantage of our third webinar (plus we have three more after Jess too that lead up to Tri-State in March and are included with your conference registration).

Can't make it to our Conference - you can still register for our 4 webinars for only $150.

Happy Fall!

Tri-State CAMP Conference - First Session starts Wednesday September 21.

2011-09-15T07:46:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it?

It's time to start thinking about the Tri-State CAMP Conference. We are offering you professional development training all year long with some great speakers and the good news is that you can get some great sessions right at your desk!

The first session of the Tri-State CAMP Conference starts on Wednesday September 21 at 1:00pm EST.

Sign up for the Tri-State CAMP Conference today and start learning now. By signing up for the Conference you get to experience six FREE webinars, one each month leading up to the conference.

VIRTUAL TRI-STATE Session One: Evaluating the Summer
September 21st at 1:00pm EST

Fall is the ideal time to take a long look at the overall performance of camp. On the one hand you are free of the vast array of everyday details of running camp while the experiences of summer are still fresh in your mind. Bob Ditter will walk you through a thoughtful reflection of the near misses and clear successes of the summer while there is still time to consider marketing, capital investment and other changes or improvements. Walk away with an action plan to make camp better than ever.
Bob Ditter, Child Psychologist

Even if you won't make it to Tri-State this year, you can still sign up for the webinar series by registering for Virtual Tri-State. Registration for Virtual Tri-State gives five people in your camp access to all six webinars and the live streaming of the two Tri-State keynote sessions.
Virtual Tri-State Registration Only

We have also annouced our Wednesday afternoon Keynote Speaker for the Tri-State CAMP Conference: Meet Kevin Jennings, CEO of Be the Change, a nonprofit organization that creates national issue based campaigns on pressing problems in American society. He is also the founder of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), a national education organization bringing together lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and straight teachers, parents, students, and community members who want to end anti-LGBT bias.

TWO MORE IMPORTANT PIECES OF INFORMATION...

Are you interested in speaking at the Conference. Have a great topic to share with your colleagues. You can submit a proposal right now.

Looking to do any big projects and/or major purchases for your summer camp that might take a bit more time to plan? Start thinking about it now. Our supportive exhibitors are at your service on the Camp Shopping Network. We strongly recommend you access this free site.

There is a quick update on what's going on.

Remember to keep checking back and follow us on twitter and facebook.

Silence is Golden...

2011-06-16T06:16:00.000-07:00

I remember hearing these words quite often during Color War. Camp Kennybrook had the Gold Team and the Blue Team. During silent meals which you won points for if you ate quietly, the Gold team captain would always end his uplifting speech before a meal with the words "Silence is Golden."

Silence is what we hear (or don't hear) a lot of in the American Camp Association, New York & New Jersey office these days. Emails and phone calls have slowed down and most parents are set with preparing their kids for camps while camp directors and staff are busy working on last minute details.

Believe it or not, our office is already planning the fall season of professional development for our ACA members and we launched our new website - take a look!

The 2012 Tri-State CAMP Conference planning is well under way. We have a ton of workshops and sessions planned with some great new speakers and we also plan to unveil our new piece of the Conference: Virtual Tri-State - more on that in the fall.

On September 12-14, the Resident Camp Conference will tour camps in Maine: Runoia, Vega, Laurel, Takajo, Laurel South and Mataponi. Enjoy tours of some amazing camps in New England while networking with your peers - this is one not to be missed!

The Ben Appelbaum Day Camp Conference will take place in Long Island, NY at West Hills Day Camp on Tuesday September 27.

On Thursday November 10 our Morry Stein Fall Management Conference will focus on Employee Motivation.

Be sure to mark these important dates down on your calendar for the fall!

Have a wonderful and safe summer!

Scott Rothschild
Director, Professional Development
American Camp Association, New York & New Jersey

Tri-State CAMP Conference - almost here...

2011-03-04T05:41:00.000-08:00

Seth Godin our Wednesday afternoon keynote speaker delivers one of the most popular blogs on a daily basis. I found the one this morning really interesting, especially if you throw some "camp" into it. Think about your worst "camp" moments and read on...

