Grass Roots

Grass Roots: 1. basic, fundamental 2. being, originating, or operating in or at the grass roots 3. not adapted from or added to an existing facility or operation: totally new (Meriam-Webster website)

Nineteen years ago, a small group of people realized the impact that an educational opportunity offered collaboratively between two sections had on its participants. Those very wise people put their ideas together, and put together the first ACA Mid States Camp Conference that following spring. Technology and hairstyles may have changed since that first conference in 1993, but the values and goals that Mid States wants to achieve have not changed one bit.

From the very beginning, that small group wanted the conference to be unique to the Midwest, and not try to replicate was being done on the coasts or in the South. They wanted the conference to bring people together - camp administrators and professionals, as well as seasonal employees - to learn with and about each other. They wanted the conference to be accessible. They wanted the conference to be affordable for anyone who wanted to attend. To this day, we strive to hold true to all of these principles.

Mid States relies on our participants to keep us going. The committee is made up of volunteers who work in the camping industry at other jobs. They give of their time because they believe in what has grown from the roots of Mid States, and look forward to seeing it thrive for years to come. They are all concerned about what you, the participants, will take away from the conference. They want you to learn. They want you to grow. They want your camps and the people who participate in any way at them (staff members and campers) to thrive.

There are real costs to putting on such a large conference and serving such a wonderfully diverse group of people. Therefore, we must rely on our participants to enjoy and believe in Mid States as we, and do their part to keep the conference going.

How? Stay at the Pheasant Run Resort. Rooms are available for conference participants at a much lower rate than their standard rates, but to keep these low rates, we have to rent a certain (promised) number of rooms. The conference pays for those rooms whether they are rented or not.

Eat the ticketed and concession meals during the conference. Did you know that all of the ticketed meals are subsidized by the conference? You often pay less than half of the actual cost of the meal, and the same system is set up for meals as is the food. The more meals that are eaten at the conference by our participants, the more it helps the sustainability of Mid States.

Volunteer. There are many opportunities throughout the conference to volunteer your time. Sign up to be a room host for an educational session. Take tickets for a meal. You receive a t-shirt, and Mid States keeps its need for paid staff members or employees of the resort at a minimum. (Saturday during the conference is "Wear Your Volunteer T-Shirt Day!)

Mid States continues to provide top notch educational opportunities for anyone in the camping profession, and does so by continuously evolving and wanting to keep up with the latest trends and issues in camping. We continuously remind ourselves of our Grass Roots, and want to be sure that you all are a part of our ongoing growth.

We are looking forward to seeing all of you soon.