The 2024 COCA Member Camps will join a virtual training session with Dr. Mike Amylon, Gold Ribbon Committee Chair, in order to prepare for their upcoming Accreditation Visit. This training will explain the foundational basis, purpose of the Accreditation program, expectations and requirements for the Camp so they can prepare, day of visit expectations, and a tutorial of the Gold Ribbon online Portal for document upload.

 Gold Ribbon Accreditation Training Materials for the Camps

COCA Gold Ribbon Portal Tutorial Video

Passcode: a2eK6W?+

The 2024 COCA Member Camps will join a virtual training session with Dr. Mike Amylon, Gold Ribbon Committee Chair, in order to prepare for their upcoming Accreditation Visit. This training will explain the foundational basis, purpose of the Accreditation program, expectations and requirements for the Camp so they can prepare, day of visit expectations, and a tutorial of the Gold Ribbon online Portal for document upload.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82722104974

Meeting ID: 827 2210 4974

Gold Ribbon Accreditation Training Materials for the Camps

COCA Gold Ribbon Portal Tutorial Video

Passcode: a2eK6W?+

Lexi Bickford, Funding Program Manager will explain the new 2024 Care Camps Grant Application. She looks forward to meeting you and answering any questions. 

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwof-6rqz0vHdQB1yif-d3xZnuq79v_ZvGO

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.  This meeting will be recorded for anyone who has to miss it. 

2/29 Care Camps Grant Application Webinar Recording Link

Passcode: igeg4QN&

Care Camps Grant Application Presentation Materials

Care Camps Grant Application Info Sheet

Join Dr. Mike Amylon, Gold Ribbon Committee Chair, to learn about the accreditation process, document review, day-of-visit protocols, and how to navigate the portal!

Gold Ribbon Visitor Training Recording
Passcode: W8QYBq%a

Gold Ribbon Accreditation Training Materials for the Visitors

COCA Gold Ribbon Portal Tutorial Video

Passcode: a2eK6W?+

Lexi Bickford, Funding Program Manager will explain the new 2024 Care Camps Grant Application. She looks forward to meeting you and answering any questions. 

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMrdOiurjwuH9HkOpBD-IYJZcx1yaMLaogb

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. This meeting will be recorded for anyone who has to miss it. 

Care Camps Grant Application Presentation Materials

Care Camps Grant Application Info Sheet

Join Dr. Mike Amylon, Gold Ribbon Committee Chair, to learn about the accreditation process, document review, day-of-visit protocols, and how to navigate the portal!

Register for this training here

Gold Ribbon Accreditation Training Materials for Visitors

COCA Gold Ribbon Portal Tutorial Video

Passcode: a2eK6W?+

Register for Session 1 of the Staff Training Summit Zoom

In his book, Community: The Structure of Belonging, author Peter Block wrote, “We must establish a personal connection with each other. Connection before content. Without relatedness, no work can occur.” This premise applies to our camp community each and every year. In order for our best work to happen, we need to create connection on multiple levels at camp. This interactive online workshop will provide an exciting collection of exercises that camp leaders can use to build connection and empower their staff to achieve great things this summer.

About Roz and Jed

 Roz and Jed Buck are experienced former Camp Directors that continue to make a difference by speaking at conferences and training thousands of camp professionals every spring. From 2004 – 2016, they owned and directed Meadowbrook Day Camp, a large private day camp in New Jersey, where they trained a staff of over 400 each summer. Since launching Roz and Jed Training & Consulting in 2016, their innovative training techniques and energetic presentations have consistently generated outstanding reviews at a wide variety of conferences including many ACA and Recreation and Parks Association conferences and workshops. They successfully provide Two Voices, Customized Content, and Real Experience. Session organizers receive comments like “Easily the BEST session of the day”, “TONS of great ideas to share with our staff!”, “Fun, active, going to use this immediately!”, and simply “AWESOME”. Roz and Jed have shared their messages in 31 different states and Canada across a wide variety of industries.

Register for Session 2 of the Staff Training Summit

Preparing for the camp experience requires our staff to shift gears in a variety of ways each summer. How do we prepare our staff for the mindset shift that enables them to take care of children and recognize the difference they can make in a child’s life? How do we help our staff shift their perspective as needed to be flexible and open-minded about unexpected changes that are an ongoing reality at camp? How do we guide our staff to make important shifts in the way they communicate with their peers and their campers? This interactive online workshop will include a variety of activities to support your staff as they shift gears and prepare for success this summer.

