KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Dr. Jim Cain -  Author and Director of Teamwork & Teamplay
Dr. Jim Cain is the author of five adventure-based teambuilding texts, including the award winning book Teamwork & Teamplay, which received the Karl Rohnke Creativity Award presented by the Association for Experiential Education, The Book on Raccoon Circles, A Teachable Moment, Teambuilding Puzzles, and The Value of Connection - In the Workplace. He is a Senior Consultant to the Cornell University Corporate Teambuilding Program, a former Executive Director for the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) and the creative force behind his training company, Teamwork & Teamplay. He holds four college degrees including a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Rochester. Dr. Cain frequently serves as a visiting professor on subjects ranging from teambuilding and experiential education using adventure-based activities to corporate culture and leadership. He is the innovator of more than three dozen teambuilding activities and props, and has presented more than 500 programs in 44 states and 12 countries in the past decade.

In addition to his adventure-based activities, Jim is also an accomplished square dance caller, guitarist, boomerang maker, engineer, researcher, author and generally has more books in his library than many developing nations.

If you want to incorporate teamwork into your organization, and you want to do it right, contact Dr. Cain for assistance. You’ll be glad you did!

January 9, 2008 - 7:15pm - 8:30pm KEYNOTE
January 10, 2008 - 9:15am - 10:30am Session I
January 10, 2008 - 10:45am - 12:00pm Session II

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Cathi Cohen, LCSW, CGP -  Author and Director of In Step
Cathi Cohen, author of “Building Friendships – A Camp Counselors’ Manual”, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Group Psychotherapist. Cathi received her Master's Degree in social work from Columbia University. Specializing in group therapy treatments, Cathi has worked with children, adolescents, and adults in a clinical setting since 1984. Early in her career as a social worker Cathi recognized the power of treating relationship problems through group therapy. It was this interest and expertise that led her to create the Stepping Stones Social Skills Group Therapy Program in 1990. The success of this program led to the formation of the In Step group practice in 1995. Cathi is the author of Raise Your Child's Social IQ: Stepping Stones to People Skills, and is an interesting and dynamic speaker who is frequently invited to speak on the topic of social skills to community groups and the media. She is currently working on two more books; one geared towards adults who manage groups of children (Outnumbered Not Outsmarted) and the other geared towards training camp counselors to help campers build friendships (Stepping Stones to Building Friendships).

January 10, 2008- 1:45pm - 3:15pm KEYNOTE
January 10, 2008- 3:30pm - 4:45pm Session III


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Dr. CHRIS THURBER - CampSpirit.com
Chris Thurber is a board-certified clinical psychologist, educator, consultant, and father of two. His best-selling book, “The Summer Camp Handbook” and DVD, “The Secret Ingredients of Summer Camp Success” have helped thousands of new camper families get the most out of camp. Chris is the school psychologist at Phillips Exeter Academy. His website is CampSpirit.com.

January 11, 2008 - 9:00am - 10:15 am Session V
January 11, 2008 - 10:30am - 11:45pm Session VI
January 11, 2008 - 1:00pm - 2:30pm KEYNOTE

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SESSION SPEAKERS

Adventure Guides Sessions -
Paul Bianchi, Doug Fox, Vince Glorioso, Rick Mirando, Ted Stelling
coming soon!

January 10, 2008 - 9:15am - 10:30am Session I
January 10, 2008 - 10:45am - 12:00pm Session II
January 10, 2008 - 3:30pm - 4:45pm Session III
January 11, 2008 - 9:00am - 10:15 am Session IV
January 11, 2008 - 10:30am - 11:45pm Session V


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Scott Arizala - The Camp Couselor
Scott is one of the leading experts and premier trainers in summer camp. He has been involved with camps and youth development for over twenty years. As a professional consultant and trainer he has given keynotes workshops and educational sessions at numerous professional conferences and training events and works with hundreds of camps across the country."

