2026 SPARC National Conference

"Let's get together (yeah yeah yeah)..." Great camps are built behind the scenes and in the moment. In this session, you’ll learn how to design a staff experience that’s intentional, meaningful, and uniquely yours, your camp’s “secret sauce.”

We’ll explore how to blend culture, skills, and values into training that sticks, using unseen learning, purposeful play, and connection-driven strategies. You’ll have to step out of the isolation cabin to build your own “artisan s’more,” a thoughtful mix of belonging and experience that keeps staff coming back!

Many auxiliary program leaders use spreadsheets as digital filing cabinets, places where data goes to rest. But what if your spreadsheet could actually do the work for you? This interactive session blends strategy and practice to help participants think like systems builders and design tools that actually support decision-making. Through a guided challenge, attendees will first tackle a real-world scenario, identifying what data matters and how to structure it. The session then introduces a practical framework for building effective systems in Google Sheets and Excel, followed by real case studies including multi-departmental budgets, payroll tracking, and enrollment dashboards. This session is ideal for leaders who want to move from reactive spreadsheet use to building streamlined systems that drive clarity, efficiency, and strategic insight. In this interactive session, we will move beyond basic data entry to transform spreadsheets into a powerful project management, data visualization, and decision-making tool.

Your program's website isn't just a digital brochure—it's your most powerful enrollment tool. But only if families can actually find it. In this session, we'll reveal the "secret ingredients" that push auxiliary and summer program websites to the top of Google search results—no paid ads required. We'll share real examples, including how one SPARC member built their site strategically and saw program enrollment increase dramatically in year one.

You'll walk away with a practical Website Health Check you can use immediately, plus data and language to build the investment case for your CFO or head of school—because getting budget approved for a website is half the battle. This session will change how you think about your school's most underutilized enrollment asset.

After full days of learning, networking, and innovation, Campfire Hour offers a warm, welcoming space to unwind, connect, and reflect. These one-hour evening gatherings at the SPARC national conference are designed to evoke the spirit of a traditional campfire— spaces where stories are shared, relationships are kindled, and moments of stillness are honored. Each Campfire Hour invites participants to decompress and engage in thoughtful, low-pressure conversations that nurture introspection, build professional bonds, and center personal purpose in the midst of an energizing conference. Whether you’re new to the field, seasoned in leadership, Campfire Hour is your chance to slow down and soak in the ”sparcs” of connection.

This event is sponsored by ACTIVE Network.