The Worst Moments are your Best Opportunity

That's how we judge you and how we remember you.

You are presumed to be showing us your real self when you are on deadline, have a headache, are facing a customer service meltdown, haven't had a good night's sleep, are facing an ethical dilemma, are momentarily in power, are caught doing something when you thought no one else was looking, are irritable, have the opportunity to extract revenge, are losing a competition or are truly overwhelmed.

What a great opportunity to tell the story you'd like us to hear about you.

We are so excited for everyone to hear Seth and our Friday keynote speaker, Jean Kilbourne.

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Looking for some online fun before the Conference?

Join our Tri-State Contest and win a t-shirt at the Conference

Check out the promotion featuring Tri-State CAMP Conference, Camp RIGHTSLEEVE, and MyColorWar for the upcoming Tri-State Camp Conference! If you follow a few simple rules you can get a great t-shirt!

The program book is now online as well as informatin about our mobile app and online conference calendar. Start planning now!

Make sure to sign your staff up for our evening dinners... They are full of fun, networking and great food - limited spots left. To sign up, use our Additional Attendee/Event Form.

DOWN TO THE NITTY GRITTY... Lots of amazing offerings this year...

2011-02-27T04:39:00.000-08:00

We are so excited that the CAMP Conference is less than 3 weeks away...

Here are a couple of amazing things to take advantage of right away, including our exciting evening dinners and events and our Camp Nurse Contact Hours.

DINNERS AND EVENING EVENTS

Don't just go back to your hotel when sessions are over! We have three great dinners and three fun FREE social events planned for the evening hours. Evening events at the Tri-State CAMP Conference allow for time to kick back and spend time with colleagues and meet new friends. Our dinners and social events are a great place to network with conference attendees, speakers and exhibitors and to let loose after a day in the convention center.

Please use the additional attendee/event registration form to sign up.

BRING YOUR NURSE TO TRI-STATE! - WE HAVE CAMP NURSE CONTACT HOURS

We have expanded our nurse contact hours offerings with a serious of sessions

led by health care experts, as well as a stimulating Nurse Open Forum, facilitated by the president of the Association of Camp Nurses.

In addition to the contact hours, there are many other informative health related sessions. Bring your nurse to Tri-State and they will go home with exciting new ideas, renewed motivation, and valuable continuing education credits that are necessary for them to maintain their licensing.

To add your CAMP NURSE to your registration, download our Additional Attendee Form.

Remember to book your hotel online right away to take advantage of our Conference Hotel Rate.

The CAMP Conference - 4 Weeks to go... FINDING YOUR COMFORT ZONE - It's like skiing down a hill

2011-02-14T15:22:00.001-08:00

This weekend I took my older son skiing for the first time. It was an unreal experience for me as I remember my first ski lesson in the Catskills at the Concord Hotel in the early 80s. I picked it up fairly quickly - learning the "snowplow" to help me turn left and right and even stop (BLOG FACT - Did you know that know they now call the "snowplow" the "pizza slice!")

I got my son really psyched up for it, we watched some youtube instructional videos days before and I even showed him some pictures of me skiing when I was younger. He was ready to hit the slopes!

We got to the mountain real early, adjusted the boots and he was off ready to go, 45 minutes before his group lesson. I gave him some tips just to get used to the equipment. Amazingly 30 minutes later he wanted to head up the mountain on the "magic carpet" to test out the hill before his lesson. He came down falling, skiis popped off, even crying and angry.

I explained to him that he now had the courage on his own, without a lesson, to head up that hill. He was already "ahead of the game." He was able to create his own "comfort level" to strive and do better because of his courage to go up that hill on his own, without a lesson.

When taking on new projects and challenges at camp, it is all about finding the right comfort level within yourself to gain not only confidence but strength to succeed.

