Leadership Summit

What is the Camp Quest Leadership Summit?

Over a weekend, Camp Quest holds an annual summit providing training sessions, roundtable discussions, and opportunities for connecting with other CQ Leaders.

Leadership Summit 2022: Denver, CO November 4-6

The Camp Quest Summit will take place in Denver, Colorado, from November 4 – 6, 2022.  Sessions will take place all day Friday and Saturday, and Sunday morning. Most sessions will be held on Saturday.

Camp Quest’s annual summits are opportunities for volunteers and staff to come together for a weekend of workshops, panels, and fun. The 2020 and 2021 panels were held online due to the pandemic, but we do plan to return to an in-person summit this year.

The Hyatt Place Pena Station/Denver Airport is currently sold out and not able to accept room reservations.  Other hotel options include: 
Please note, Camp Quest Inc has not reserved a room block at any of the below hotels.  

See you in Denver!

leadership summit
Schedule-at-a-Glance
(Please note all times are Mountain Time)

Training: 9:00 am-1:00 pm

  • CPR/AED Pro Certification (Additional Fee: $45) Instructor: Jen Hargrave

General Sessions 2:00-5:00pm

  • 2:00-2:45pm Public Relations in a Crisis: Are You Prepared? presented by Jenny Lawhorn, Founder, Silverbee
    • Planning for a crisis can be overwhelming. In this session you will learn how to respond to and manage a crisis with grace and competence by crafting your message, communicating concisely with stakeholders, handling difficult questions from media, and more. Bring your questions.
      • This session will be recorded and available via Zoom. Click HERE to be connected via Zoom. (Please note all times are Mountain Time.)
  • 3:00-3:45pm Camp Staff Training Roundtable: Reflecting & Looking Forward presented by Mary Sullivan & Jen Hargrave, Camp Quest National Staff
    • We want to hear from you! Come prepared to share your best training sessions, your challenges, and what your camp’s training needs are to best prepare camp staff for camp.
  • 4:00-5:00pm Camp Quest Network: Where It Began and Where It Is Today  presented by Sarah Miller, Executive Director, Camp Quest Inc. 
    • Sarah and the National Staff will present an overview of the history and structure of Camp Quest network from the beginning to today, as well as share what we have been working on and our plans for the upcoming year.  National Board Chair, John Meek, will share updates on the National Board by-laws.
      Sponsored by the American Humanist Association

Welcome Reception 

  • 5:30-6:30pm: It’s time to catch up with your peers, make new friends, and create connections. (Snacks & Refreshments will be served)
    • It’s been three years since we have been in-person – join us and tell us what you are looking forward to for summer 2023 and see the launch of Famous Freethinkers update!

Hang Out Room

  • 7:00pm-11:00pm: Space to gather and just “be”, or bring a game for a little friendly competition, or host Socrates Cafe!  (Soda & Popcorn will be served)!