January 10, 2008 - 9:15am - 10:30am Session I
January 10, 2008 - 10:45am - 12:00pm Session II
January 10, 2008 - 3:30pm - 4:45pm Session III


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Luke Austenfeld - CEO, Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center
Luke Austenfeld is the founding CEO of the Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center. A result of $24 million dollars in fund raising, the SLYOC was the first new YMCA Camp and Conference center built from scratch in over 50 years. Luke brings a teaching degree, a masters degree in non profit leadership and management, and over 25 years experience in YMCA camping to the development of a residential character education program in partnership with schools called "Camp to Classroom...Strong Kids...Healthy, Smart, and Good

January 10, 2008 - 9:15am - 10:30am Session I


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Paul "Bear" Bryant - Executive Director/C.E.O. Camp Sloane YMCA
Paul "Bear" Bryant is originally from Atlanta,GA. He is now the Executive Director and CEO of Camp Sloane YMCA, an independant YMCA Camp located in Lakeville, CT. He has been in the camping and outdoor education fields for nearly 20 years, 10 of those as a YMCA professional. He does not like Brussels sprouts. You know him, you love him, you can't live without him, wake the kids and phone the neighbors, here he is, Bear Bryant

January 11, 2008 - 9:00am - 10:15 am Session IV


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Susan Coker - Director of Marketing YMCA of Greater Houston
Susan Coker, as Director of Marketing for the YMCA of Greater Houston, specializes in association wide membership campaigns, program marketing and resident and day camp marketing. Susan's history includes 14 years of living at and marketing YMCA resident camps.

January 10, 2008 - 10:45am - 12:00pm Session II


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Clay Dalheim - Program facilitator Collin County YMCA Adventure Camp
Clay has worked many years as a seasonal camp staff in both summer and outdoor education. He sees himself as a young professional, and feels successful so far. He's a recent graduate of Oklahoma University, loves music, plays guitar, and has all kinds of enthusiasm for "the camping business."

January 11, 2008 - 9:00am - 10:15 am Session IV


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Sylvia Dresser - Executive Director Association for Challenge Course Technology
Sylvia is a long time experiential educator. She has served as the Executive Director of ACCT since 2002.

January 10, 2008 - 10:45am - 12:00pm Session II


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Tommy Ferguson - Camp Olympia
coming soon!

January 10, 2008 - 10:45am - 12:00pm Session II


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Jim Fletemeyer - President Fletemeyer & Lee
Jim Fletemeyer looks at the land a different way. He sees the great possibilities of the outdoor setting and as a landscape architect maximizes the setting to add to the program of each camp. He has a passion for the camping experience and the experience over the last 30 years to analyze the site, recommend usages, and plan and design the outdoor setting for the greatest impact.

January 10, 2008 - 3:30pm - 4:45pm Session III


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Gary Forster - Camping Specialist YMCA of the USA
Gary's directed camps for 30 years, and now supports the YMCA 265 resident camps and 2000 day camps. He has a degree in Architecture, an MBA, and no fear in "telling it like it is."

January 10, 2008 - 9:15am - 10:30am Session I
January 10, 2008 - 3:30pm - 4:45pm Session III


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Judy Foster BSN RN - Chief Health Officer, Camp CAMP
Judy Foster and her husband have fostered over 300 children in 23 years and currently have 4 adopted children, 3 with adult guardianship, and one foster, ages 17-25. She is the Chief Health Officer at CAMP in San Antonio Texas where she is responsible for the health care of 800 summer campers with special needs and 350 staff members. She also coordinates the Developmental Disability Review Course offered to medical volunteers during the summer camping season. As a nurse, parent, and camping staff member, she brings a unique look at dealing with families with special needs.

January 11, 2008 - 9:00am - 10:15 am Session V


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Mary Helen Franko - Associate Vice President of Camping YMCA Camp Grady Spruce
coming soon!

January 11, 2008 - 10:30am - 11:45pm Session V


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Mike Fraze & Ann McWilliams - Mesa
coming soon!

January 10, 2008 - 3:30pm - 4:45pm Session III


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Evan Heltay - President - MySummerCamps.com
Mr. Evan Heltay is the President and CEO of MySummerCamps.com, AllensGuide.com, Summer-DayCamps.com, and other online directories. He possesses a comprehensive knowledge of Search Theory and an expertise in internet marketing and is regarded as an expert in online summer camp applications.Evan has appeared in the media many times as an educator – online, radio, TV and print – where he has detailed the concepts of internet search. He possesses a broad knowledge on the summer camp industry and has developed a reputation as a trusted person in the field.