The summer camp environment creates different comfort zones for everyone and depending on their role at camp: Director, Staff Member, and Camper - they are all different. Understanding everyone's comfort levels is the real challenge for a camp director. Since everyone is different it can sometimes be the biggest challenge. One camper wants to do the zip line, one doesn't. How does a staff member keep both of them challenged while at the same activity? Very tough one to answer...

Resolving these types of situations is what produces a great staff member from a not so great one.

Keep in mind when you attend sessions at the CAMP Conference - how will "comfort zones" create differences between staff members, campers, even your camper parents.

See you on the slopes of Atlantic City in Four Weeks!

DON'T FORGET TO SIGN UP FOR THE SPECIALIZED WORKSHOPS

ACA New Director Orientation

EPIC (Emerging Professionals in Camping Workshop)

Evening Dinners! - Everyone has to it, why not with other attendees?

Have any questions about the upcoming CAMP Conference - give us a call 212.391.5208 or email us at tristateregistration@aca-ny.org

Relationships

2010-12-05T08:45:00.001-08:00

Recently on a trip to California I had a chance to experience two great events. First was the Athletic Business Conference. The conference gave me exposure to a bunch of new prospect companies that could cross-over into our Industry. New relationships were formed that will hopefully result in positive results that are displayed at the Tri-State CAMP Conference this March.

I also had the privilege of attending the 2010 Ska teboard Hall of Fame In duction s. It is like a Oscars of the Skateboard industry. I was surrounded by the heroes of my youth. One of the inductees, Steve Caballero, made an astounding acceptance speech, full of much emotion. The theme of his speech was about the importance of relationships. He said that he didn't get where he is because of his talent; his connections with his fellow skateboarders, corporate sponsors, fans and his family were the only reason he achieved true success in his life. It opened my mind up to what we all do at camp.

Camp is not just about installing that new climbing structure, creating the best color war break, even making sure your campers get pizza every Friday at camp.

It is about one thing: Relationships.

Relationships with your campers

Relationships with your staff

Relationships with your parents

Relationships with your vendors

Relationships with your peers

Relationships with your family

Its these relationships that make your life successful and fulfilling. Without positive relationships, your business could not produce the success that it does.

So next time you are discussing a difficult issue with a parent over their child, or complaining to a vendor about something wrong that they did - remember that its the relationships with these people and how you handle it that will lead to positive outcomes in your life.

Taking the Ride of Your Life

2010-10-18T06:07:00.000-07:00

There are times in life when we take chances, dodge obstacles and jump over fences. This weekend I took part in a skateboarding event called the Broadway Bomb and I overcame a ton of these in under an hour.

Over 450 skateboarding enthusiasts took over Broadway for an hour on Saturday at 12:00noon, darting past taxi cabs and pedestrians for the annual event, a skating race across Manhattan. The "world's most dangerous skateboard race" started at West 116th street by Riverside Park, and ended at the Charging Bull statue at Bowling Green (Race Length: 8 Miles). Watch the Video!

Running your summer camp business is no different - There are always things throughout the year that need to be dodged or jumped over - both physically and mentally:

Should you risk raising your tuition during a down economy?
Weather damage to your dining hall two days before camp opens, now what?
Do you build that new playground?
Let go of an longtime employee?

And many more...

The ride is never easy but the hope is at the end of each ride (or summer) that the outcome is a positive fulfilling one!

Keep on truckin'!

Tri-State CAMP Conference Registration will be online shortly including the unveiling of our brand new website (Here's a sneak peak - Shhhh)!

The Followers...

2010-10-11T07:44:00.000-07:00

For years I have been wanting to experience this amazing event: ComicCon New York

It was not just your normal everyday Conference, it was an experience, a unique and wild journey to fantasy land. Besides my friends in the Summer Camp Industry, I have never seen such a dedicated group of attendees or in this case: Followers.

Think: Attendees at a Michael Branwein session at the Tri-State CAMP Conference but with thousands more people. ComicCon was that kind of environment!

