It's Getting Closer

This year's Conference is practically hours away, and that feeling I get...you know that feeling when you are driving down the driveway to camp...is starting to surface. No, Pheasant Run Resort isn't our camp, but for a few days, we all get to come together as camp professionals and front line staff members and be together. It is so easy to feel a bit isolated at our own camps, only seeing those few people who work in our agencies or on our teams.

At conferences we have the chance to spend time with others who think like us, and do jobs that are similar to ours, and especially at Mid States...they get it. They get the hours that we put in. They get that we can sing a song, cook a meal, hug a sad face away, plunge a toilet, and treat poison ivy in an hour of our work day. That's why we say we "Learn Together, Grow Together". We get it, and are all here to share our stories and be better at what we do...for who we do it for: our campers.

The Steering Committee has put together a fabulous conference with the theme "Building Camp Communities Through Diversity". We hope you learn ways to build your own camp communities by using examples you see at the conference. The Program Committee is now called the Program Innovation Team, and they are bringing a whole new meaning to the word intentional. The Exhibit Hall is ready for you to shop and enjoy - there are always fun and fabulous things going on there. Am I the only person who still hasn't tried out the GaGa Pit?

I look forward to seeing you all there.

Building Camp Communities Through Diversity

As this year's Mid States Camp Conference approaches, I find myself talking more excitedly about our theme and the entire conference each day. "Building Camp Communities Through Diversity" had been discussed amongst the Steering Committee before, and we have touched on this topic like many others do and just skim the surface. While the conference is going to be full of all of the things we have all grown to love Mid States for - the community feel, the jump start to getting in to that "camp mode", the new songs, the professional opportunity for our younger staff members, a chance to reconnect with old camp friends of our own - it is also going to be full of ideas and discussion to make us all think about diversity and what it means us as individuals, as well as our camps and their future.

Perhaps we feel we embrace diversity enough, and there is nothing else we can learn. There is always something to learn about how someone thinks and feels. We as camp professionals are in these roles because we want to make a difference in other people's lives - the campers who step foot on to our properties, the staff members whom we are teaching to be good adults, the parents we are giving a brief respite, the communities that we are teaching about the environment and our natural community. We have much to learn so that we can keep on making that difference and teaching as we go because the campers we are serving may not look the same as they did years ago. The families do not fit the portraits that we saw years ago. The staff members appear different than we remember. If we want to be intentional about how we teach and what we offer, we need to know all we can about who our campers, families and staff members could be.

Our keynote speakers will begin the process for us - opening our minds at the beginning of the conference, and sending us off with the list of "how to's and why's" at the end. There will be one entire education session time devoted to many topics on diversity for you to choose from and attend. Our goal is for this conference to feel like camp, and we want you to leave ready to put the finishing touches on your summer and be ready for those staff members and campers to arrive.

In the coming weeks, I will be posting specifics about the conference from Keynote General Sessions, to Leadership Institute courses and Education Sessions, to updates on the little things that make Mid States the conference we all love. Be sure to check back often. You can find us on FaceBook, as well - be sure to attend the event for the most current updates.

In Camp Spirit,
Carissa

Crayons at Camp

We could learn a lot from crayons:
some are sharp, some are pretty,
some are dull, some have weird names,
and all are different colors...
but they all exist very nicely in the same box.

This statement is hanging in my office and has for many years. It simplicity makes me smile, and use its message often.

What Next?

It is not uncommon to leave events like Mid States with a great feeling of excitement for the summer, but still have two to three months before the days of ice breakers and s'mores are upon us. How do we keep that momentum that was created here at the conference?

1. Organize what you learned. When you are back in the office (or in your apartment, house or dorm room) and have caught up on the work that piled up while you were gone, organize the handouts you collected. Transfer any notes you may have taken during those amazing educational sessions that the Program Committee put together with Colette on to the handouts, or type them up so they can all stay together. As you read through things again away from the conference, it is easier to think about how you can use those ideas in your own programs.

2. Stay in contact with those who attended the conference with you. Whether it was your boss or your summer staff members, follow up and share ideas. Even if it is just through a Skype date or e-mails, the more you communicate what you learned and brainstorm using your new tools, the more they will actually be implemented.

3. Follow-up with people you met. Perhaps you exchanged business cards, a quick hand written e-mail address on your program booklet, or just friended each other on the Facebook. Follow up and stay in touch, if even to have someone far away who is willing to let you pick their brain about their cell phone policy this summer. Friends don't have to live close, and you have the biggest camp reunion every March to catch up.

4. Make lists. Believe me, I know how it feels to be behind after being gone from the office for a few days - following up on all of this great stuff may not be at the top of your priority list with that voicemail box full of messages and stack of papers waiting for you. Make a list of the things you would like to do, and when you have a minute you need something refreshing to think about or do, you can cross something off that fun list you made.

5. Communicate your great ideas. If you learned something at Mid States, be sure your boss knows that is where you learned it. If you found a great product at Mid States, be sure your boss or board know that is where you found it. If your network of fellow camp professionals has grown and you feel more supported, let others know. If you now have a jump on your staff training, tell others you work with. If you feel Mid States is valuable, they may as well, and be sure it is in your budget or someone is available to cover your time away next year.

We all hope you enjoyed your conference - we are already planning next year's event and look forward to seeing you soon.

Community

We have been talking about community a lot throughout the conference. If you don't mind taking a minute, think back to the community you grew up in. There was the really nice older couple who lived down the street who always checked in on your family. There were families that your family considered friends, as well as people your parents perhaps told you were not the best influences. Hoodlums, perhaps. There were many other people in between. Sometimes you heard things that you weren't sure if they were true, but you didn't want to ask. The community relishes in its success and growth with celebrations.

Look around as you wander the halls of Pheasant Run. The camps and people that are represented could look similar to those you knew in your community. There are people you can't wait to see because you haven't for a while and you get to catch up. There are people who have always looked out for you. There are people who have always annoyed you. That is the beauty of communities.

We have been spreading lots of information about how the conference works - mentioning words like attrition (ew...evil), and minimums, and things like that. We don't do this to alarm you and think that things are bad with Mid States, it is all just so you know how we work. Mid States thrives on the community we create, and we want all of our neighbors to understand how we run.

We are excited you are all here and look forward to our community growing and being around for a very long time.

Tweeted or Twittered? Like or Attend.

It has been brought to my attention that I have miss-used the words pertaining to the Facebook and Twitter in comments during the general sessions.

**Please be sure to "ATTEND" the Mid States Camping Conference 2011 page (not 'like' it).**

You still may get twittered. Or Tweeted?

This is why Stacie does the publicity.

Hospitality

Hospitality:
[hos-pi-tal-i-tee]

1. the friendly reception and treatment of guests or strangers.

2. the quality or disposition of receiving and treating guests and strangers in a warm, friendly, generous way.


The conference Hospitality Table is located at the elevator doors that take you to the tower. There are always very nice people hanging out there, just waiting to help you find where you need to go or decide what you should do next. They have pens and markers...and even a first aid kit! It's also where you sign up to volunteer, what better way is there be friendly back you your conference?

Paul Denowski is the guy in charge - check out the bucket list to see what to do when you see him. :)

That's where Chuck is hanging out, as well - be sure to get your picture taken with him! Perhaps you'd like to take him along to something you attend?

Enjoy your day.