Close to 1,800 camp and youth-development professionals are headed to Lake Buena Vista, Florida, for four days of education, social and issue-based networking, and special events to help them create exceptional experiences for campers, counselors, families, and communities.

Organization: American Camp Association

Conference: 2018 ACA National Conference

Venue: Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

City: Lake Buena Vista, Florida

ACA 2018 will kick off with a keynote by Florence Williams, author of The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative. She’ll discuss the science behind nature’s positive effects on the brain using her experiences writing for publications like National Geographic and Outside. Three items worth noting:

Community service. Giving back to the host city has become an annual tradition for conference attendees and exhibitors. This year, ACA will collect items for the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida. Attendees are encouraged to donate everything from diapers and baby wipes to backpacks and calculators.

Inclusive community. Back for a second year is the “Camp Includes Me” track, which will help attendees increase their competence around issues of inclusion, fusion, and cross-cultural agility. Conversations and presentations will bring together various world views, research, experiences, and subject matter experts.

Registration rebates. Attendees looking to reduce their registration costs can consider volunteering during the conference. ACA is looking for volunteers to help with everything from working the registration desk to serving as hosts in education sessions.  In exchange for their work, some will get partial registration rebates.

Check out the conference’s Facebook and Twitter (#ACANat18) accounts for other details.

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