Followers plays such a strong part for us in many aspects. Great camps have tons of followers - alumni, staff, parents, campers! It's these followers that help us create the strong camp environment and experience we strive for year after year. Followers create memories, spread the "positive camp vibe" and even bring us new followers.

Enjoy some pieces of my journey through ComicCon. I would highly recommend you attend this conference in the near future, not for the "comics" but to learn about the unique environment that they have created for their "followers."

What Makes A Great Talker?

2010-10-05T08:16:00.000-07:00

As we approach the fall season for summer camp, marketing starts to play a huge role and through my 5+ years with the American Camp Association, New York section I have learned from numerous camp owners and directors that "Word-Of-Mouth Marketing" is really where it's at. It's important to learn what parents are talking to each other about, what campers and even staff and their camp experiences.

I found this great piece from the GasPedal.com blog that I wanted to share with you all. Enjoy...

WHAT MAKES A GREAT TALKER?

Anytime someone is willing to recommend you to a friend, you're doing something right. But when creating your word of mouth program, remember that some talkers are naturally better at spreading the word. What to look for:

1> Passion
A great talker is passionate about your topic. Look for the dedicated hobbyists who are already opinionated and vocal. Great word of mouth marketing isn't so much about creating passion -- it's about finding the people who are already passionate and giving them something worth sharing.

2> Credibility
The more authority your talkers have, the more powerful their recommendations are. We trust the pharmacist's recommendations on a pain killer more than the cashier's, just like we trust our foodie friend's advice on a new restaurant more than a stranger's. It's not about having talkers with professional credentials, it's about finding the ones who are trusted sources on specific topics.

3> Opportunity
Great talkers have the opportunity to spread the word to a lot of people. Bloggers and celebrities are obvious, but don't forget the other, more "regular" folks who also talk to a ton of people every day: doctors, mechanics, barbers and business travelers. The more interactions your talkers have with others, the more word of mouth you'll have.

Now go find those great talkers!

"If you're creating a business, figure out what contribution you make and what you offer that your competitors can't. If 1,000 people can provide typing services the way you do, don't expect to get paid a premium." – Wednesday Keynote Speaker: SETH GODIN

The leaves are changing... And so is this year's CAMP Conference

2010-09-28T10:51:00.001-07:00

March 15-18, 2011

Atlantic City Convention Center - Atlantic City, New Jersey

If there ever was a year to attend the CAMP Conference,

THIS IS DEFINITELY THE ONE.

Our Conference Program Committee has been exploding with new ideas which are already being executed starting with an onslaught of brand new cutting-edge speakers with new tools on how to successfully run your operation.

Here is a quick sneek-peek of some of the new speakers coming this year:

Dr. Anthony Rao - Dr. Rao holds a Ph.D. in psychology from Vanderbilt University and trained as a pediatric psychologist at Boston Children's Hospital. For more than 20 years, Dr. Rao worked in the Department of Psychiatry at Children's Hospital and served as instructor at Harvard Medical School, where he trained psychologists and physicians in the use of Cognitive Behavior Therapy, or CBT. He is the founder of Behavioral Solutions in Lexington, Massachusetts, a private practice know throughout the Boston area for using CBT to help children without relying solely on medications. His book, The Way of Boys: Promoting the Social and Emotional Development of Young Boys, is about the crisis in American boyhood. Watch some great media with Dr. Rao.

Dr. Rick Lavoie - Rick Lavoie has served as an administrator of residential programs for children with special needs since 1972. He holds three degrees in Special Education and has served as an adjunct professor or visiting lecturer at numerous universities including Syracuse, Harvard, Gallaudet, Manhattanville College, University of Alabama and Georgetown. His numerous national television appearances include CBS Morning Show, Good Morning Amedca, ABC Evening News and Disney Channel Presents. Rick serves as a consultant on Learning Disabilities to several agencies and organizations including Public Broadcasting Service, New York Times, National Center for Learning Disabilities, Girl Scouts of America, Child Magazine and WETA. Rick is probably best known for his videos "How Difficult Can This Be?: The F.A.T. City Workshop" and "Last One Picked, First One Picked On: The Social Implications of Learning Disabilities". These award-winning films have brought Rick's sensitive and compelling message to countless thousands throughout the world.

