Since the inception of the ACA Staffing Summit in 2021, an anchor quote/phrase has been chosen to represent the theme for the upcoming year based on the overall current staffing status in camps across the nation.
- 2021: Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. (Helen Keller)
- 2022: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. (Proverb)
- 2023: Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible. (St Francis of Assisi)
- 2024: One way out is in. (Various)
- 2025-26: It is your commitment to the process that will determine your progress. (James Clear)
From Survive to Thrive
The spirit of the Staffing Summit is rooted in camps working together to address staffing challenges, as reflected in the 2021 and 2022 quotes. After the shutdowns of 2020, industry-wide collaboration was essential to recruit staff for an uncertain 2021. In 2022, camps faced pushback from staff eager to return to “normal” and increasing focus on mental health. The third Staffing Summit quote reflects camps’ COVID-era survival mode, doing what was needed to keep staffing afloat.
By 2023, camps began envisioning new possibilities, and in 2024 we aimed higher — positioning camp as the sought-after summer job. While some enjoyed a surplus of staff in 2024, others struggled with shortages or running camp with minimum numbers. Last year’s Summit pushed camps to move beyond “the way it’s always been done” and embrace new strategies to meet staffing challenges by urging camps to look inward — at culture and character — as a path through staffing challenges.
Commitment to the Process Leads to Progress
This past year had its share of challenges, with uncertainty in international cultural exchange programs and difficulty hiring domestic staff for a full summer. The 2025–26 Staffing Summit theme, inspired by James Clear, reminds camps to stay the course and adopt long-term, sustainable hiring practices that meet the needs of today’s emerging leaders. Recruiting, training, and retaining staff requires consistency and follow-through — not quick fixes. While collaboration remains central to the Summit and Project Real Job, in order for progress to be made on the staffing front, the focus now expands to building practices that truly resonate with those we invite to join our camps.
Attend This Year's Staffing Summit — Now With a New Format!
No matter your camp’s staffing situation, we invite you to kick off this year’s conversation at ACA’s Virtual Staffing Summit, where experts from both inside and outside the camp field will share valuable insights around staff recruiting, hiring, training, and retaining. To reduce virtual fatigue and provide ongoing support, the Summit this year will take place over three non-consecutive days across six months (October 28, January 28, April 28). The new format also emphasizes staff training as a key to retention for the final Summit date. Critical learning, panels, roundtables, and engaging sessions on all things “staff” will be incorporated throughout the entire event.
The Value of Virtual
You may wonder why the Staffing Summit remains virtual when most events are back in person. Camps continue to face barriers of accessibility and affordability in professional development — especially for one-person offices or those juggling other jobs. By staying virtual, we minimize roadblocks and make participation easier — just as we encourage you to do for your staff.
Top five reasons to attend this timely event:
- Amazing keynote presentations by Dan Durbin, a visionary leader who routinely speaks on leadership and culture; Patricia Buckner-Jackson, EdD (or Dr. PBJ), gives strategies for accomplishing purposeful work without burnout; and Michael Brandwein, will round out the event by sharing his expertise around staff training, retention, and character development.
- Over 30 educational sessions by thought leaders with practical solutions and strategies that will help move the needle with today's staffing challenges. We love that innovative camp pros are willing to share their successes!
- Cutting-edge techniques for attracting, hiring, onboarding, engaging, retaining and training great staff. Explore untapped staff pipelines, save time through the use of technology during the hiring process, leverage staff training as an important part of retention, understand the needs of today’s emerging leaders, and more!
- Opportunities to connect and discuss staffing issues with peers. Bring your favorite practices to share and leave with fresh ideas! Some of the best conference moments happen in the “hallways” — chatting over coffee, in sessions, or catching dinner with long-time or new friends. At the Staffing Summit, we’ve built virtual “hallways” so you can connect just as meaningfully from your office or home.
- View session recordings for a full 30 days following each day of the conference. In-person conferences are limiting as it is only possible for each person to attend one session at any given time. Not at ACA’s Staffing Summit! Queue up the recordings for your commute, while taking a stroll, or sitting at your desk. Invite your team to join you and schedule debrief discussions around various sessions/topics!
Don’t miss one of the most important events of the year!
The Staffing Summit is a virtual conference with an in-person feel and vibe and lives on past the three days of live presentations and 30 days of recordings following each event. We will start conversations in October and will continue them into 2026 with opportunities to reconvene virtually in January and April (staffing looks different as the months move closer to the upcoming summer!) and in-person at the ACA National Conference, Tri-State Camp Conference, and other regional conferences.
What are you waiting for?! Registration is now open. Take advantage of early bird rates through October 1! For the best value, we highly recommend the full package, which includes the October event (staff recruiting and hiring), the April event (staff training and retention), and exclusive access to the January bonus micro event!
Not a member of ACA? Take advantage of the free membership special for discounted registration on the Staffing Summit and other PD events.
Not able to attend the Summit when live? We get it — life is busy! Registration remains open through November 30, since you are able to catch the recordings for an entire month following each event.
Photo courtesy of Camp John Marc in Dallas, Texas.
This blog was written on behalf of ACA's Project Real Job, whose goal is to support camps in their efforts to recruit, hire, and retain staff.
Kim Aycock, MST, has several decades of experience equipping young people with skills robots are unable to do. While blending the talents of a master teacher with the knowledge of a seasoned camp expert, Kim ignites learning for varying levels of camp pros worldwide through her interactive and innovative presentations. Kim speaks at regional and national conferences, contributes regularly to Camping Magazine, and serves as co-chair of ACA’s Staff Recruitment & Retention Committee/Staffing Summit. She can be contacted at [email protected].
The views and opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Camp Association or ACA employees.
