Association of Adventist Camp Professionals : 2025 Seminars Bios & Descriptions

Conference Room (Welcome Center)

SESSION 1

Thursday | 2:15 – 3:15 pm

Seminar Title: Navigating Claims: From Loss to Resolution
Presenter: Hunter Pettit

Description: This session breaks down what to do immediately after a loss, how to file a claim, and what details the claims team needs to move quickly. Participants will leave understanding how to communicate effectively with adjusters and take proactive steps to minimize damage.

Bio: Hunter Pettis is the Manager of Risk Control at Adventist Risk Management, Inc., where he leads a team dedicated to helping organizations identify and mitigate potential liabilities. With a background in psychology and an MBA from Washington Adventist University, Hunter brings a unique blend of insight and strategic thinking to the field of risk management.

SESSION 2

Thursday | 3:30 – 4:30 pm

Seminar Title: Safety Trends in Adventist Camps
Presenter: Hunter Pettit

Description: Explore emerging risks and repetitive loss patterns in camp operations. Learn how to identify practical strategies to reduce injuries and strengthen the culture of safety across our organizations.

SESSION 3

Friday | 2:00 – 3:00 pm

Seminar Title: Annual Renewal Simplified
Presenter: Rocio Roberts

Description: Gain a step-by-step understanding of the yearly insurance renewal process, including how to gather accurate information and interpret each section of the form. This session will highlight common pitfalls, how to report scheduled activities correctly, and which exposures require separate coverage.

Bio: Rocio Robert's is an Account Executive for Adventist Risk Management, Inc., serving various organizations in the South Pacific Division and the Southwestern Union. She has worked for the Adventist Church since 2006, with previous experience in various departments within conferences in the Southern Union. She holds several insurance and risk management designations.

SESSION 4

Friday | 3:15 – 4:15 pm

Seminar Title: Coverage Clarity: Property Insurance Conversations
Presenter: Brian Schwab & Rocio Roberts

Description: Join this session as we dissect portions of your property insurance policy. This session explores different coverage types and will equip you with confident talking points to guide discussions when full replacement coverage isn’t feasible. Participants will learn how to explain the difference between replacement cost, agreed max, and actual cash value in ways that make sense. We’ll explore the statement of values, business income and extra expense, and equipment breakdown coverages.

Bio: Brian Schwab is the Manager of Risk Control at Adventist Risk Maangement, Inc., and has served the Adventist Church for over 25 years. He has served at schools, youth camps, and conferences in roles including education, physical plant maintenance, facilities management, and as the insurance and risk management director at the Southeastern California Conference.

Rocio Robert's is an Account Executive for Adventist Risk Management, Inc., serving various organizations in the South Pacific Division and the Southwestern Union. She has worked for the Adventist Church since 2006, with previous experience in various departments within conferences in the Southern Union. She holds several insurance and risk management designations.

Chapel Right

SESSION 1

Thursday | 2:15 – 3:15 pm

Seminar Title: Camp Done Right: The Essential Playbook for a Winning Summer
Presenter: Greg & Kim Taylor

Description: From hiring and firing to creating a culture of evangelism, join us to discus the essentials to a successful summer camp. Come ready to share, listen, inspire and be inspired as we journey through this amazing ministry together.

Bio: Greg & Kim Taylor have a passion for sharing Jesus with young people and inspiring youth and young adults for mission and service. Pastor Greg and Kim have two amazing children named Matthew and Joshua. Kim and Greg have been a ministry team from the very beginning of their relationship. While in college, they worked at Camp Cedar Falls and then Camp Au Sable. It was at AU Sable, that Greg felt the call to ministry and continued to study Theology and secondary education at Andrews University as Kim finished her education degree for both elementary and secondary schools. Both Kim and Greg taught at Grand Rapids Adventist Academy in Michigan and later accepted the call to Spencerville Adventist Academy in Maryland. After seven years in the classroom, the couple accepted the call for Greg to be the youth Pastor at the Glendale Seventh-day Adventist Church in Indianapolis. Greg and Kim soon received a call to Wisconsin to serve as the youth director team. After six amazing years, another call came to serve as youth director for the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference of SDA. Greg currently is serving as the Southern Union Youth and Young Adult Director along with his wife Kim who serves as the Southern Union Youth and Young Adult Coordinator. Along with the adventures of being a youth director, Greg enjoys running, playing basketball, playing guitar and spending time with his beautiful family! Kim can often be found exercising, reading, playing piano or just catching up with friends. Together they are still passionate about sharing Jesus and making disciples of Jesus Christ.

