This session looks at the richness of having a diverse staff team and how it opens up new possibilities for reaching an increasingly multi-ethnic camper base. It will cover how to overcome cultural dissonance, how to discern the difference between culture and competence and different ideas for music, food and time.

When you peel back the surface layers of camp, what will you find? At the core of every camp are the mission, values and purpose, from which extend the supports that shape and strengthen everything else. We've heard the saying “life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get"... let's remove the uncertainty and consider that "camp is like a woven basket, it has strength, integrity, consistency and the shape you intended it to have." Accreditation preparation is not just something you do every three years to win over the accreditation team. The areas of accreditation are some of the many crucial supports that you need to build into the structure of your camp. This session will bring insight into accreditation, the big picture of risk management and offer some tools for success as an MCA member camp.

There is so much at stake… as leaders, we have the responsibility to make great decisions. Learn about a model that will help leaders facilitate great decisions, big and small.

The success of camp experiences relies heavily on the unique culture each camp can create and maintain through the season. Camps are renown for creating cultures where campers and staff feel like they belong, they are safe to try new skills and identities, and they are unconditionally cared for. This isn’t always ‘easy’ work. The concept of “mattering” (indorsed by Flett, 2018) offers a conceptual “backbone” for creating psycho-socially healthy, meaningful and inclusive camp cultures. In this workshop, Mandi (camp researcher), Ashley (Exec Director of Mini U) and Jessy-Stephanie (student researcher and first-time camp participant) will share what they’ve learned from their “Mattering at Mini U” study and facilitate camp leaders in activities that help them intentionally develop and maintain cultures of mattering at their own camps.

Young staff are the heart of every great camp—and they deserve the same care and support they pour into their campers. This session aims to equip camp leaders with practical, accessible tools to support the mental health and well-being of high‑school and university‑aged counsellors. Participants will learn how to spot early signs of stress or overwhelm, use simple and supportive conversation frameworks, and connect staff to the right resources without crossing professional boundaries. Together, we'll explore proactive strategies that build psychological safety, strengthen team resilience, and encourage staff to speak up early. The session also highlights daily practices and leadership habits that help prevent burnout and foster a sense of belonging throughout the camp season as protective factors for mental health.

Can you serve in camping for the long term? So much time, energy, and dedication is required,... how does one find the ministry/life balance for the win/win! We will discuss 6 Principles you must accept!

Presentation and Q&A session on regulatory requirements for safe boat operations at camps. Will include recent regulatory changes, exemptions from regulations, and policies for small operators.

Young staff are the heart of every great camp—and they deserve the same care and support they pour into their campers. This session aims to equip camp leaders with practical, accessible tools to support the mental health and well-being of high‑school and university‑aged counsellors. Participants will learn how to spot early signs of stress or overwhelm, use simple and supportive conversation frameworks, and connect staff to the right resources without crossing professional boundaries. Together, we'll explore proactive strategies that build psychological safety, strengthen team resilience, and encourage staff to speak up early. The session also highlights daily practices and leadership habits that help prevent burnout and foster a sense of belonging throughout the camp season as protective factors for mental health.

We all know we need to manage risk in our ministries but often times we struggle to have a functional way to get are arms around this “risk management albatross”. This workshop will provide a framework, practical tools, and samples to create a functional risk management system in your organization.

With the ever-changing seasonal nature of staff and volunteers, it can be hard to keep great staff without burning them out. Let's explore how to define and balance authority and responsibility within the camp setting.

Work-life balance is a scam! You don’t need balance. You need purpose. You need discipline. In a world that constantly demands more, the real challenge isn’t splitting yourself evenly; it’s stewarding your 100% wisely. This session will challenge the myth of “having it all” and instead focus on clarity of calling and intentional priorities. How do we give our best at work without shortchanging our families? Together, we’ll explore practical strategies for setting boundaries, aligning daily habits with long-term values, and leading from a place of conviction rather than exhaustion. If you’ve ever felt stretched thin or pulled in competing directions, this conversation will equip you to live and lead with focus, integrity, and purpose.