This is the first of three Town Halls we will host in our efforts to help prepare COCA Camps to return to in person programs.

Learn from your fellow COCA Directors about how they successfully offered in-person programming in 2021, and what policies they expect to implement in 2022. Topics include Meals, Communication/Staff Training, and Cohorting.

Speakers:

• EmJ Juszczyk, Camp Happy Days, Charleston, South Carolina
• Beverley Tidwell, Candlelighters Family Camp, Tucson, Arizona
• Kelsey Merritt, West Coast Kids Cancer Foundation, Burnaby, British Columbia

 Questions to consider:

Meals

• Did you change how you offered meals last year/will you make changes? Do you offer buffet style? Family style? Are you eating meals mostly outdoors?

Communication/Staff Training

• How are you communicating your policies to families, campers, and staff? Do you find yourself needing to communicate more frequently? Did you/will you try anything new (i.e. parent Zoom informational sessions)? Do you find that parents/staff understand the policies? Have you done Zoom staff training sessions?

Cohorting

• Did you cohort last year/will you this year? What did those cohorts look like? How did activities change to allow for cohorting?

Post-Session Files

Due to technical difficulties, the recording for this session is not available. Please access the following documents for our speakers' answers and a transcript of the session Zoom chat:

• Kelsey Merritt, WCK Answers
• EmJ Juszczyk, CHD Answers
• Chat Transcript

Let’s talk programming! Learn from COCA Directors about how they adapted their programs last summer and what changes they expect to make in 2022. Topics include schedule changes, pool time, adapting activities, and creating new traditions.

Speakers:

• Larry Geiger, Camp Periwinkle, Houston, Texas
• Carrie Pomeroy, Smile-A-Mile, Birmingham, Alabama
• Gretchen Loose, Kay's Kamp, Newark, Delaware

Questions to consider:

• Did you make any changes to your schedule (I.e. slower paced days, more time for cleaning, handwashing time built into schedule, etc)
• How do you maintain physical distancing/co-horting in the pool? Did you limit capacity at all? Did you allow pool toys? If so, how did you clean them?
• Were there any new activities that you offered last year that worked great?
• Are there any types of activities that you don’t recommend running during COVID (i.e. difficult to maintain distancing/co-horting)
• What type of reception did campers have last year? Did they seem more or less eager to be at camp?
• Did you have to adapt any traditions, and if so, how did you communicate that and what was the reception?

It's time to meet and discuss your summer plans with peers who are running similar programs! This session will be participant-driven. Attendees will have the opportunity to join breakout rooms based on the types of programs they plan on offering in 2022.

Breakout rooms will be divided by the following modes of program delivery:

• Overnight Camp
• Day Camp
• Family Camp
• Virtual Camp

Please bring your questions and get ready to connect with your fellow COCA-I members! (Please note: in order to select the breakout room you enter during the meeting, participants must update to the latest version of Zoom. Click here to learn how to update Zoom.)

Please register in advance for this meeting by clicking the link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwscO6orz8vGNZf86uuuJOQVzuKTBc3YmCv

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

COCA Directors teach us best practices for hosting virtual camp that they've learned from experience. This session will cover activities, engaging campers virtually, in-hospital programs, and helpful tips.

Speakers:

• Rich Brundige, Camp Kids are Kids Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
• Dina Dattilio, Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, South Hero, Vermont
• Ashley Clinger, Camp Hobé, Utah

Please register in advance for this meeting by clicking the link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZElc-yrrjsjGdKsKBVHggIfyvtPzPuYVcbu 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

A recording of this session will be made available after the event.

Questions to consider:

• What are some activities that you've offered that worked really well virtually?
• How do you keep campers (and staff) engaged during virtual sessions?
• Do you offer virtual programs for children in the hospital? How do those programs work (i.e. access to technology, orientation with hospital staff, etc.)
• Have you needed to provide a child with technology to access virtual programs?
• What helpful tips do you have for facilitating Zoom sessions?
• Do you provide staff training for virtual sessions and, if so, how do you facilitate the training?

Click the link below to access materials from The Camp Show including activity ideas, Zoom backgrounds, camp songs, and more!

