AOAP Survival Guide: How to Make the Most of Your Conference Experience

Whether it’s your first AOAP Conference or your 10th, whether you’re brand new to aquatics or you literally bleed chlorine, this week is going to challenge your brain, your body, and your social battery. You’ll walk away smarter, inspired, and possibly needing a nap. 

AOAP is a place to network, learn, and spend time with people who also know the challenges of working with teenagers and never-ending pump room alarms. It’s your chance to think bigger, try new ideas, and maybe even question everything your facility has ever done. 

To help you dive in like a seasoned pro, here’s your AOAP Survival Guide: 

Plan Your Conference Schedule Like A Pro 

✔ Prioritize what matters most — Choose sessions that support your goals, help solve that one operational headache you can’t escape, or simply spark your curiosity. 

✔ Study the agenda ahead of time — Look at session names, descriptions, locations, and times so you know where to go and when to be there. Plan ahead so you’re not wandering around and walking into a packed session 10 minutes late. 

✔ Get a little uncomfortable — Try topics you know nothing about. Sit in a room with strangers. It’s where growth (and new friendships) begin. 

Take Smart Notes - and Plan to Use Them!

✔ Choose the note-taking method that works for you — Photos of slides? Session downloads on PheedLoop? Old-school pen and paper? There is no wrong way… unless you take zero notes.  

✔ Not everything deserves a paragraph — Write down what’s relevant, practical, or future-you will thank you for. 

✔ Capture action items right away — If a brilliant idea hits you mid-session, write it down before lunch wipes it from your memory. 

✔ Review and share with your team — Talk about takeaways soon after the conference… while your brain still remembers its newly acquired wisdom. 

Build Your Network

✔Tap into your resources - (AKA: Network Without Fear) 

✔ Sit with people you don’t know — Yes, even if that means putting away your phone security blanket. 

✔ Attend the social events — The conversations over appetizers often lead to lifelong professional connections (and yes, friendships too!). 

✔ Update your networking tools — LinkedIn, email signature, business cards—make sure they didn’t get stuck in 2019. 

✔ Ask questions — Vendors, speakers, and fellow aquatic pros are all here to share, support, and nerd out about water chemistry with you. 

Lastly… Don’t Forget About YOU! 

✔ Bring snacks and hydration — Coffee alone is not a meal (no matter how badly we want it to be). 

✔ Protect your energy — Schedule a few minutes of quiet time each day to recharge. Staring into a pool for 5 minutes counts as meditation. 

✔ Dress for anything — Conference centers are either a frozen tundra or a tropical biome. Sometimes both in one hallway. 

✔ Enjoy your people! — This is a rare opportunity to be fully understood by others who also understand your world from staffing challenges to AFR’s to those 5 am or 9pm phone calls. 

Final Lap 

Whether you’re a first-time attendee or a seasoned AOAP veteran, don’t let your newfound knowledge fade away once the week ends. 

Stay involved. Join committees. Keep learning. Share ideas. Try new programs. And remember—this community exists to support, inspire, and cheer you on as you continue making aquatic experiences safer, more inclusive, and more fun. 

You’ve got this. Now go make a splash at AOAP!

About the Authors

This post was written for AOAP by Kristen Post & Mary Welton from City of Temecula. Long-time attendees and volunteers, Kristen and Mary are excited to share their suggestions with you!

Are you interested in submitting a blog post? Reach out to Kirsten at kirsten@aquaticpros.org to share your idea and learn more about the AOAP Blog.