Inside ACA — November 2007

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Learning Resources

The Latest News About the 2008 ACA National Conference in Nashville

Fall Resource Flyer Features National Conference Program
Get the details on keynote lectures, educational breakout sessions, commerce sessions, and discussion groups by checking out the ACA November Resource Flyer online (PDF - 2MB).

Register Now for the Best Values
Register today and save! Early bird registration deadline is December 10, 2007. Best values are offered to ACA members. Consider joining today and access the best rates.

Make Plans to Attend One or More Pre-conferences on Tuesday, February 12
Arriving early in Nashville? Make the most of your day and plan to participate in the many pre-conferences and courses offered prior to the Opening Keynote Event. Here's a quick look at pre-conferences secured to date. We anticipate adding more.

ACA Standards Course
8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Learn how to assist your camp in preparation for the accreditation visit by participating in the ACA Standards Course. In addition to helpful information about pre-visit preparation, the course offers valuable information about the on-site visit experience. In addition to directors and administrators preparing for visits, persons interested in becoming volunteer visitors are welcome to attend. Although there is no cost to attend the course, pre-registration is required and space is limited. For details, visit: www.ACAcamps.org/conference/standards.php.

Making Program Matter, Part II: Program Design to Intentionally Meet the Developmental Needs of Your Campers
9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Maggie Braun, Camp Wehakee
Cathy Scheder, University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point
ACA research reveals that youth programs are successful in meeting the developmental needs of campers when Supportive Relationships, Safety, Challenging Activities, and Meaningful Involvement are intentionally integrated into the camp's design. Maggie and Cathy will introduce the four supports of youth development identified by ACA research and demonstrate how you can effectively design your program to integrate these elements into the many facets of your camp operation.  This highly interactive workshop will engage participants in assessing the camp experience and integrating these components into their camp.

Personal and Organizational Change Necessities for Successful Work With Diverse Populations at Camp
12:15 p.m. -2:45 p.m.
Michael Shelton, Ph.D., Philadelphia Recreation and Parks System
Plan to participate in this highly interactive workshop designed to provide participants with a concise protocol for outreach to new demographic groups, an introduction of diversity training tools for camp staff, and the opportunity to take a validated inventory to measure individualized strengths and weaknesses with a diversity skills set.  Attendance is limited to the first 35 participants to pre-register.  We are asking each organization interested to limit participation to two individuals. There is no cost for this workshop. ACA is covering the cost of the Cross-Cultural Adaptability Inventory (CCAI). E-mail Melany Irvin.

The Ideal Camp Director: Myth or Endangered Species?
12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Christopher Thurber, Ph.D., CampSpirit
Scott Arizala, The Camp Counselor
This specialized professional development seminar will combine the talents of two camp consultants who work closely with dozens of camp directors each year. Chris and Scott will cull their academic and field experience to provide participants with a framework and a set of tools that promise to vault your directing skill and your happiness to the next level. Through signature strength identification, mind-body connection, and cultural analysis, participants will learn the best ways to achieve peak performance from themselves and their entire camp team.  Plan to participate in this lively, innovative, and challenging session for experienced directors.

THINK FAST! — How to Get Swift Solutions to Perplexing Problems at Camp
12:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Michael Brandwein, Educator, Author, and Consultant to Camps
Gwynn Powell, Ph.D., University of Georgia
Jennifer Selke, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
Hit the ground running at conference by learning and practicing this exciting new set of consultive problem-solving techniques (including the fantastic "tongue depressor") to get great ideas out of others -- taught by a terrific trio of trainers. Immediately turbo-charge your networking at conference. Get solutions to your biggest camp challenges. Learn super ways to use these methods with staff and campers!

Our List of Exhibitors Participating in Nashville Is Growing!
Check out the companies, organizations, and institutions exhibiting in Nashville.  The list continues to grow, so visit it often.  You can link directly to the exhibitors' Web sites.

Conference Sponsors Support the ACA Camp Community
We thank the following companies for their continued support of the ACA National Conference and the wider camp community:

Meet Our Conference Sponsors

ACA 2008 National Conference Team Organizes Service Project – Operation Camp T-Shirt
Join the 2008 National Conference Team in an easy and fun service project by packing one or more extra camp T-shirts in your bags as you head to Nashville. We're setting out to donate 1,000 shirts for 1,000 kids in need. Learn more about this project.

Camp Tour – Organized by the International Camping Fellowship (ICF) With Support From ACA, Heart of the South
A double feature, open to all: A tour of Tennessee camps plus a multicultural opportunity to network with international ACA conference attendees. Learn more about the Camp Tour.

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ACA Regional Conferences Listed Online
Check out ACA's Web site for a complete listing of ACA regional conferences with live links to ACA local office Web sites for more information.

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ACA Basic Camp Directors Course (BCDC)
January 11-15, 2008 (post Southwest Conference)
Hoblitzelle Camp & Conference Center – Midlothian, TX

April 6-10, 2008
JCYS Camp Henry Horner – Ingleside, IL

Additional courses will be listed online as details become available.

Registration is available online. You'll need to choose the specific geographic course you would like in order to get the registration form.

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