Dr. Michael Rich - Dr. Michael Rich, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and Associate Professor of Society, Human Development, and Health at Harvard School of Public Health, came to medicine after a twelve-year career as a filmmaker (including serving as assistant director to Akira Kurosawa on Kagemusha). His current areas of health research and clinical work bring together his experience and expertise in medicine and media, making him the world’s first “Mediatrician.” In this role, he uses scientific evidence about the powerful positive and negative effects of media to advise children and those who care for them on how to use media in ways that optimize their development. Dr. Rich has established a reputation for investigating the negative health effects of media exposure.

We have also secured our

Wednesday Keynote Speaker: Seth Godin

Seth has written twelve books that have been translated into more than thirty languages. Every one has been a bestseller. He writes about the post-industrial revolution, the way ideas spread, marketing, quitting, leadership and most of all, changing everything.

American Way Magazine calls him, "America's Greatest Marketer," and his blog is perhaps the most popular in the world written by a single individual. His latest book, LINCHPIN, hit the Amazon top 10 on the first day it was published and became a New York Times bestseller.

As an entrepreneur, he has founded dozens of companies, most of which failed. Yoyodyne, his first internet company, was funded by Flatiron and Softbank and acquired by Yahoo! in 1998. It pioneered the use of ethical direct mail online, something Seth calls Permission Marketing. He was VP of Direct Marketing at Yahoo! for a year.

His latest company, Squidoo.com, is ranked among the top 125 sites in the US (by traffic) by Quantcast. It allows anyone (even you) to build a page about any topic you're passionate about. The site raises money for charity and pays royalties to its million plus members.

Seth is also a former camper and staff member with Camp Arowhon in Ontario, Canada.

CLICK HERE FOR HIS MUST-READ BOOKS FOR ALL CAMP PROFESSIONALS

I started with Purple Cow which was amazing... Tribes is up next for me.

Join our Facebook group, follow us on Twitter - more updates coming soon!

Head to the conference website to book your hotel now.

Registration will be online soon (and the first 100 camps to register get a free copy of Seth Godin's book)

Running out of Clay, Landyard, or need some new Clincher Softballs?

2010-07-08T10:01:00.000-07:00

THE CAMP SHOPPING NETWORK

for the latest products and services for the Summer Camp Industry

Tri-State CAMP Conference 2011 Update:

Keep on the look-out for the 2011 Call for Presenters will be opening soon on the Conference Site.

ENJOY THE SUMMER!

2010-02-26T12:49:00.000-08:00

Two weeks out and we are about to

embark on another amazing

Tri-State CAMP Conference

Everything is falling into place...

Speakers - ready!
Exhibitors - ready!
Are you ready?

Here are some things to get you ready for a truly "virtual" CAMP Conference

1 Get online! Take a look at Facebook and Twitter... People are connecting daily. When tweeting be sure to use the hash tag #tscamp

2 Check out the program and all it has to offer!
You can now access the entire program by downloading it to your mobile phone, blackberry or iPhone - it's really easy to navigate - no need to carry around a big program book!

(To access the iPhone Application - search for TSCAMP in the App Store.)

3 Are you prepared for all activities? Sessions, exhibit hall time, dinners and social events!
We still have some space left for our popular dinners - House of Blues, Rain Forest Cafe and the always popular Carmine's! Call us today to reserve a spot (212) 391-5208

4. Are you a first-time attendee - plenty to catch up on right here!

Also view the brand new First-Time Attendee Conference Tour Video

5. Also be ready to check out our new onsite Twitter Camp Staff Lounge

The social events are going to be a blast this year - do not miss any of them. From live rock bands to baggo, even some ga-ga, we have somethig for everyone...