January 11, 2008 - 9:00am - 10:15 am Session IV


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Ken Katz - SofterWare Inc.
BIO

January 10, 2008 - 3:30pm - 4:45pm Session III


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Stacey M. May - Teambuilding Coordinator & Activate America Director
Camp Jewell YMCA
Stacey May currently serves as the Teambuilding and Activate America Director for Camp Jewell YMCA located in Colebrook, CT. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education for Health & Physical Education from Slippery Rock University. She is also a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and Columbia University. Stacey has been a presenter on Activate America for the Northwest Regional Camping Conference. She’s passionate about finding ways to help people be active in their everyday life, but also realizes that change takes time and a personal commitment to achieving better overall health.

January 11, 2008 - 9:00am - 10:15 am Session IV

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Nancy Meadows - CEO Camp Fire USA Central Alabama Council
coming soon!

January 11, 2008 - 10:30am - 11:45pm Session V


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Ed Metzendorf - Bunk1.com
"Ed is the Director of Sales and Marketing at Bunk1.com. Ed has been with the Bunk1 since its inception in 1999. Prior to Bunk1, Ed was a camp director at westcoast Connection Travel Camp. At Westcost Ed created, directed and supervised Westcoast Connection's Golf and Tennis Division as well as over saw the companies marketing efforts. "

January 10, 2008 - 9:15am - 10:30am Session I


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OE Roundtable -
Zayanne Thompson, Tom Cosper, Tyler Gault, Shawn Moriarty, Chris Tokarz
Jim Parry, Zayanne Thompson and Tom Cosper have each worked as leaders in Outdoor Environmental Education for over 20 years. They have a solid understanding of issues in the field, and are very able to help others grow.

January 11, 2008 - 9:00am - 10:15 am Session IV


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Jim Parry - OE Director
Jim Parry is OE Director at Collin County Adventure Camp. He's been in camping about 35 years (he won't tell exactly), and he likes to read and share.

January 11, 2008 - 9:00am - 10:15 am Session IV
January 11, 2008 - 10:30am - 11:45pm Session V

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Ann Sheets - President, American Camp Association
Ann Sheets has been a member of the Texoma section for a long, long time, serving as section president, standards visitor trainer, and quite a few other roles. She is currently the national president of the American Camp Association and will complete her term in February at the Nashville conference. As president, she has been a spokesman for the association, responding to numerous media interviews, although she has repeatedly requested that she be allowed to create snappy excel spreadsheets instead. In the past, she has been a national board member, treasurer, chairman of the core services task force, and a number of other challenging roles. She is looking forward to returning to her real world job with Camp Fire USA, although she will miss some of the excitement of lost luggage and missed connections in strange airports.

January 10, 2008 - 9:15am - 10:30am Session I


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Mike Spiller - Owner / Games of the World
Games throughout the centuries are Mike Spiller's interest but he is certainly a man of our times. Mike has traveled the world over many times to find innovative and stimulating game data for his many summer camps, teacher in-service and Games of the World workshops. He has worked with hundreds of schools and youth organizations in the USA as well as dozens more in the United Kingdom, Europe, South Pacific and Central America. Mike believes that knowledge, novelty and nurturing are the keys to a successful interactive play session. His varied experience, vast knowledge, enthusiasm, and leadership abilities make him one of America's most outstanding recreational leaders.

January 11, 2008 - 9:00am - 10:15 am Session IV


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Wynne Whyman - Callippe Solutions, LLC
Wynne is president of Callippe Solutions. Involved in camping for more than twenty years, Wynne conducts workshops, co-trains IACCA's facilities course, and has published articles on site and facility management. As an educator, Wynne draws upon her diverse experiences including facilitation, mathematics, leadership development, and technology.

January 10, 2008 - 10:45am - 12:00pm Session II

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Jacob Zlotoff - Bunk1.com
Jacob Zlotoff has been the Director of Client Development for Bunk1.com for over 7 years, witnessing firsthand the evolutions in camp and technology. Prior to his work at Bunk1, Jacob was a program director at a camp in Northern California.

January 10, 2008 - 10:45am - 12:00pm Session II

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ALL PROGRAM SESSION TIMES
January 9, 2008 - 7:15pm - 8:30pm KEYNOTE
January 10, 2008 - 9:15am - 10:30am Session I
January 10, 2008 - 10:45am - 12:00pm Session II
January 10, 2008 - 1:45pm - 3:15pm KEYNOTE
January 10, 2008 - 3:30pm - 4:45pm Session III
January 11, 2008 - 9:00am - 10:15 am Session IV
January 11, 2008 - 10:30am - 11:45pm Session V
January 11, 2008 - 1:00pm - 2:30pm KEYNOTE


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