Interest Session Philosophy:
​The Mid America Camping Conference aims to provide high-quality, engaging and evidence-based learning opportunities that are applicable and relevant to all camping professionals, and led by the experienced experts invested in the industry. The conference believes that the YMCA is stronger because of the leaders and recognized authorities sharing their knowledge within and alongside the camping movement.

Want to present at MACC?

2026 Interest Sessions

  • CAAVE in Camp
  • The Art of Day Camp Leadership: Hiring, Training, and Creating the Magic
  • ReImagining Camp Leadership: How to Make Your Camp Not Suck
  • Let’s Y.A.P. About Teen Engagement
  • Chemical Happiness: Get Happier
  • Growing a Small Extended Season into Something Bigger, Better, and More Sustainable
  • Big Picture Disaster Preparedness
  • Month-by-Month Checklist for Y Day Camp Directors
  • Getting Ready for a Capital Campaign: What Camp Leaders Need to Know
  • Leadership Development: Building Programs that Grow Future Leaders
  • Camp Store: Selling Memories, Selling Education, Selling Fun
  • Let’s Be Proactive About Generation Alpha
  • The Other Nine Months: Exploring Year-Round Impact at Camp by Maximizing Your Shoulder Season
  • The Future of Teen-Centered Ecosystems
  • Every Camp Counts: Why Day Camp Deserves a Seat at the Table
  • A Master Plan Is Not Enough: The Role Strategy Plays in Capital Development for Today’s Camp
  • Global Camping
  • Debrief or It Didn’t Happen: Turning Experience Into Growth
  • School Leaders as Trip Leaders
  • Innovative Strategies for Building, Engaging, and Activating Your Camp Board
  • What’s in a Name: Upgrading Camp Language
  • Sustaining Camps Through Community: How to Reconnect, Re-Engage, and Reignite Support
  • Helping Staff Rise to the Challenge of Camp
  • Capital Campaign Planning
  • What’s Going On With Boys? Gender, the Connection Crisis, and What Camp Can Do
  • From Cabin to Office — Organizational Systems for Successful Seasons in Multiple Locations
  • Building Bridges at Camp: Fostering Connection and Belonging
  • From Flashlight to Floodlight: Donor Cultivation and Stewardship
  • The Necessity of Rapid Change for Camps
  • A Good Schedule Can Make All the Difference
  • Shifting Demographics and Why They Matter
  • Partnerships or Rental Groups — Best Practices for Working With Outside Groups

Special Thanks to our 2026 Conference Sponsors:
© YMCA Mid America Camping Conference, 2025