2026 SPARC National Conference

The keynote made the case that auxiliary programs belong inside your school's strategic portfolio, not outside it—this session opens that up as a conversation. Ian will field questions and work through real scenarios with attendees, translating the portfolio model into practical next steps schools can take back to their board or leadership team. Expect dialogue over slides and actionable strategy over theory.

What can the home of the SPARC National Conference teach you about building a stronger camp brand? The Hotel Valley Ho is a living example of how intentional design, distinct identity, and carefully crafted experiences come together to create something people feel. In this session, we’ll use the Valley Ho as a case study to explore how camps can align branding and marketing with the day-to-day camper experience.

We’ll unpack key elements including visual and verbal identity, designing a cohesive vibe, and bringing your brand to life through programming, environment, and interaction. Using a simple framework, we’ll explore how to make your camp unmistakable by intentionally engineering belonging, structuring connection, building meaning through traditions, and focusing on the small details that make a big impact.You will walk away with practical ideas to strengthen your camp brand, elevate your programming, and create a camp experience that is distinctly your own.

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly changing how auxiliary and enrichment programs operate, but where should leaders begin? This interactive breakout session explores practical, real-world applications of AI that can enhance every stage of program delivery, from designing engaging curriculum and training staff to analyzing enrollment trends and making data-informed decisions.

Through three focused presentations, attendees will learn how organizations are leveraging AI to improve efficiency, strengthen program quality, personalize learning experiences, and gain actionable insights while maintaining responsible data practices. Whether you are just beginning your AI journey or looking to expand your use of emerging technologies, this session will provide tangible examples, proven strategies, and practical tools you can implement immediately.

Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how AI can support their teams, improve outcomes, and create more impactful experiences for students, families, and staff.

Auxiliary leaders regularly make decisions that impact hiring, supervision, performance management, and employee retention, but many have never received formal training in employment law. This practical session will explore the legal considerations that arise throughout the employee lifecycle, from recruiting and interviewing to onboarding, documentation, evaluations, discipline, and separation. You'll also examine policies, handbooks, wage and hour considerations, and common pitfalls that can expose schools to unnecessary risk. Designed specifically for independent school auxiliary programs, this session will provide practical guidance and real-world examples to help you build strong teams, make informed decisions, and confidently navigate challenging personnel situations.

Whether you're contracting with vendors, renting facilities, partnering with outside organizations, or launching new programs, every agreement carries legal and financial implications. This session will provide a practical framework for evaluating contracts and understanding the provisions that matter most, including indemnification, insurance requirements, liability limitations, cancellation terms, payment provisions, and risk allocation. Participants will learn what to look for before signing agreements, when to seek additional legal review, and how thoughtful contract management can protect both their programs and their schools. Leave with a stronger understanding of common contract provisions and greater confidence in navigating agreements that support successful auxiliary operations while minimizing institutional risk.

Have you noticed your camp enrollment trending younger? Designing programs that appeal to older middle school students (Grades 7–9) can be a challenge—but with the right framing and strategic partnerships, you can capture this elusive demographic. In this session, Jim Patterson (Harvard Westlake) and Kat Yorks (Lakeside School) will share how they developed offerings that resonate with older students, including programs like Entrepreneurship Camp, Leadership Lab, and AI Innovators. You’ll learn how to leverage existing programs, faculty expertise, and community connections to expand and “level up” your current offerings. Participants will gain insight into our design process and leave with practical strategies for reimagining existing camps—or identifying untapped strengths within their own teams—to better engage older middle schoolers.

Camp is more than a program, it is a business. Like any successful business, it must balance experience, satisfaction and financial sustainability. This session explores how to approach camp through an entrepreneurial lens while maintaining the true heart of your program.Attendees will learn how to build a program that serves both campers and their families while also increasing engagement, participation and net revenue. A key focus will be on creating faculty and staff buy-in by transforming camp from an “extra duty” into a shared investment across campus.

This session will offer practical strategies for strengthening program design, increasing participation and aligning teams across your campus to support long-term growth. Attendees will walk away with actionable ideas for building a camp culture that is both highly valued and financially successful.