The Camp Show Guide

After leading our 2021 COCA Academy, Dave Malter returns to guide Members through creating a robust, impactful staff training program! Learn best practices for finding staff/volunteers, communicating before arrival, training, onboarding, and evaluating. Whether your staff training is in-person or virtual, one day long or a week, Dave will provide you with industry best practices and helpful tips to ensure your staff/volunteers carry out your mission to the fullest extent.

Please register in advance for this meeting by clicking on the link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIsde-hrD4vH9Hrm2SJmd_ASYVbDW9Zx33o 

A recording of this session will be made available after the event.

Hear how COCA Camps have already successfully hosted in-person programs in 2022!

Speakers:

• Jamie Ekstrom, Camp Sunshine, Georgia
• Edith Tomasetti, Camp Sunshine, Georgia (on chat)
• Brandon Briery, Camp CAMP, Texas
• Jennifer Benton, Camp Mak-A-Dream, Montana

Topics to discuss:

• Type of programs offered
• What policies were used
• What went well
• What didn't work well/what needed to be adjusted
• Reaction & buy-in from families & participants

Please join us to hear how your families can benefit from Flashes of Hope visiting your Camp this summer!

We are excited to introduce you to Lisa Cencula, Outreach Manager for Flashes of Hope, a program of Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, provides childhood cancer families with free photography sessions in local hospitals, pediatric oncology camps and special events around the country. Award-winning volunteer photographers capture smiles and forever preserve images of courage, beauty, and dignity. The uplifting black and white portrait packages are keepsakes for families to honor the unique life and memory of their child.

Lisa Cencula, Flashes of Hope and Outreach Manager for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, has 16 years of experience serving childhood cancer families with Flashes of Hope and is honored to continue the mission to create free uplifting portraits to honor the unique life and memories of every child fighting cancer with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. 

Speakers:

Cindy Cohen MS, CCLS, Global Program Director, cindy@kidskickingcancer.org

Leigha Shellhaas, Program Coordinator and Martial Arts Therapist, LShellhaas@kidskickingcancer.org

Kids Kicking Cancer is a 501(c)(3) that offers evidence based non-contact martial arts therapy to kids. Our focus is on pain and stress management for pediatric patients, as well as creating resilience and support for otherwise healthy children. Classes are delivered in person and virtually throughout hospitals, medical facilities, outpatient centers and camps both nationally and globally. Learn more about our fun therapeutic techniques and how you can offer this type of safe physical activity to your kids both virtually and in-person.

Other Resources:

Summer Camp Flyer

Healthcare Partner Booklet

Super Power Kit

Join us to learn how you can extend your campers’ summer with an all-new Virtual camp eXperience, brought to you by the Sunrise Association. We are thrilled to invite all COCA campers to register for this incredible opportunity that will extend their summer with additional camp fun!
NOTE: This program could also be good for those Camps who may have chosen or are still deciding on not having Camp this summer.  

This amazing program for children ages 3 1/2 to 16 offers:
• Flexible summer schedule: from just 1 day to all 8 weeks....you choose! Beginning June 20th
• LIVE and INTERACTIVE arts & crafts, music, drama, S.T.E.A.M, yoga, dance, fitness and so much more
• Fully monitored internet based activities that are open only to registrants

Our speakers will be:

• Deanna Slade- Sunrise Association’s Regional Director for NY Camps and Camp Director of Sunrise Day Camp -  Long Island 
• Athena Levesque –Sunrise Association’s Director of Sunrise VX, Virtual Programming.

If you can't make the webinar, contact SunriseVX director Athena Levesque at athena.levesque@sunriseassociation.org or visit sunrisedaycamp.org/VX for more information!

Please register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcrduytrzwvGN2KxYWtsIGZ2RJl6GwIIQX9 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

A recording of this session will be made available after the event.

RESOURCES

• SunriseVX Site
• SunriseVX Trailer
• Athena's Presentation
• Athena's email: Athena.Levesque@sunriseassociation.org
• Deanna's email: Deanna.Slade@sunriseassociation.org

Let's talk about how your programs went! We'll discuss enrollment, staffing, programming, COVID-19, and much more. This is our last time to connect before Conference!

Please register in advance for this meeting by clicking the link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYscO6vqjgqEtSo4lueRuL2U10wG0MVLSSj

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.