2025 agenda

In today’s multi-generational camps, Gen Z counselors bring incredible energy and creativity — but also different expectations about work, recognition, and purpose. Building on her work with organizations across industries, Danielle Farage (dubbed the "Therapist for Gen Z and people who hire them") will share practical strategies for motivating, engaging, and retaining Gen Z staff. This interactive keynote will help camp leaders connect with young counselors, set clear expectations to drive buy-in, and translate the summer experience into long-term growth for both staff and the camp community.

Join us for a deep dive into the progress we’ve made on the Camp Leaders platform over the past year. We’ll walk through the latest developments, share upcoming features on the roadmap, and close with a look ahead at what’s coming next.

Camp is more than cabins and campfires; it’s one of the most powerful laboratories for human growth and connection. In this keynote, Clare Davenport weaves together cutting-edge science and practical camp wisdom to show how well-being frameworks can transform the camp experience for staff, campers, owners and families alike. With humour, stories, and research-backed insights, she demonstrates how small shifts can help create a culture where everyone thrives.

Erica Hruby (Summer Camp Coaching)

Jeff Leiken (Summer Camp Coaching)

Rachel Satinsky

Danielle Farage

Clare Davenport

Sam and Parker

Esther and Aaron from Camphire

Dave Brown

Jenna Sommer

Description: When disasters strike, children need safe spaces to heal and parents need support to rebuild. Camp communities have the skills to provide both. Counselors, staff, alumni, and extended camp networks possess the superpowers people desperately need in the wake of disasters. Camp communities have the ability to create healing environments where kids can be kids during their most vulnerable moments. This session will show how to transform your existing camp community into a rapid response team, providing the tools and framework to deploy when disasters hit. Discover how camps are inherently therapeutic spaces that help children process these extreme events, and learn exactly how to plug into Project:Camp to organize these life-changing responses. Together, we'll explore how your camp can become a beacon of hope when communities need it most.

A truly inclusive camp culture doesn’t just make space for neurodiverse staff—it thrives because of them. This session will help you move beyond awareness into action, equipping you with practical tools to recognize strengths, support challenges, and create a workplace where every staff member feels safe, valued, and seen. Through interactive activities and real-world strategies, you’ll explore ways to strengthen your hiring, training, and problem-solving practices year-round, ensuring that your neurodiverse team can shine—and elevate your camp community in the process.

5:00pm-5:30pm and 5:35pm-6:05pm

In these 30-minute small group coaching sessions, camp professionals will experience the G.R.O.W. model of coaching (Goal, Reality, Options, Way Forward) to help them reflect on challenges, clarify goals, and identify actionable next steps. With the guidance of coaches Erica Hruby and Jeff Leiken, and support from peers, participants will leave with greater clarity, new ideas, and practical strategies they can immediately apply in their camp work. This is an opt-in offering open to a maximum 6 participants in each of the two groups per session (24 spots total). 

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Working at camp is more than a summer job—it’s an opportunity to change lives. In this keynote, youth development specialist Donovan Hall shares stories and insights from twelve years of experience in camps and youth development programs to remind attendees why their work matters and how to inspire their staff to stay committed year after year. Attendees will explore what keeps people coming back to camp, learn a practical skill to help staff recognize and articulate the impact they’re having, and leave with fresh inspiration to strengthen their community. This keynote blends storytelling, skill-building, and heart—sparking new energy for the life-changing work camp leaders do every day.