Lastly, don't think about skipping out early this year. Friday we have The Fonz, Henry Winkler presenting his inspiring story of how camp made him into the man he is today. Plus after that meet Henry and the exhibitors one last time for some great last-minute deals.

We know this is a smattering of details but all provides various pieces of the Camp Conference puzzle - great education and amazingly fun networking all in one place!

See you in two weeks!

Scott

Director, Professional Development

American Camp Association, New York

scott@aca-ny.org

Welcome Back!

2009-10-05T13:12:00.000-07:00

I hope you had a great summer with tons of new memories to cherish...

It's that time to start thinking about the CAMP Conference again.

The Conference Staff has some important news to share with you.

The online hotel reservation system is open - We have secured some great conference rates throughout Atlantic City - take advantage before its too late.

Remember those great Attendee Bags we gave out? Well they are coming back, thanks to our

generous sponsor You Can Do the Rubik's Cube.

We have put together the schedule for the upcoming Conference:

Tuesday March 16
Because of its continued success, we will be running various Specialized Workshops. Make sure to come down early!

EPIC (Emerging Professionals In Camping) Workshop
Parks and Recreation Summer Programming Workshop
Special Needs Camps Workshop
New Directors Orientation

Stay tuned for further updates...

Wednesday March 17

Educational Sessions 8:30am-9:45am

Educational Sessions 10am-11:15am

Educational Sessions 11:30am-12:45pm

Educational Sessions 1:00pm-2:15pm

Keynote Speaker 2:30-4:00pm

Exhibitor Hall Opening 4:00pm-6:30pm

Thursday March 18

Coffee w/ the Exhibitors 9:45am-11:00am

Ben Appelbaum Forum 9:45am-11:00am

Educational Sessions 11:15am-12:30pm

Unopposed Exhibit Time 12:30-1:45pm

Educational Sessions 2:00-3:15pm

Educational Sessions 3:30-4:15pm

Unopposed Exhibit Time 4:15-5:30pm

Friday March 19

Educational Sessions 8:00-9:15am

Educational Sessions 9:30-10:45am

Coffee w/ the Exhibitors 10:45-11:15am (Reg Coffee/Tea)

Keynote Speaker 11:30am-12:45noon

Exhibitor Time 12:45pm-2:00pm

**NEWS ALERT! NEWS ALERT!**

The CAMP Conference staff is excited to announce our Friday Morning Keynote for 2010, sponsored by AM Skier Insurance

Henry Winkler

Conference Registration will be online in November

How about starting to plan early for the summer of 2010?

Start shopping for great products and services online with our current exhibitors on The Camp Shopping Network (CSN). Prepare proposals easily with companies right on the CSN website.

Stay tuned for more CAMP Conference updates...

Tri-State 2009 has come and gone...

2009-04-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

WE DID IT!

We hope you had a fantastic Conference this year. There were a ton of volunteers who helped make everything possible - Thank You! If you missed any of this year's social events or dinners, I highly suggest you attend in 2010... We are already thinking about bigger and better!

Here are some pictures from the conference, enjoy!

"Have a fantastic summer!"

ONE WEEK TO GO... Are you ready for it?

2009-02-12T17:24:00.000-08:00

Well, we are down to the 1 week mark... The program book is off to the printer, session rooms are being prepped by our Audio Visual Company, the Exhibit Hall is sold out and I am running around in circles with a to-do list the size of my Bar Mitzvah Torah Reading...

A couple of weeks ago I took my yearly get-away snowboard trip with my friends, my last deeply therapeutic excursion before the big Conference. I tried sitting back on the chairlift and closing my eyes, and for a brief second not think about the Camp Conference preparations and what lies ahead for me. Unfortunately, as I slowly made my way up the brisk mountain listening to my iPod and hearing some Stevie Ray Vaughn - i thought about what a great song this would be for our Conference Chair, Steve Baskin, to be welcomed on stage. Too much to remember and think of, but as I have said to myself the last three years - it will get done.