SESSION 2

Thursday | 3:30 – 4:30 pm

Seminar Title: The Leadership Compass: A Staff Training Tool to Boost Buy-in & Performance
Presenter: Donnie Keele III

Description: If you can pick what your team will be known for as leaders, what would you choose? If you could build a machine that could turn complex camp situations into clear decisions, what components would it have? What if core values were more than a corporate branding exercise? This session will delve into the world of values and explore how, when thoughtfully chosen, personally defined, and intentionally expressed, they are the key to clear, confident, and authentic leadership. Incorporate this experience into your staff training to help your staff generate an intentional list of their own values - ranked and defined - and then help them leverage those values to make better decisions and lead within your organization.

Bio: N/A

SESSION 3

Friday | 2:00 – 3:00 pm

Seminar Title: Mission Multipliers: Partnering with Pastors for Maximum Impact
Presenter: Dan Whitlow

Description: This seminar will equip leaders with practical strategies for collaborating effectively with their administrations, executive committees, and pastors to ensure that the spiritual and relational decisions made at summer camp are nurtured and sustained. Participants will learn proven methods for building communication bridges and creating systems of accountability that help young people continue their faith journey long after camp ends.

Bio: With a lifelong passion for youth and camp ministry, Dan has dedicated over three decades to serving young people through outdoor and spiritual leadership. His journey began at just five years old as a “staff brat,” and he has since devoted 27 years to Camp Cherokee in the New York Conference and six years at Timber Ridge Camp as a staff in the Indiana Conference.

Married to his wife Lisa for 43 years, they have raised three children together while sharing a deep commitment to ministry and family life. Outside of his role as Youth Director, he enjoys backpacking, camping, and Pathfinders—though his calling keeps him so engaged that many of his other interests have to wait for another season.

SESSION 4

Friday | 3:15 – 4:15 pm

Seminar Title: Inside & Out: Marketing to our Denomination and our Communities
Presenter: Julie Minnick

Description: This seminar will explore untapped resources and opportunities camps can utilize to reach target markets within their denomination and local communities. It will also identify tools and technologies that will assist camps in reaching target markets more effectively and efficiently.

Bio: Julie Minnick is the Associate Director for Camp Ministries at Camp Blue Ridge in the Potomac Conference. With a 25-year career in Christian camping, she has served in various roles, from guest services to administration. In her current position, Julie oversees the business administration of the camp, including marketing, public relations, reservations, accounting, and guest services. In her free time, she and her husband Randy enjoy spending time with their coonhounds and good friends, as well as traveling and experiencing new and exciting places.

Chapel Left

SESSION 1

Thursday | 2:15 – 3:15 pm

Seminar Title: Prepared, Not Paralyzed: Responding to Threats at Campgrounds
Presenter: Ken Scott

Description: When danger strikes, hesitation can cost lives, being prepared ensures decisive action. In this seminar, staff will learn practical, easy-to-apply strategies to stay calm, respond quickly, and keep their campground community safe.

Bio: Ken Scott, Sr. is the Founder & CEO of Scott Security Solutions, LLC, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development School graduate, and certified SWAT operator with over 36 years in law enforcement leadership. He has led security for major institutions including Oakwood University, the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and Smoothie King Center home to the NFL’s Saints and NBA’s Pelicans and the Federal Reserve Bank of New Orleans. In addition to having served as a Security Consultant to the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Ken is currently Security Director for the Southwest Region Conference, 2024 International Camporee, and 2025 BAYDA. His mission: Protect. Prepare. Lead.

SESSION 2

Thursday | 3:30 – 4:30 pm

Seminar Title: Cool Heads, Safe Camps: Mastering De-Escalation Skills
Presenter: Ken Scott

Description: Conflicts can spark quickly in camp settings, but the right words and calm presence can turn tension into teamwork. This seminar equips camp staff with proven de-escalation techniques to keep situations safe, positive, and under control.

SESSION 3

Friday | 2:00 – 3:00 pm

Seminar Title: Eyes Open, Camp Safe: Spotting Early Warning Signs
Presenter: Ken Scott

Description: Staying safe starts with seeing the small signs before they become big problems. This presentation empowers camp staff to sharpen their awareness, recognize early warning signals, and take proactive steps to keep the camp community secure.

