Treering Blog

Since 2009, you’ve trusted us to capture and print your priceless memories, and we reflect on this honor every holiday season. Thank you for trusting us with this invaluable task. We wish you all the best this holiday season, and we can’t wait to get to work in 2024. Happy holidays!

Some quick 2023 stats:

• School communities donated over 7000 yearbooks
• Through yearbook sales, schools raised over $2 Million
• Families customized nearly 500,000 custom pages

15 years of Treering: it is our birthday!

Here’s what you can expect in 2024: from January through December, we will celebrate our 15th birthday with goodies for you. You are the reason Treering Yearbooks continues to grow and innovate.

Giveaways galore in 2024

Since we can't hand out plastic goodie bags with sticky hands and noisemakers to every member of the Treering community, coffee, gift cards, custom pages, and other freebies will have to do.

Spoiler alert: Treering’s annual design contests are not going anywhere.

“Treering in the wild”

Last year, at the PTO Today conference in Chicago, IL, an editor said she loved seeing “Treering in the wild,” and it stuck with us. In 2024, we’re leaving our home offices and Google Meets for more IRL conversations and celebrations.

New ways to capture and share memories

Personalized memories are here to stay. How families and yearbook coordinators collect and share them once again will get a shake-up at our hands. 

2024 growth Oopportunities

From new Yearbook Club webinars for yearbook coordinators and advisers to multi-day virtual events and mini-tutorials, we pledge to continue supporting you by answering your questions and simplifying the design-to-print process.

To learn more about how you can be involved in Treering’s 15th birthday celebrations,

• Engage with Treering Yearbooks on Facebook, Instagram, X, formerly known as Twitter, and TikTok
• Read the monthly editor newsletter
• Subscribe to the blog

Staff pictured‍

Top: Sara C. (Sales), Jordan O. (Community Advocate Team), Ali J. (Sales), Gia W. (Sales), Ed G. (Product Evangelist), Liz T. (Customer Success Manager), Dara A. (Sales), Kate H. (Sales)

Bottom: Dustin A. (Community Advocate Team), Katie P. (Customer Success Manager), Shannon H. (Sales/Social), Sandra V. (Engagement and Onboarding), Louise Kate L. (Community Advocate Team), Aisa A. (Community Advocate Team)

In honor of the season of giving, Treering will match up to five yearbook donations per school account. From Tuesday, December 3 through Tuesday, December 31, one community book donation equals one Treering book donation. Editors can reassign these books to teachers, promoting students, the principal, or students in need.

How the donation match works

1. Enable the Book Donation option on the dashboard
2. Let your campus community know 'tis the season to share the (yearbook) love
3. Re-assign the yearbooks so recipients can customize or order non-custom books to hand out

This promotion ends at 11:59 pm PST on December 31, 2024. Matched yearbooks will automatically be added to your account by January 30, 2025.

The fine print

• Promotion ends at 11:59 pm PST on December 31, 2024.
• Matched yearbooks will automatically be added to your account by January 30, 2025.
• Donations may not be combined with any other promotions.
• Donated yearbooks cannot exist on ship-to-home, invoiced, or PO orders. Credit card or PayPal orders only.
• Ordering donation books will not be available for After Deadline Orders.

Your precious memories deserve more than just floating in the digital ether! It's time to bring your favorite moments to life all year long with our new customizable photo gift line. Join our contest and give your cherished memories the tangible presence they deserve.

For Treering's Cloud Breakout, share a photo of a special memory that's been trapped in your Cloud storage, yearning to break free. Tell us why this moment deserves to escape the digital realm and become a physical keepsake. Your liberated memory could win you a $100 holiday shopping spree with our new customizable photo gift products!

Official participation rules and steps to enter

1. You must be at least 18 years old and a parent, faculty/staff member, or student at a Treering school to participate.
2. Valid posts must include an original photo and a caption on what makes this memory special.
3. To participate, you must have a public Instagram account. Entries open from October 14 to November 1, 2024.
4. Share your photo on Instagram with #TreeringCloudBreakout and tag us @TreeringCorp
5. Instagram photo posts are due by November 1, 2024 by 11:59 PM PT. No late or incomplete entries will be accepted.

Judging and finalist selection

A panel of yearbook parents, journalism educators, and social media managers will select five winners. Photo criteria will be based on: the creativity of the photo, emotional impact of the accompanying caption, and overall aesthetic appeal.

Winning photo designs will appear on Instagram on November 8, 2024.

Prizes

Treering will notify #TreeringCloudBreakout Contest Winners via Instagram stories and posts by Friday, November 8, 2024.

A total of five individual winners will receive a $100 Treering product credit (yearbooks are not eligible purchases). Use on canvas enlargements, blankets, ornaments, yard signs, apparel, and more.

Ownership

By submitting your photo memory, you have verified the approval of others pictured, and you approve Treering to use your name, write-up, and school name for any marketing purposes, including but not limited to showcasing on www.treering.com, sharing on social media, and sharing with media.
If you have any questions, contact us at marketing@treering.com.