About Roz and Jed

Roz and Jed Buck are experienced former Camp Directors that continue to make a difference by speaking at conferences and training thousands of camp professionals every spring. From 2004 – 2016, they owned and directed Meadowbrook Day Camp, a large private day camp in New Jersey, where they trained a staff of over 400 each summer. Since launching Roz and Jed Training & Consulting in 2016, their innovative training techniques and energetic presentations have consistently generated outstanding reviews at a wide variety of conferences including many ACA and Recreation and Parks Association conferences and workshops. They successfully provide Two Voices, Customized Content, and Real Experience. Session organizers receive comments like “Easily the BEST session of the day”, “TONS of great ideas to share with our staff!”, “Fun, active, going to use this immediately!”, and simply “AWESOME”. Roz and Jed have shared their messages in 31 different states and Canada across a wide variety of industries.

Register for Session 3 of the Staff Training Summit

If your staff is a cohesive team, will that make a positive difference in this summer’s experience for every member of your camp community? Do you want to empower your staff to make every minute of the camp day a unique and special part of the experience for your campers? This interactive online workshop will feature a collection of activities to help you build your team and games to help your staff turn the down-time into fun- time this summer.

About Roz and Jed

Roz and Jed Buck are experienced former Camp Directors that continue to make a difference by speaking at conferences and training thousands of camp professionals every spring. From 2004 – 2016, they owned and directed Meadowbrook Day Camp, a large private day camp in New Jersey, where they trained a staff of over 400 each summer. Since launching Roz and Jed Training & Consulting in 2016, their innovative training techniques and energetic presentations have consistently generated outstanding reviews at a wide variety of conferences including many ACA and Recreation and Parks Association conferences and workshops. They successfully provide Two Voices, Customized Content, and Real Experience. Session organizers receive comments like “Easily the BEST session of the day”, “TONS of great ideas to share with our staff!”, “Fun, active, going to use this immediately!”, and simply “AWESOME”. Roz and Jed have shared their messages in 31 different states and Canada across a wide variety of industries.

Join us from November 14-16 as COCA Region 7 hosts COCAcon 2024 in Spokane, WA!

COCAcon 2024 Attendee Hotel Registration Link
$179-189 USD per night
Last day to book a hotel room at the special group rate is October 1, 2024.

2024 COCAcon Apparel Link

Stay up-to-date with conference news at cocacon.org

A Training Smorgasbord: A Buffet of Ideas to Engage Your Staff in the Learning Process (2 Hours)

You are cordially invited to a training smorgasbord guaranteed to satisfy a hearty appetite! This metaphorical buffet will offer a sample of "appetizers" (ways to get staff ready to learn), a 3-course "meal" (including brain-friendly techniques to present training topics and incorporate movement/visual aids to enhance learning), and a selection of "desserts" (ways to put a flavorful end to training sessions).

Come hungry and leave with ideas (doggie bag included) that will engage your staff in the learning process (even if attention spans are short) while indulging them with training methods that will improve retention of critical information. The success of your summer depends on the intentionality of your staff training!

The Telephone Game for Learning Group Games: Calling All Staff to Have the Opportunity to Lead 

In theory, the group games rotation that is standard to most orientation training should give staff the opportunity to learn a lot of games in a short period of time. What really happens is that staff are exposed to a bunch of games; however, the recall rate when the campers arrive is low. Why?! The group leaders get really good at the one game they teach; however, the learning is passive at best for the rest of the participants. Not this summer! Transform your games rotation into one giant telephone game and call ALL staff to have the opportunity to lead.

This Is Not That: Guiding Staff On A Journey From The Ordinary World To The Extraordinary Camp World 

Even the best possible design and presentation of all the things staff need to know to do their job, in the end, fall short. There is a growing concern that staff are not "mature enough" or "ready" to implement the skills being taught and take on the demands of working with youth at camp. To truly “orient” staff demands more than just games, skills and stories- it requires experiences that are transformative. Learn how to create meaningful experiences in various locations at camp so staff associate being there as something impactful and special. This is the groundwork for the maturity and readiness that is foundational for camp’s magic to unfold.

About Kim

Kim Aycock, MST, has several decades of experience equipping young people with skills robots are unable to do. While blending the talents of a master teacher with the knowledge of a seasoned camp expert, Kim ignites learning for varying levels of camp pros worldwide through her interactive and innovative presentations. Kim speaks at regional and national conferences, contributes regularly to Camping Magazine and ACA blogs, and serves as co-chair of ACA’s Staff Recruitment & Retention Committee and Staffing Summit. Contact Kim through her website at kimaycock.com.