It seems like I spend half my winter and early spring at camp conferences (oh, and a few days at Disney World too!).

ACA Nationals was last week. ACA Tri-State is coming up in March. ACA New England after that. Some more as the summer gets closer.

This year at ACA Tri-State I’m presenting three sessions:

Foundations of a Strong Camp Marketing Plan

Developing Future Camp Leaders with CIT Programs

The Parent Perspective: Understanding Families’ Summer Choices in 2026

Come check them out!

People ask if I get tired of conferences. I don’t. I love it.

But I’ve noticed that conferences do something different depending on where you are in your camp career. What you get from them changes. How you show up should change too.

Tier One: Early Career

When you’re early in your career, conferences blow your mind. Thousands of other camp pros are seemingly everywhere. You walk into a session, and all of a sudden, there are exact words and solutions for problems you’ve been feeling but couldn’t quite articulate. You walk out with strategies you can use by the end of the week.

At this stage, showing up means being there and paying attention. Prioritize sessions while taking notes and seeing how the rest of the camp world operates. It’s so easy to learn at this stage.

Tier Two: Mid-Career

Here is where you start to feel more comfortable with the material, your own style, and what you are figuring out about camp. Here, you're starting to give some solutions to the folks next to you while also still listening to the people at the front.

Beginning to share your knowledge (wins and losses) does two things. It helps everyone else, and it also means finding deeper meaning in your own work. Beginning to explain things means thinking those things through.

At this stage, showing up means contributing in some way. Presenting a session. Showing what you’ve learned. Testing some ideas out loud. Building credibility.

Tier Three: Senior Leadership

Fewer sessions and some more intentional conversations. You’re thinking about camping as an industry and not just through the lens of your operation. This can mean youth trends, sustainability or long-term direction.

This is where the informal leadership layer of summer camp lives. The people in these conversations are thinking about ensuring the camp experience is around for years to come.

At this stage, showing up means stewardship. Volunteer at the conference. Serve on a committee. Become an ACA site visitor. Advocate to politicians. These avenues introduce you to a world of leadership you didn’t know existed.

The Camp Conference Constant

What you get from conferences changes as your career grows. One thing stays constant: the people who get the most are the ones who show up.

I’ve run into the same people in all these rooms because they’re the ones who volunteer. They raised their hand when help was needed. They offered solutions when others were looking for help. Conferences are where that starts.

We need more people showing up if we want this industry to move forward. Your career will thank you. So will camping.

Oh, and if you’re at Tri-State, come say hi.

Sincerely,
Dan Weir

Senior Consultant at Immersive1st

dan@immersive1st.com