Sessions 8:30am-5:30pm

  • 8:30am-9:30am (2 Options)
    • Summit Programming Series: Discovering the World in Water Presented by Jen Hargrave, Camp Quest National Staff
      • Does your site have a creek, a stream, a lake, a river, or a wetland area?  Come explore the amazing world that lives in and around these wetlands including plants and macro-invertebrates.  Each camp in the workshop will walk away with an aquatic study kit including tools and guides for diving right in to teach Aquatic Ecology next summer.
    • UltraCamp: Preparing for Summer 2023 Presented by Jenny Knejfl, Camp Quest National Staff
      • Join us for this UltraCamp session to see how it is possible to have all your camper and camp staff needs in one place. In this session, you will learn how to create staff/volunteer sessions, volunteer applications, track staff documents, run background checks in UltraCamp, and post-hire needs.  We will also end the session with a roundtable discussion on what went well, what could be improved, and tips/tricks to help improve our registration for the 2023 season.
  • 9:45am-11:00am (General Opening & Keynote)
    • Celebrating Community – Dream Big. Start Small. Presented by Jack Schott, co-founder, Summer Camp Society
      • Let’s go! Our camps have huge missions and the details matter. We will dive into how to get more accomplished with a happier team. Jack is an experienced camp founder and sought after trainer. He will share lessons from starting Stomping Ground and visiting over 300 camps.
    • Inclusion within our Community: Setting Up for Successful Disability Inclusion Presented by Lisa Drennan, Founder, MERGE Diverse Inclusion Abilities Consulting
      • Camps want to be inclusive, but what does that mean and what does it look like?  Lisa will set the stage for what inclusion is and what it isn’t.  She will cover staffing, intaking, and  training as we work to move from inclusion to belonging, setting the stage for success for camps and campers of all abilities.
  • 11:15am – 12:30pm
    • Leadership Roadmap to Enhancing Your Diverse Abilities Inclusion Initiative Presented by Lisa Drennan, Founder, MERGE Diverse Inclusion Abilities Consulting
      • Now that we know what inclusion IS, we will explore a roadmap to success for your camp with specific steps, takeaways, and goals for you to bring back to your camp setting to share and implement with camp leadership and camp staff.
  • 12:30pm-1:15 pm  LUNCH
    • Camp Roundtable: Let’s Talk Camp! Share Your Highs & Lows, Best Program Ideas, and More! Moderated by Jenny Knejfl, Camp Quest National Staff
      • Working Lunch with CQ Network sharing their successes and challenges, to brainstorm ideas, and to share creative solutions from summer 2022. Take this opportunity to share and learn from your peers.  We are stronger together!
  • 1:30pm-2:45pm
    • Moving from Inclusion to Belonging for Trans* Campers and Staff Presented by Chris Rehs-Dupin, Co-Founder, Transplaining
      • This session will focus on each camp’s ability to create transformative experiences for campers of all genders- with a focus on physical and emotional safety of trans* participants.  Learners will leave with an understanding of some of the current trends in gender inclusive practices, and implementable steps that can be put into practice immediately.  Sponsored by the American Humanist Association.
  • 3:00-4:15pm
    • Communicating about Stances on Inclusion Presented by Chris Rehs-Dupin, Co-Founder, Transplaining
      • Camp is really special in that campers have a unique experience away from home, that may slightly be removed from their regular peers, and where they gain a little bit more agency over understanding who they are.  But we have to be really clear with parents about our inclusive policies- what they are, and how they will be implemented- so they understand that our actions are living examples of our camp values.  In this session we will talk about what we should communicate with caregivers about- before, during and after camp- as it pertains to gender inclusion at camp.
  • 4:30-5:30pm (2 Options)
    • Inside Scoop: Camp Quest Alignment with ACA Standards Presented by Mary Sullivan and Jen Hargrave, Camp Quest National Staff & ACA Standards Visitors, Standards Instructors & serve on ACA Standards Committee
      • Don’t reinvent the wheel!  Let us help you with resources and ideas for getting all aspects of your camp ready each season, while aligning your policies and procedures with ACA Standards.
    • Camp Quest Inc. Board of Directors Candidate Panel Moderated by Samantha McGuire, National Board of Directors member
      • Join us to meet and ask questions of the National Board of Directors candidates slated for the November 2022 voting.  Candidates voted to serve on the Board of Directors will serve a three-year term.  As a Board member of Camp Quest Inc., the National Board of Directors have both the opportunity and the obligation to appoint and evaluate the Executive Director, help establish strategic direction, set board policy, and steward organization’s assets, all in support of Camp Quest’s stated mission.
        • This session will be recorded and available via Zoom. Click HERE to be connected via Zoom. (Please note all times are Mountain Time)
  • 6:00-7:00pm
    • Camp Celebration HourIt’s time to celebrate YOU!  CQ National Support Center will be recognizing years in camp, ACA accreditation, and volunteer and camper retention rate.  And Photo Contest Winners will be revealed.
  • 7:00-11:00pm
    • Hangout Room: Space to gather and just “be”, or bring a game for a little friendly competition, or host Socrates Cafe! (Soda & Popcorn will be served) Sponsored by American Atheists
Sessions 8:30am-12:30pm
  • 8:30am-9:15am
    • Breakfast with Camp Braintrust! Chris, Jack, Mary, Sarah, Jenny, and Jen are available to answer your burning questions about camp and Camp Quest
  • 9:30am-11:00am
    • Roadmap to Creating Appropriate Boundaries with Campers and Staff Presented by Rahel Bayer, CEO and Founder, Bayer Group
      • This session will give you and your camp admin team a roadmap and a toolkit for navigating abuse prevention this summer.  Topics will include training on boundaries, understanding grooming, and teaching your staff how to respond to disclosures of abuse and requests of confidentiality.
        • This session will be recorded and available via Zoom. Click HERE to be connected via Zoom. (Please note all times are Mountain Time.)
  • 11:15am-12:30pm
    • Camp Leadership: DBA Leadership at Camp Presented by Jack Schott, co-founder, Summer Camp Society
      • Camp is about the people. Camp leadership boils down to three big ideas: DBA –  Direction, Belonging, and Action. This session is all about bringing these ideas to life at your camp to build a stronger community pushing your mission forward. Join us for tangible takeaways, a few lessons, and hopefully a couple laughs.
  • 12:30pm That’s a Wrap-Up!
    • It’s been an exciting few days full of engaging sessions that allowed us to connect, share, and learn.  Let’s take a few moments to reflect and tie it all together.  And at this final gathering, we will announce raffle winners who will receive one-of-a-kind CQ prizes!

SPEAKERS BIO

Sponsorship levels

Presenting Sponsor ($5,000)
Listed on all online mentions as presenting sponsor, most prominent signage at all receptions and events, invitations

Conference Sponsor ($2,500)
Signage at all receptions and events, mentions online, invitations

Volunteer Appreciation Reception Sponsor ($1,000)
Listed on all schedules, signage at receptions, mentions online

Meal Sponsor ($500)
Listed on all schedules, signage at meal

Session Sponsor ($250)
Listed on all schedules, name listed on session signage

Coffee Break Sponsor ($100)
Your name on a sign at a coffee station

Contact the Executive Director (executivedirector@campquest.org) for any summit sponsorship questions.