Treering Live (TRL) 24 exists because of you and for you. We tailored this virtual conference for yearbook volunteers, educators, and aficionados of all levels, offering three days of flexible sessions so you can engage with various aspects of the creative process. Use these ten reasons to convince your admin, as overarching objectives for your class or club, or as a mantra while you’re pulling on comfy pants.

1. The price is right

My colleague and I evaluated a marketing-focused webinar. Once she saw the price tag, she quipped, “If it isn’t free, it isn’t for me.” Good news: TRL is free. So is the replay.

No fundraising and no POs are required.

2. “I don’t know what I don’t know”

We see that all the time in monthly Getting Started webinars: New yearbook coordinators know they have to plan and produce a book. However, the in-between steps are fuzzy. Every day, TRL starts with an I’m the Yearbook Coordinator… Now What? breakout. In this new adviser session, learn what tools are available and how to plan for success. If a question comes up that Liz T., Cassie W., or Sandra V. doesn’t answer, support is in the chat so we can get to it live.

Other sessions for new advisers incl

3. Been there. Done that.

Is your POV: experienced yearbook adviser? Maybe you’re dipping your toe into the world of competitive yearbooking, or you’re looking to add structure and reduce stress in your program. You've already mastered ladders and drag-and-drop design. It’s time to boost your skill set.

Have we got a show for you.

While the first-time advisers do their thing, we have three expert advisers—each with over a decade of classroom experience—leading a breakout for returners. Join Brent M., Ed G., and Liz T. for:

• Tuesday: Project Management and Hacks
• Wednesday: Leveling Up Design and Copy
• Thursday: The Craft of Yearbook: Style Guides and Workflows

Additional sessions returning editors includ

4. Finish 60% of the book in a few clicks

Our three-part portrait auto flow session is the one that builds. Each day, learn how to enhance your portrait pages (typically 40-60% of a yearbook) so that they reflect your school community even more.

• Tuesday: Get your portraits in the book
• Wednesday: Add a larger teacher photo and candids to your portrait layouts
• Thursday: Create blended coverage on your portrait pages

5. The other 40%

Recreating the wheel is exhausting. That’s why we packed in three never-before-seen sessions at TRL:

• Tuesday: Custom covers
• Wednesday: Photography
• Thursday: Coverage ideas

See what other Treering schools are doing to create a yearbook that authentically represents their school community.

A word of caution for our first-year advisers: you do not have to do it all.

6. Flexibility

Live or on demand? Tuesday, Wednesday, and/or Thursday? Yes.

Please note: Each day requires a separate registration. There is no limit on the number of days you may attend. The times below are in Pacific Time; Zoom will adopt your local time.

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

• 9 AM PT - Breakouts: I’m the Yearbook Coordinator… Now What? OR This Ain’t Isn’t My First Rodeo
  

• 10 AM PT - Elective: How to Do a Cover Contest
  

• 11 AM PT - Knowledge Sessions: Portraits (Part 1 of 3) + Top 10 Parent Questions Answered
  

• 12 PM PT - POV: I’m Not a Designer
  

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

• 9 AM PT - Breakouts: I’m the Yearbook Coordinator… Now What? OR This Ain’t Isn’t My First Rodeo
  

• 10 AM PT - Elective: Photography Tips and Tricks
  

• 11 AM PT - Knowledge Sessions: Portraits (Part 2 of 3) + Top 10 Editor Questions Answered
  

• 12 PM PT - POV: I’m Ready to Move Beyond Templates
  

Thursday, October 10, 2024

• 9 AM PT - Breakouts: I’m the Yearbook Coordinator… Now What? OR This Ain’t Isn’t My First Rodeo
  

• 10 AM PT - Elective: Coverage Ideas
  

• 11 AM PT - Knowledge Sessions: Portraits (Part 3 of 3) + Top 10 Parent Questions Answered
  

• 12 PM PT - POV: I’m Not a Designer
  

7. Marketing moments

Hear what other advisers are doing around the US. Throughout TRL 24, we’ll visit a colleague in their classroom to learn how they get books into the hands of students.

This is just one way attendees will inspire one another. Share your ideas during TRL 24 by tagging us on social using @treering (Facebook and X) or @treeringcorp (Instagram and TikTok) using #trl24.

8. Yearbook pro grow

You’ve seen the memes: I’m not listening to training from anyone who hasn’t been in the classroom this decade either. After you watch live or in-person, request a training certificate for up to 12 hours of design technology and theory to create a yearbook publication.

9. Prizes

We always give away the goods. If you have fast fingers, you may be able to win big by participating in the live chat.

10. As always, can’t stop, won’t stop

The learning doesn’t end on October 10. Grow with weekly blog posts and YouTube shorts, monthly webinars, and 24/7 support with the Help Center.

We can’t think of a better way to celebrate National School Yearbook Week than with the Treering Community.

POV: You’re on the 2024-2025 yearbook team! Cue the confetti—for some—and the sweat for others. No matter your personal point of view, our flagship event, Treering Live (TRL), offers three days of FREE live virtual training for anyone helping to create the most epic yearbook ever. 

