Crisis — It Can Really Happen to You 2024

Join us for an interactive session on lessons learned from the 2024 ACA Camp Crisis Hotline calls. We’ll highlight key areas of concern and tough questions camps faced, based on ACA’s 2024 data. Gain insights into unexpected situations, emerging issues, and explore real case studies to understand lessons learned. You'll also receive practical guidance and key considerations for refining your policies, practices, and improving preparedness for emergencies and crises in camp operations. 

Through this webinar, participants will:

1. Understand Trends: Identify the most common types of hotline calls and emerging trends from the 2024 ACA Crisis Hotline data.
2. Explore Case Studies: Analyze specific emerging issues through detailed case discussions to gain practical insights.
3. Access Crisis Resources: Learn about essential resources and tools available for effectively responding to crisis situations at camp to implement into your program. 

Presenter Bios:

Michele Branconier  

Michele’s youth development career spans more than 30 years. Currently serving as the American Camp Association’s (ACA’s) Senior Director of Volunteerism, Michele partners with camp professionals, volunteer leaders, and ACA staff to support camps throughout the region. Prior to joining ACA, she led independent and agency programs in California. Michele demonstrates focus on industry growth at the national level as the staff liaison to ACA’s Volunteer Engagement Committee, National Awards Committee, National EPIC Committee and Board Government Affairs Committee.  

Michele provides leadership in her community as Girl Scout Board Chair, PTO president, team mom, chair of fundraising events, as well as positions on several nonprofit boards.  Michele believes in sportsmanship and teamwork as an avid sports fan — especially when it comes to cheering on her own children. She loves to cook, is an average gardener, and likes to read, exercise, camp, and spend time with family. Michele resides in La Quinta, CA, with her husband, daughter, and their three dogs. 

Vincent Irving  

Vincent serves as the Eastern Region Director with the American Camp Association. Vincent is an experienced youth development professional who has designed, built, and scaled programs to sustainable success. Vincent was introduced to the experience of camp in his youth and has since provided thousands of teens similar experiences. Vincent brings knowledge and proficiency in authentic relationship-building, positive youth development principles, program design and evaluation, as well as staff and volunteer management. He has successfully created and maintained partnerships that directly support specific organizational goals, such as policy creation and volunteer retention. 

Vincent is a camper and staff alumnus of the Young Marines and the Envision EMI programs, both of which have been extremely influential throughout his career in youth development. He holds a Bachelor of Science in political science from Florida A&M University and a Master of Science in Youth Development Leadership from Clemson University.