This past week we attended the the Tri State Camp Conference in Atlantic City, NJ, which is the largest gathering of camp professionals in the world! It is the most important “off-season” event for camp professionals, camp staff, youth development professionals, and “out of school” experiential educators. We attened educational sessions, found new products and services  and best of all, got to spend time with like minded people who are dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of children.

Each year the conference is bookended by the Opening and Closing Keynote Sessions. This year’s closing Keynote was delivered by Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Clinton spoke to thousands of camp directors and year round camp staff, attending the conference. She was relaxed, warm, funny and relatable.

She spoke of her time as a doting new mother, recalling memories of how she would sing “Moon River” to her daughter, Chelsea, until “she developed an ear.” “No sing,” is what her infant daughter would say to her mom to get her to stop, according to Clinton.

She spoke of being a worrying mother, recalling the first time she dropped Chelsea off at sleepover camp. “It was the worst week,” she cringed, before adding a bit of humor. “I’ve had a few bad weeks.” Laughter filled the convention center. “It was up there, it was hard,” she said. Listen here: Hillary Clinton Audio Clip

She spoke of her own childhood when she reminisced about how her mother instilled in her tenacity during a bullying incident. After an altercation with a girl and her siblings across the street, Clinton came running back into her house for shelter, only to meet her mother at the door who told her flatly, “There’s no room for cowards in this house.”

Clinton raved about how camps  provide “the essential building blocks for young people” and exposing children to different races, religions and cultural perspectives. Then she pointedly drew a larger analogy around the summer getaways to the current political paralysis.

“We could have the red cabin, and the blue cabin have to come together and actually listen to each other. Wouldn’t that be a novel idea,” she said. “We really need camps for adults.” “I don’t think there’s any substitute to building relationships. I just don’t,”

She credited her mother with an enduring piece of advice that keeps her poised. “She said, ‘You know, you have a choice to make every day. You can be the lead actor in your own life. Or you can be a bit player reacting to other people,’” Clinton recalled.

In addition to her prepared remarks, Clinton sat down for a chat with our own Executive Director, Jay Jacobs, Director of Timber Lake Camp and also Chairman of the Nassau County Democratic Party on Long Island.  At the end of the Q & A, Jacobs handed her  a gray sweatshirt emblazoned with “Camp David” He said, “You will like the activities and be well supervised.” To which Clinton replied, “Where do I get an application?”

Once a year the community of camp professionals descend upon Atlantic City for the largest gathering of youth development experts in the country. The Tri State Camp Conference is also the largest volunteer driven conference in America. We like to think of this conference as ‘Camp for the Camping Professional.’ As a community we are challenged to do the same things we ask our campers to do: participate, meet new people, attend a type of session you have never attended before and take risks and try new things. While the conference marks the start of Spring for us and the final 100 day countdown until Camp, the keynote and session speakers leave us wanting camp to start now!

Opening the conference was Po Bronson. who has built a career both as a successful novelist and as a prominent writer of narrative nonfiction. He has published six books,and he has written for television, magazines, and newspapers, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, and for National Public Radio’s Morning Edition.

Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman’s New York magazine articles on the science of parenting won the journalism award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a Mensa Award, and a Clarion Award, talking about praise. Their articles for Time won the award for outstanding journalism from the Council on Contemporary Families. Their recent collaboration, the book NurtureShock, has been a New York Times bestseller and was featured on NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross. Currently they are writing regularly for Newsweek.com.

Bronson spoke about the need for an equal reaction to teach children to explore to the action of protecting and keeping them secure. It is important to encourage exploratory behavior and take good risks while teaching them the Losing Is Good For You (NY Times Op/Ed piece). Adults need to know when to turn up the competition and when to turn it down.

One of the Timber Lake Family of Camp’s favorite speakers at the conference is Dennis Snow. Snow spent twenty-years “working for the mouse” at Walt Disney World, beginning his Disney career at the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Attraction. He eventually moved into a management position, managing various operating areas throughout the famous theme park.

Dennis Snow has a passion for, and expertise in what it takes to create world-class customer service. He has consulted with organizations around the world on the subject and has been recognized for his expertise and delivery skills.

Dennis’ customer service abilities were born and developed over 20 years with The Walt Disney World Company. He began his Disney career in 1979 as a front-line attractions operator. Quickly moving into a Disney management role, Dennis managed various operating areas throughout the famous theme park, learning and applying the skills it takes to run a world-class, service-driven organization.

We had a wonderful experience at the Tri State Camp Conference and are looking forward to implementing what we learned, to June and the start of camp and fingers crossed warmer weather!