Conference Registrations are in, it's great to see our Tuesday Specialized Workshops doing so well - especially EPIC and the Special Needs groups. The Thursday night dinner at Carmine's hosted by Dave Malter (ACA, NY Event Manager) and myself is also looking like another unforgettable evening. If you have not signed up for these spectacular events, please don't wait - they are not to be missed!

For more information:

http://www.aca-ny.org/tristate/specialized_workshops.php

If you want to register, simply print out the pdf registration form

(http://www.aca-ny.org/tristate/2009_registration.pdf),

fill it out stating you have already registered for the Conference and

include your credit card information,

then fax it in to us at (866) 553-9264.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE PROGRAM BOOK

AND HANDOUTS ARE NOW ONLINE!

The 2009 Tri-State Program Book is available here:

PART 1: Social / Networking Events/Session Information -

http://www.aca-ny.org/tristate/2009_program_book1.pdf

PART 2: Exhibit Hall Information - http://www.aca-ny.org/tristate/2009_program_book2.pdf

You will be able to see all the sessions, maps and schedule using this program guide. We hope you enjoy it!

The handouts for the sessions are available as well

at: http://acats.omnibooksonline.com/index.html

USERNAME: tristate PASSWORD: campers

This will enable you to read the handouts of the sessions you plan to attend, as well as other sessions that you hope to learn more about. If you plan on attending certain sessions, we suggest printing them out and bringing them to the Conference with you so that you can write notes down during the session(s).

Lastly. many of our exhibitors are primed and ready for you this year thanks to one of our Conference speakers, Nancy Shenker from theONswitch, LLC. She held a webinar this past week at Podcast Now Studio in New York City.

IF YOU NEED ANY LAST MINUTE HOTEL RESERVATIONS OR TRAVEL INFORMATION PLEASE VIEW OUR CONFERENCE SITE.

Safe Travels...

Scott Rothschild, Director of Professional Development, American Camp Association, NY

The Last Breather...

2008-12-27T08:43:00.001-08:00

I am half way through my holiday vacation when the Conference jitters start to kick in...

I need to start organizing the heavy logistical details that are involved in putting together a conference of this size...

Items include - Online Registration, ordering supplies, finalizing our crew of volunteers, communicating with our 09 keytnote speakers, setting up housing for staff, designing the function book (which contains information on each event that takes place throughout the Conference - a big book!), and many other little details.

I am happy to report that our Preliminary Program is done and at the printers. Margo, our graphic designer put together a fantastic piece. There is tons to read about including the sessions for 2009 and the exciting events we have planned throughout the entire conference. This is a must-read...

To read this year's Preliminary Program Click Here.

Lots in store for the Professional Development team in January. Dave Malter and I will be attending the PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association) Annual Conferenc e in New Orleans. Here we will be learning new ideas to implement for the 09 Camp Conference and networking with our peers to see where the overall meetings and events industry is heading.

After that, we have our last event before the Camp Conference, the Camp Administrative Professional Conference taking place in New York City. This conference is designed for year-round staff that have responsibility for administrative functions. The content applies to both for profit and not for profit camps, and relates to day, resident and travel programs. In larger organizations, attendees might appropriately be an office manager, bookkeeper, administrative assistant, logistic personnel, IT administrator and/or transportation director. In smaller organizations, attendees might be a director or assistant director. We hope to see you there.

I am sure many of you are also starting to get into "Camp Mode." Remember, if you need any supplies and services for your upcoming camp season, remember to look through The Camp Shopping Network - our one-stop shop of Conference Exhibitors that know the ins and outs of the camp industry.

HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE NEW YEAR...
SEE YOU IN 2009!

THE PROGRAM IS FULLY OPERATIONAL...

2008-12-04T14:28:00.000-08:00

Our fearless Tri-State Program "Jedi Master" Dawn Ewing has brought together the 2009 Tri-State Program Committe to create an amazing program.

Our "R2 Unit" was able to capture some secret photos of the Tri-State Camp Conference Blue Print meeting.