SESSION 4

Friday | 3:15 – 4:15 pm

Seminar Title: Turning Clashes into Cooperation: Building Peaceful Camps
Presenter: Ken Scott

Description: Conflict doesn’t have to divide, it can be an opportunity to strengthen trust and teamwork. In this seminar, camp staff will gain practical tools to defuse disagreements, guide campers toward resolution, and create a more peaceful, cooperative camp environment.

Gym Room 1

SESSION 1

Thursday | 2:15 – 3:15 pm

Seminar Title: Level Up Camp Operations Training in UltraCamp’s New LMS
Presenter: Derek Wright & Donnie Keele III

Description: Explore how UltraCamp’s LMS streamlines onboarding for camp operations in UltraCamp with self-paced, role-based courses. We’ll walk through the “New to UltraCamp” path and show how faster software training turns into smoother operations—and more value—right away.

Bio: Derek serves as CEO of UltraCamp and previously led Camp Wawona, an AACP member camp. With experience on both sides of the desk (camp operations and technology) Derek brings a practical, empathetic perspective to the challenges camp leaders face. His focus is on delivering tools that streamline work, reduce friction, and free teams to serve campers and families better.

Donnie Keele leads digital media and learning engagement initiatives at UltraCamp, a camp management software company based in SW Michigan. With a background that includes camp management, higher education, certified coaching, and certified corporate training, Donnie is at his best whenever he is helping others discover and leverage their unique talents toward what gives them purpose and brings them joy.

SESSION 2

Thursday | 3:30 – 4:30 pm

Seminar Title: Work Smarter This Summer with UltraCamp V2
Presenter: Derek Wright

Description: Discover faster decisions with live dashboards, build once–reuse forever reporting, and effortless housing assignments powered by your camp’s rules. This session shows exactly how to replace manual tasks with smarter tools.

SESSION 3

Friday | 2:00 – 3:00 pm

Seminar Title: Intentional Individualized Influence: How Authentic Leaders Maximize Their Strengths
Presenter: Donnie Keele III

Description: Camp needs strong leaders. But too often “strong leadership” is defined as a set of prized personality traits rather than the successful leveraging of individual abilities. What would it look like if we stopped chasing after the fantasy of generic, idealized leadership and instead worked to discover, celebrate, and maximize our own unique talents? Join us as we explore leadership as intentional, individualized influence and how our unique talents might shape and refine our approach to camp leadership.

Bio: Donnie Keele leads digital media and learning engagement initiatives at UltraCamp, a camp management software company based in SW Michigan. With a background that includes camp management, higher education, certified coaching, and certified corporate training, Donnie is at his best whenever he is helping others discover and leverage their unique talents toward what gives them purpose and brings them joy.

SESSION 4

Friday | 3:15 – 4:15 pm

Seminar Title: From Ideals to Experiences: Keys to a Thriving Staff Culture in 2026
Presenter: Donnie Keele III

Description: What does it take to create a thriving staff culture in today's ever evolving work environment? In this session, we'll dive into the latest findings from the Ultracamp Summer Camp Employment Study to uncover what today's college students value most in a work experience. You'll walk away with a clear definition of “culture” and practical tools like the Camp Experience Wheel to measure and improve staff engagement. Learn how intentional habits, core values, and empathetic leadership can transform your campus culture from ideals into real, meaningful experiences that keep your staff returning season after season.

Oak Lodge

SESSION 1

Thursday | 2:15 – 3:15 pm

Seminar Title: Recognizing and Responding Helpfully to Anxiety
Presenter: Dr. Jonathan Betlinski

Description: What are anxiety disorders? How can we help campers and camp staff who live with anxiety? Attend this session and get answers to those questions and more!

Bio: In keeping with his love of sweaters, golf, and sporting a beard, Jonathan Betlinski is a psychiatrist and academic from Portland, Oregon. He believes in the power of family, community, relationship, diverse perspectives, deep conversations, being outdoors, a good night's sleep, and leaving the world better for having spent time in it.

SESSION 2

Thursday | 3:30 – 4:30 pm

Seminar Title: Countering Childhood Trauma
Presenter: Dr. Jonathan Betlinski

Description: Most of us know that what happens to us as children can shape the rest of our lives--especially when what happens is traumatic. Come to learn what improves children's chances for healthy lives.

SESSION 3

Friday | 2:00 – 3:00 pm

Seminar Title: Dealing with Discouragement and Burnout
Presenter: Dr. Jonathan Betlinski

Description: Learn how to spot burnout and related conditions in yourself and your camp staff, and what you can do to be helpful for those experiencing it.

