We are excited to announce the keynote speakers and special guests for this year’s event!
Opening Keynote: Dr. Chris Thurber
Dr. Christopher Thurber is an award-winning writer and thought leader who has dedicated his professional life to improving how adults care for kids and to enhancing the experience of adventurous young people who are spending time away from home. A graduate of Harvard and UCLA, Dr. Thurber has served as a psychologist and instructor at Phillips Exeter Academy since 1999.
An entrepreneur from a young age, Dr. Thurber founded Prep4School.com and Prep4Camp.com to teach young people how to prevent intense homesickness and make joyful, successful transitions to boarding school and summer camp. One of his first Prep4 videos won a Telly Award for Best Non-Broadcast Instructional Video. His best-selling family resource, The Summer Camp Handbook, was recently translated into Mandarin to help launch the youth camping movement in China. And his most recent book, The Unlikely Art of Parental Pressure: A Positive Approach to Pushing Your Child to be Their Best Self, was described by The Atlantic as “a tour de force” and “the rare parenting book that respects both parents and children.”
Schools, camps, and forward-thinking organizations on five continents have invited Dr. Thurber to deliver keynotes, contribute articles, and lead workshops for all audiences. He and his wife, Simonida, are the proud parents of two boys (Danilo, b. 2002, and Sava, b. 2004). You can learn more about Chris and access premium content on DrChrisThurber.com.
Closing Keynote: Dan Davis
For over 40 years, Dan Davis has worked as a camp director, wilderness guide, consultant, speaker, and mentor — helping people build stronger communities, healthier teams, and more connected families. Formerly the director of Camp Rockmont, Dan is now the founder and lead mentor at Animate Mentoring, where he supports men and families in living with greater clarity, confidence, and connection.
Dan has served on the Board of the American Camp Association (Southeast) and currently serves on the Board of Bounty & Soul, a nonprofit focused on nourishing communities through fresh food and wellness education. For more about Dan’s work, visit www.animatementoring.com.
Presenter: Lindsay Garner Hostetler
Lindsay Garner Hostetler is the Director of Operations & Visitor Experience at the Cashiers Historical Society. Lindsay’s long history with camp began at Camp Merrie-Woode in Sapphire, NC where she was a camper in the 1990s, a counselor in the early 2000s, and a member of the camp’s year-round leadership team from 2006 – 2022. During her time at Merrie-Woode, one of her proudest achievements was establishing a working archive to organize, store, and share historical collections significant to the camp’s history. She was also instrumental in the publication of a book documenting the historical significance of the organization. It was during her time on this project when she first became passionate about preserving the history of summer camps. She is proud to be the curator of the museum exhibit accompanying this symposium, “Campfires & the Embers of Youth: The History of Summer Camps in Western North Carolina,” running through October 31st at the Cashiers Historical Society.
Other Special Guests Include: Helen Harmon, Cate Harmon, Sallie Orr Peterkin, Teed Poe, Ruby Compton, Betsy Helms, Shawn Marler, Sara Huffman Schmidt
We hope you’ll join us for this year’s Symposium! The day will be filled with engaging presentations, lively roundtable panel discussions, and a delicious catered lunch.
DETAILS
Date: Thursday, June 19, 2025
Time: 10:00am – 3:30pm *arrive at 9:15am for coffee and pastries
Location: Chimney Pond Farm – Glenville, NC
Tickets: $75
*Tickets can be purchased on our Website or in person at CHS
If you have any questions, please call us at (828) 743-7710. We look forward to seeing you there!
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