As I put the finishing touches on the Preliminary Program piece (which will be on your desks when you return to the office on January 5, 2009) I can't wait for you to see the vast amount of sessions we have. Here is a short sneak peek of some of the unique session titles that await you:

L.L. Cool Camp: Support Strategies and Activities for CIT, JC and LIT
A Lifetime in Camping, Still in the Trenches After All of These Years
Neighbors: Everybody Has One
Young, Married and Working Together Too!
Camper Scheduling... with a Little Help From The Beatles and The Jackson 5
Color War, Huh, Yeah, What is it Good For? Absolutely Something...
And many more!

And if you have been to a Camp Conference in the past and you thought you saw everything that Atlantic City has to offer, oh no - we bring you more.

We are hosting evening events at Harrah's new pool complex...

...and The House of Blues!
HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY!

May The Force Be With You!

Pushing forward... Is it Turkey Day Yet?

2008-11-10T16:16:00.000-08:00

I have decided to give this week's blog a bit of a Thanksgiving Theme...

It's one of those evening when I feel the world coming down hard in Tri-State Land as I begin work on the much sought after Preliminary Program Piece and Registration Form which gets mailed in December so that you can register for the conference right after Jan 1.

As I begin to "Dice and Slice" the various segments of the Camp Conference, my eyes open even wider to the vast topic areas we are covering this year. This years program has the "stuffing" to fill anyone's appetite to learn about the comings and goings of the Camp Industry. Wait to you see our Menu for 2009!

Remember, we break down our sessions into Four Servings:

Business and Operations: All the nuts-and-bolts sessions on how to budget, sell, market, promote, insure, and manage site — including facilities management, purchasing, Internet use and much more.

Campers and Parents: All sessions relating to child/youth development in theory and in practice, contemporary parenting issues, working with children with behavioral challenges, sending children home, developmental or practical issues related to special populations, as well as all current topics relating to working with parents, building partnerships, setting limits and enforcing camp rules.

Program and Activities: All sessions relating to the ways in which we organize and execute our camp programs and activities. These include regular activity programming, special events, electives, practical issues and curriculum related to instruction in sports, arts, adventure and waterfront operation.

Staff and Leadership: Sessions within this category fall into two areas: those relating to staff hiring, training and management; and those relating to camp leadership theory and practice, cultivation and training, vision, ethics, community building and establishing or changing camp culture.

It's back to the Kitchen as I prepare the Tri-State Turkey!

It's Saturday Nov 1 in the late afternoon...

2008-11-01T16:12:00.000-07:00

...and I just took a stroll outside to check my home mailbox. What do I see? The Tri-State Camp Conference "Save the Date" Postcard. I always use my home address within the overall list of 15,000 camps we mail to just to make sure our mailing goes out safely.

It also serves as my official wake-up call...

Last week we had our Tri-State Program Committee "Blue Print" Meeting. This is the time when our camp volunteers that are part of this committee accept, design and strategically place our sessions for the upcoming Conference. This eye-opening experience serves as the jump-start to what lies ahead for both the various Tri-State Committees and ACA Staff.

This Blog is going to be your "behind-the-scenes" look at the comings and goings of Tri-State...

For 2009, we are extremely excited about our two keynote speakers, Erin Gruwell and Wendy Mogel. For more information on them, please see their short descriptions on the Camp Conference Website (http://www.aca-ny.org/tristate/keynote_speakers.php).

Dave Malter, our Events Manager and myself have spent countless hours working on solidifying these two great keynote speakers and we are thrilled to have them as major highlights of this years program.

Another part of the program we are excited about are two of our specialized workshops taking place on Tuesday of the Conference: The Special Needs Camp Workshop and the Recreation and Parks Summer Camp Workshop. Also, the EPIC (Emerging Professionals in Camping) Committee is busy at work preparing its specialized workshops.

Be on the lookout for details in the coming weeks, including the 2009 Tri-State Camp Conference Registration Form.

Thats all for now. Happy November!

Scott Rothschild
Director, Professional Development
American Camp Association, New York