SESSION 4

Friday | 3:15 – 4:15 pm

Seminar Title: Healthy Boundaries and Other Self Care
Presenter: Dr. Jonathan Betlinski

Description: Attend this session to learn how to protect and grow your emotional and mental health.

Upper Room - Gym Room 3

SESSION 1

Thursday | 2:15 – 3:15 pm

Seminar Title: Paradigm Shifts
Presenter: Rob Ribbe, PhD

Description: We are living in a time of unprecedented and rapid change. Futurist Bob Johansson describes this as VUCA age: volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous. In this seminar, we will identify seven critical shifts that camps need to make to be relevant and viable in today’s world. This seminar is based on extensive study of the history of camp ministry and incorporates current research on cultural shifts in today’s youth, families, churches, and emerging adults.

Bio: Rob is a professor at HoneyRock, The Center for Leadership Development of Wheaton College, where he is program director of the Masters Degree in Outdoor and Adventure Leadership. He teaches courses on spiritual formation, organizational leadership, leadership development and on the theology and practice of outdoor ministry. He is a regular instructor at CCCA national and regional events and has spoken at Christian camping conferences around the world. Rob was executive director of HoneyRock, a year round camp that is an “experiential leadership development laboratory” from 2000-2023, after serving in program leadership for over a decade. He earned his Ph.D. in 2011 from Biola University where he studied leadership and spiritual formation in educational and ministry settings. His passion is fostering the development of disciple-making leaders for the Church and society worldwide through the camp ministry context. He has authored over a dozen articles on these topics and recently co authored the book “Leaders Yet Discovered: Experiential Development of Emerging Leaders”. Rob is also co-director, along with Rachael Botting, of Growing Faith Together, a 4-year Lilly Endowment funded project that is studying how camp can partner with churches to be a catalyst for faith formation in the home and build resilient disciples for Christ’s kingdom. Rob lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with his wife Jackie, whom he’s been married to since 1991. They have four adult children and three awesome daughter-in-laws and welcomed their first grandchild this year.

SESSION 2

Thursday | 3:30 – 4:30 pm

Seminar Title: How Camp Works
Presenter: Rob Ribbe, PhD

Description: This workshop discusses the theology and social science theory behind camp and outdoor ministry with a special emphasis on the dynamics of temporary community. We will review the five phases of temporary community and how we should program for maximum impact and learn why camp is such a transformational ministry context and how you can maximize your organizational impact.

SESSION 3

Friday | 2:00 – 3:00 pm

Seminar Title: Partnering with Parents
Presenter: Rob Ribbe, PhD

Description: Parents are THE most significant influence on a child’s faith development. Camps are best understood as temporary communities that support the ongoing work of our campers' permanent communities (home and church). We’ll discuss what is the role of parents/care givers, what are effective strategies for impact, and what is camp’s role in partnering with parents for this important work.

SESSION 4

Friday | 3:15 – 4:15 pm

Seminar Title: Partnering with Churches
Presenter: Rob Ribbe, PhD

Description: Christian camps are not the local church. We are best understood as temporary communities that support the ongoing work of our campers' permanent communities (home and church). We’ll discuss how camp and churches can work together to support families and youth and disciple-making and faith formation.

Horse Barn

SESSION 1

Thursday | 2:15 – 3:15 pm

Seminar Title: Parasite Control Lab
Presenter: Kristina Allen LVT, RN

Description: Manage your herds parasites. A hands on opportunity to learn about life cycles, deworming products, and how to identify the specific parasite you need to treat.

Bio: Kristina is the Equestrian Manager at Lone Star Camp in Athens TX where her husband Bob is Camp Manager. She has a background in Equine Medicine and currently practices in her local ER as a Registered Nurse. She and Bob have four children.

SESSION 2

Thursday | 3:30 – 4:30 pm

Seminar Title: Don’t Hold Your Horses: How Camps Create Success
Presenter: Danita Rasmussen

Description: Creating a warm and inviting experience for clients with an atmosphere built for retention. Designing an experience from the welcome to the ‘see you later’ without a goodbye - Summer and year round programs.

Bio: Danita is the Horsemanship Director at Sunset Lake Camp; the fourth camp she has been blessed to work at and the eighth camp where she has ridden horses (yes, she is trying to collect them all). Danita’s passion is sharing her love of horses while building an engaging, organized, and sustainable equestrian program.

