American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey

11/02/2026

Are we SOL without intentional SEL?

Social Emotional Learning has always been part of the camp experience. It's woven into the relationships we build, the challenges we help young people navigate, and the environments we create for them to grow. But as SEL continues to evolve, are we being intentional enough about how we put it into practice?

How do we bridge the gap between school and out-of-school time? How do we create a shared understanding of SEL among our leadership teams? And how can we ensure that the experiences we create for campers and staff are making the greatest possible impact?

These are just some of the conversations we'll explore at the Joe Kruger Youth Development Conference on November 12 at the Sonesta White Plains!

We're excited to welcome Dr. Heindel, Professor of Psychology and Vice-President of Academic Affairs at Saint Elizabeth University, as our keynote speaker. With extensive experience in social-emotional learning, character development, and creating positive cultures and climates in schools and youth-serving organizations, Dr. Heindel brings an important perspective to a conversation that directly impacts our work as youth development professionals.

Whether you're leading a camp, developing staff, or shaping the experiences of young people, this is a conversation worth having.

Join us November 12 and be part of the conversation!
Register today: https://rb.gy/de4jte

10/29/2026

REMINDER: Join us for a FREE Member Benefit Webinar hosted by Kids Included Together on November 5th:

Every child deserves the chance to belong and participate at camp. In this session, participants will explore four guiding principles of inclusion and learn how to put them into practice. Participants will learn how to ask respectful questions about a child's strengths, needs, and supports, and how to partner with families to plan accommodations before camp begins. By the end of the session, participants will have a clearer understanding of how to support a smooth transition into camp and prepare camp staff to help every child participate meaningfully.

Register Here:

The Path to Disability Inclusion Camp should be a place where every child feels like they belong. Inclusion starts well before the first day, with the very first conversation between […]

10/23/2026

Connect with women in the camp industry over coffee, conversation, and community! This supportive space is open to anyone who identifies as a woman in the camp field, at any stage of their career.

Share experiences, learn from one another, and build meaningful connections.
Sign up to stay in the loop on upcoming gatherings!

10/22/2026

The way parents discover and choose camps is changing quickly. From traditional search and social media to AI-powered platforms and emerging digital channels, families now have more ways than ever to research, compare and make decisions about summer camp.

Join us for a timely conversation exploring how today’s young families are finding day camps and sleepaway camps, and what camp leaders can do to make sure they’re being found.

Our panel will discuss the evolving search landscape, the growing influence of AI on discovery and decision-making, and how camps can build a smarter, more effective marketing strategy across search, social, programmatic advertising, email, camp fairs, print, and digital TV.

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SltcW7XyRqicj10zBEFWBw

10/20/2026

Join us tomorrow, October 21 for a day of virtual learning designed to help camp professionals explore practical ways to use AI in their work. We're offering two webinars to meet you wherever you are on your AI journey:

Dipping a Toe In: AI Basics for Camp Professionals
October 21 | 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
New to AI or not sure where to start? We'll break down the basics, demystify terms like LLMs, chatbots, AI agents, and prompts, compare popular tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Copilot, and explore real-world examples of how camps are using AI.

Diving Into the Deep End: Building with AI at Camp
October 21 | 12:30–1:30 PM
Already experimenting with AI? Bring your experience, ideas, and questions. We'll share real examples, prompts, and workflows, discuss what's working (and what isn't), and explore new possibilities for the next summer season.
Whether you want to understand AI, put it into practice, or learn alongside others who are experimenting, these sessions will help you discover what's possible and identify practical ideas to bring back to your camp.

Choose the session that fits your needs, or join us for both. Learn more and register here: https://acanynj.org/camp-professionals/calendar-of-events/

10/19/2026

Join us for a FREE Member Benefit Webinar on November 5th:

Every child deserves the chance to belong and participate at camp. In this session, participants will explore four guiding principles of inclusion and learn how to put them into practice. Participants will learn how to ask respectful questions about a child's strengths, needs, and supports, and how to partner with families to plan accommodations before camp begins. By the end of the session, participants will have a clearer understanding of how to support a smooth transition into camp and prepare camp staff to help every child participate meaningfully.

Register here:

The Path to Disability Inclusion Camp should be a place where every child feels like they belong. Inclusion starts well before the first day, with the very first conversation between […]

10/17/2026

Please join us in wishing Kyle a huge HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 🎉🥳

Kyle does so much for our team, and last night we got to return just a little of that love by celebrating him! We’re so grateful for his leadership, dedication, and everything he does to make our team stronger.

Happy Birthday, Kyle! 🎂🎈

10/14/2026

Curious about AI at Camp? Whether you're just getting started or ready to dive deeper, there's a session for you.

Join us on October 21 for a day of virtual learning designed to help camp professionals explore practical ways to use AI in their work. We're offering two webinars to meet you wherever you are on your AI journey:

Dipping a Toe In: AI Basics for Camp Professionals
October 21 | 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
New to AI or not sure where to start? We'll break down the basics, demystify terms like LLMs, chatbots, AI agents, and prompts, compare popular tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Copilot, and explore real-world examples of how camps are using AI.

Diving Into the Deep End: Building with AI at Camp
October 21 | 12:30–1:30 PM
Already experimenting with AI? Bring your experience, ideas, and questions. We'll share real examples, prompts, and workflows, discuss what's working (and what isn't), and explore new possibilities for the next summer season.
Whether you want to understand AI, put it into practice, or learn alongside others who are experimenting, these sessions will help you discover what's possible and identify practical ideas to bring back to your camp.

Choose the session that fits your needs, or join us for both. Learn more and register here: https://acanynj.org/camp-professionals/calendar-of-events/

10/12/2026

The deadline is approaching to nominate your peers for the American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey Affiliate Awards! Nominations are due Friday, October 16.

These awards recognize individuals who make meaningful contributions to our camp community, both locally and nationally. Please take a moment to learn about the different awards and nominate a deserving colleague using the link below!

Celebrate exceptional leaders and programs with ACA NY & NJ’s local and national camp awards.

10/07/2026

Thank you to Willow Lake Day Camp and Meadowbrook Country Day Camp for hosting the annual Day Camp Tours and Conferences yesterday. It was an incredible day of learning, sharing ideas, networking, and reconnecting.

View all photos from the day here: https://acanynj.box.com/s/ir2os2e118zx958q9iw01jq820fwbpoq