CODACON25

In this session, Kara Alaimo, PhD, a communication professor and social media expert, will tell you how to run a session for campers teaching them how to protect and empower themselves on social media. She’ll address the critical kids things need to know, such as why they shouldn’t compare their lives and bodies to the glamorized pictures they see on Instagram, what to do when they or someone they know is bullied online, why they shouldn’t believe everything they see online, and how to protect themselves from dangers including catfishers and predators. She’ll also talk about how to teach kids to find healthy content and communities online and why it’s so important to seek out opportunities for offline friendships and activities. She’ll give you a script for running a rainy-day session that will be appreciated by campers (and their parents!) and for answering questions that often come up when we develop relationships with young people.

This session will explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the landscape of camp marketing. We’ll discuss how AI can optimize marketing strategies for summer camps, helping organizations efficiently target the right audiences, craft personalized messaging, and measure the success of campaigns in real-time. By the end of the session, attendees will have a deeper understanding of how AI can elevate their marketing efforts and drive more meaningful connections with potential campers and their families.

Most leadership staff are not mental health professionals. But we can still be prepared to support staff and campers who are struggling or even suffering while they’re at camp. This session will offer a framework for approaching “mental health” at camp in a functional way, without being a therapist. We’ll explore strategies to prevent problems before they occur, as well as specific tools and techniques for supporting staff and campers when they need individual intervention.

This session will focus on equipping camp directors and owners with the knowledge and tools address mental wellness. You will learn to recognize early warning signs of mental health struggles among staff and campers. We will discuss why it is essential for camp leadership to be proactive in identifying and de-escalating potential mental health concerns. With anxiety, depression, and burnout becoming more prevalent, the ability to act early and offer support is crucial. The discussion will explore how proper training can empower leaders to foster a healthy, supportive camp culture and ensure that staff are mentally equipped to handle the emotional demands of camp life. We will also look at the detrimental effects that a mental health crisis occurring at camp can have and look at examples of how proper training can have a summer altering impact.