SESSION 3

Friday | 2:00 – 3:00 pm

Seminar Title: Feed like a Pro: Horse Nutrition at Camp
Presenter: Kyrsti Cotton

Description: Understanding camp horse nutritional needs and keeping camp budgets

Bio: Kyrsti Cotton moved around several times as a kid, but one thing that didn't change growing up was her love for animals. She has spent the past 18 years working at 4 different summer camps as both a wrangler and Equestrian Manager, along with several other positions. Having a passion for animals led to obtaining degree's in Animal Science and Psychology. She is currently enjoying a new challenge in the world of animals in my role as Assistant Wildlife Sanctuary Director at Camp Kulaqua.

SESSION 4

Friday | 3:15 – 4:15 pm

Seminar Title: Horses Highlighting His Word
Presenter: Esther Lorenson, RN

Description: Planning Adventures in Biblical & Life Lessons Illustrated with Horses

Bio: Esther Lorenson, RN is the founder and director of Equestrian Management Workshops, LLC and Horses Highlighting His Word, has served in the equestrian and camping industry for over 45 years, and is passionate about camp, horses and sharing Jesus.

Cedar Cafe

SESSION 1

Thursday | 2:15 – 3:15 pm

Seminar Title: Tips for Cooking for Large Groups
Presenter: Shelly Martinez

Description: Cooking for a crowd can be easy. Plan well and save time.

Bio: Shelly is a passionate promoter for healthy eating and the creator of Shelly's Vegan Kitchen on YouTube. She grew up on a farm in Mexico, where her family grew fruits and vegetables, sparking her love for wholesome food from a young age. She has been a vegan for 10 years and enjoys sharing healthy recipes to inspire others. She is happily married with two daughters, and together they run a ministry providing physical and mental health services in their community in Arizona.

SESSION 2

Thursday | 3:30 – 4:30 pm

Seminar Title: Healthy food is about balance not perfection
Presenter: Shelly Martinez

Description: Healthy eating is about balance. Small choices matter.

SESSION 3

Friday | 2:00 – 3:00 pm

Seminar Title: My recipes (simple and tasty)
Presenter: Shelly Martinez

Description: Easy, tasty recipes for everyone. Healthy can be simple.

SESSION 4

Friday | 3:15 – 4:15 pm

Seminar Title: How can food taste good if it doesn't cost a lot?
Presenter: Jannette Queen

Description: Food costs are rising, group demands for quality meals are increasing. How do I meet my budget and prepare high quality meals.

Bio: Jannette has been Director of guest services, food service director, barn manager, and even water park manager. Over the past 25+ years she has covered a lot of ground in the camping industry. If you are open minded about your kitchen, this is the seminar for you.

Cafeteria

SESSION 1

Thursday | 2:15 – 3:15 pm

Seminar Title: No Seminar
Presenter: N/A

Description: N/A

Bio: N/A

SESSION 2

Thursday | 3:30 – 4:30 pm

Seminar Title: What We Do: Partnering for Volunteer Engagement
Presenter: Leah Jordache

Description: Discover how strategic partnership with NAD Volunteer Ministries (OVM) can expand your camp’s capacity, culture, and community connection. Learn about what we do to help you bring fresh energy, mission-driven passion, and long-term sustainability to both summer and year-round programming.

Bio: Leah is a grateful product of camp ministries as a former camper and camp staff. As Associate Director at NAD Volunteer Ministries, Leah cultivates partnerships with ministry leaders to develop and sustain volunteer mission service opportunities across the North American Division. She also works with the OVM team to promote these opportunities, recruit volunteers, create training resources, and increase awareness and vision for the services and support available to both volunteers and ministry partners.

SESSION 3

Friday | 2:00 – 3:00 pm

Seminar Title: No Seminar
Presenter: N/A

Description: N/A

Bio: N/A

SESSION 4

Friday | 3:15 – 4:15 pm

Seminar Title: Recruiting and Processing Volunteers with OVM Support
Presenter: Leah Jordache

Description: Explore a practical roadmap for finding, screening, and onboarding qualified volunteers through the NAD Office of Volunteer Ministries. This session will show you step-by-step how get set up your coordinator account and post your volunteer needs on our volunteer recruiting and screening platform. We’re here to help make it easier than ever to build a dependable, mission-aligned volunteer team for your camp.

Bio: N/A