For the last three years, I have had the absolute pleasure of working with MAP. Every year in the fall MAP attends a conference. This conference is none other than NACA! Ever wonder how we’re able to bring so many diverse acts to Stevenson? NACA is the answer that question. Remember Throwback Time Machine during New Student Orientation? It was so much fun, right?! Well, NACA is responsible for that as well. The National Association for Campus Activities, NACA, is a student activities conference that is held in different regions of the U.S annually. Programming boards from hundreds of different colleges and universities come from all parts of the country to this conference. It is an action packed, fast paced weekend filled with talented performers and educational components. NACA is such a riveting experience and we always have a great time there.
The four major components of NACA are educational sessions, showcases, camp and swap. Ed Sessions are 30 minute to 1 hour in length. The topics discussed are relevant to students, staff and associate members. They are presented by a different school every day through PowerPoint and other engaging platforms. The takeaways from these educational sessions are very beneficial; they not only help within the programming board but also can be applied to school and life in general. Showcases are “mini concerts.” This is the time when the performers perform a 10-15-minute snippet of his/her act. Some of the performers that we have seen at NACA are various types of singers, lecturers, magicians, double Dutch, hypnotists, and many more. Showcases happen at different times throughout the night, with two or more showcases a day. Camp is my favorite part of the night. This is where you get the opportunity to talk with agents and some of the performers from showcase. Many vendors have booths at camp, and will have samples of their products. You know what that means… Free Stuff! At the end of the conference we will have 2-3 more bags with us in addition to the one you brought. The last major part of NACA, is school swap. This is a chance for MAP to network with other schools and swap school gear such as shirts, hats, pens, cups etc. to get new ideas for advertising events happening on campus.
I’ve had the personal pleasure of attending for the last three years, first as a member and then as an executive board member. When I went to NACA for the first time freshman year, I was super nervous and excited. I thought that it was just going to be a weekend filled with conferences; it wasn’t like that at all. Now, I've put time in, built up relationships with everyone, and been to NACA two additional times I know what to expect. Every conference brings something different, and holds different opportunities for growth and development. Everyone should get the chance to participate in NACA or something similar at least once during their college career!!
The four major components of NACA are educational sessions, showcases, camp and swap. Ed Sessions are 30 minute to 1 hour in length. The topics discussed are relevant to students, staff and associate members. They are presented by a different school every day through PowerPoint and other engaging platforms. The takeaways from these educational sessions are very beneficial; they not only help within the programming board but also can be applied to school and life in general. Showcases are “mini concerts.” This is the time when the performers perform a 10-15-minute snippet of his/her act. Some of the performers that we have seen at NACA are various types of singers, lecturers, magicians, double Dutch, hypnotists, and many more. Showcases happen at different times throughout the night, with two or more showcases a day. Camp is my favorite part of the night. This is where you get the opportunity to talk with agents and some of the performers from showcase. Many vendors have booths at camp, and will have samples of their products. You know what that means… Free Stuff! At the end of the conference we will have 2-3 more bags with us in addition to the one you brought. The last major part of NACA, is school swap. This is a chance for MAP to network with other schools and swap school gear such as shirts, hats, pens, cups etc. to get new ideas for advertising events happening on campus.
I’ve had the personal pleasure of attending for the last three years, first as a member and then as an executive board member. When I went to NACA for the first time freshman year, I was super nervous and excited. I thought that it was just going to be a weekend filled with conferences; it wasn’t like that at all. Now, I've put time in, built up relationships with everyone, and been to NACA two additional times I know what to expect. Every conference brings something different, and holds different opportunities for growth and development. Everyone should get the chance to participate in NACA or something similar at least once during their college career!!
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