GENERAL SESSIONS

Join Jim Cain, Master of Ceremonies and Michael Brandwein for a dynamic opening session that will Extend Our Reach by building unity, community and connections.

The Intentional Camp: Moving From Magical to Methodical
Michael Brandwein, Wednesday 7:00 pm
This dynamic session demonstrates how to extend the reach of camp from just recreation, fun, and memories to focusing on using camp as a mega-powerful tool to development stronger and better young people every day in everything we do in our programming and leadership. Packed with Michael’s signature specificity and use-it-immediately tools, you’ll leave with a ton of practical tools to build the best camp experience ever.

Modeling and Teaching Courage
Gus Lee, Thursday 9:00 am
What’s the most important thing a camper can learn from us? What’s the real purpose of camp? Best-selling author Gus Lee, a former camper and head camp counselor, tells us how we can intentionally and truthfully deliver the essence of camp by helping campers not only to be good – but to reach and become something far more – to be owners of moral courage.

Mentor Circles
Faith Evans, Friday 2:00 pm
Experience a mentor circle, then use it to fill unknown gaps in staff-training. Mentor and be mentored by an expert in the room! Share your wisdom, ask for and receive knowledge in a chosen area for growth, and expand professional connections during the fulfilling experience of a Mentor Circle. Be ready for surprises, good learning, and fun!

Technology interfering with Camp? How Camps Cope and Use it to Their Advantage
Jenn Selke and panel, Friday 2:00 pm
The proliferation of mobile devices and social media tools has added an extra layer to camp life. Come hear from camp directors about their trials and successes running a camp in a connected world. Panel members discuss problems as well as advantages that technology has brought them. Bring your questions and solutions to this interactive session.

Anxious, Overprotective, Angry, Defiant, and Unhappy Parents: New Paths to Success
Chris Thurber, Friday 2:00 pm
Ask a million youth development professionals why they do what they do and you won't find a single one that tells you: "Because of the parents." That's OK. But what's not OK is our failure to train ourselves and our staff to deal with difficult parents. Although most are calm, happy, and reasonable, others are clueless, entitled, and belligerent. In this humorous and fast-paced session, Chris will explain his typology of difficult parents, show videotaped examples of parent-staff interactions, and share practical skills you can start using right now with your most challenging parents. Remember, parents pay the bills, help market your camp, and decide whether their children will return next summer. Happy parents = healthy camp.

Camp Café: Issues Summit
Faith Evans, Sharon Kosch, Peg Smith Saturday 1:15 pm
Join this interactive conversation with your colleagues from throughout the west as we explore the unique trends and challenges we face and examine issues raised by this conference, What steps can we take together to ensure the availability of high quality youth development experiences and help tell the story of the value of camp?

Extending Our Reach: Beyond CampWest 2009
Jim Cain, Saturday, 2:45 pm
Join Jim Cain for an active closing session sure to give you wonderful ideas for meaningful and memorable camp closings.