Educating Our Leadership Staff & Counselors

One of the most important factors to a successful camp season is continuing to educate our leadership staff and counselors.  As times and society changes, so must we as a camping community. So every March the American Camp Association hosts thousands of camp professionals in Atlantic City for four days of camp-related educational sessions and programs. At the conference, sessions are organized into six tracks; business, campers, community, operations, program and activities, and staff leadership. The topics ranged anywhere from cyber-bullying, camp spirit, and activity planning to keeping staff motivated.

The sessions were plentiful to choose from and we are proud that two of our very own TLC Family members were asked to lead their own presentations during the conference!  Our Executive Director, Jay Jacobs, conducted a presentation titled “Keeping it Fresh” where he spoke to a select group of seasoned veteran camp directors sharing his ideas on how to keep camp “fresh,”  while constantly evolving to keep-up with todays’ children.  Justin Mayer, Director of Timber Lake West, conducted a session on Budgeting where other camp Directors learned the value behind creating a financially sound and stable budget for their own camps.

At Tri-state, we re-connect with our colleagues in the industry who run camps from Maine all the way to California. It’s an opportunity for us to spend time with like minded people who are dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of children.  Moreover, Tri-State marks what we call the “turning of the corner”. It signifies that camp is LITERALLY right around the corner! As we left Atlantic City, we all sighed a collective sigh as we returned home to put the finishing touches on our exciting summer planning!!!