Every National School Yearbook Week, the Treering Community comes together for

• Organization hacks
• Content examples that will wow your community
• How-to guides to master yearbook design and marketing

POV is more than a social trend

We love a good theme. And we know it’s more than graphics: your comments on last year’s survey shaped the TRL 2024 schedule and session offerings. Here’s what you taught us:

• “I need something earlier in the day or meant more for classes to engage in.”
• “Wednesday was very heavy with sessions; perhaps spread them out more evenly across the days.”
• “I would like to be able to rewatch the sessions.”
• “If you do these events again, I would like to see more on designing a yearbook.”
• “This will be our 3rd Treering yearbook but my first time as Editor et al. It got handed to me, and I was lost, so when I got the email about TRL, I was all about it and so glad I attended sessions. Thank you so much for having this.”
• “I loved the free flow conversations and how one person really kept an eye on the Q&A so all were answered.”

Treering’s response: you got it! 

Join us October 8-10 for TRL 24 POV: I’m on the Yearbook Team. We’ve kept all that you loved and added more of what you want. Expect:

Lunch and Learn Schedule. TRL 2024 spans three days from 9 AM - 1 PM PT. (The rundown is below)

Prizes. Need we say more? 

Real-time support. Your Community Advocate Team will continue to monitor and engage in the chat and Q&A to help you get resources and answers. 

On-demand replays. Did you miss one because of lunch duty? Did you hear something you wanted to share with your class? Did we say something funny that you need to export and autotune? All registrants will have access to recordings through May.  

Start the day with the same sessions, different POVs. After the obligatory welcome, the first two sessions tackle yearbook organization. With breakouts for first-time and experienced advisers, there’s content tailored for volunteers, educators, and aficionados of all levels. The best part? Each day, a different speaker will share their perspective.

Multiple electives. Ideas, examples, and instructions—oh my! Attend specialized sessions on portrait pages, spread design, photography, and coverage. 

Webinar Schedule

Please note: Each day requires a separate registration. There is no limit on the number of days you may attend. The times below are in Pacific Time; Zoom will adopt your local time.

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

• 9 AM PT - Breakouts: I’m the Yearbook Coordinator… Now What? OR This Ain’t Isn’t My First Rodeo
  

• 10 AM PT - Elective: How to Do a Cover Contest
  

• 11 AM PT - Knowledge Sessions: Portraits (Part 1 of 3) + Top 10 Parent Questions Answered
  

• 12 PM PT - POV: I’m Not a Designer
  

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

• 9 AM PT - Breakouts: I’m the Yearbook Coordinator… Now What? OR This Ain’t Isn’t My First Rodeo
  

• 10 AM PT - Elective: Photography Tips and Tricks
  

• 11 AM PT - Knowledge Sessions: Portraits (Part 2 of 3) + Top 10 Editor Questions Answered
  

• 12 PM PT - POV: I’m Ready to Move Beyond Templates
  

Thursday, October 10, 2024

• 9 AM PT - Breakouts: I’m the Yearbook Coordinator… Now What? OR This Ain’t Isn’t My First Rodeo
  

• 10 AM PT - Elective: Coverage Ideas
  

• 11 AM PT - Knowledge Sessions: Portraits (Part 3 of 3) + Top 10 Parent Questions Answered
  

• 12 PM PT - POV: I’m Not a Designer
  

2024 TRL FAQs

How much does it cost to register?‍

Free! Charging extra for support and training isn’t our thing.

I’m not a Treering customer. May I attend?

Yes, please attend. Treering loves to share.

Can my yearbook students attend?

Student privacy is always our utmost concern. Yearbook classes are welcome to attend together; the adviser must be present to model responsible online engagement.

What do I need to prepare for TRL?

Make sure you have the latest version of Zoom so you don't miss out! If you're old school, have a paper and pen to take notes. New school, live post on X, formerly known as Twitter, or Facebook and hashtag #trl2024, #BiteSizedPD, #Treering

Will TRL be recorded?

We will record and share all group TRL sessions on the On Demand section of the Yearbook Club Hub on Zoom Events through May 2025.

This is my first year leading the yearbook. What should I do?

Welcome! We recommend beginning with the I'm the Yearbook Coordinator... Now What (it's happening three times!).

How do I get on the Zoom Events platform?

For best results: Use Chrome on a computer and update to the latest version of the Zoom desktop client/mobile application.

Is this only for first-year advisers?

No! Returning advisers have curated sessions on organization and advanced design.

Can I get professional development credit?

For our teacher friends who need to apply for professional development or are looking for a yearbook PLC, TRL attendees with gain fundamental knowledge and skills related to yearbook creation, marketing, volunteer management, and effective engagement with students and parents, preparing them to support the yearbook team and contribute positively to the school's yearbook project. (You can quote us on it!)

Upon request, we will offer a certificate of completion for three or more hours of attendance for attendees. Email marketing@treering.com for details.

You’re expecting this to be all about brainstorming to increase buy-in, aren’t you? Critiques of brainstorming as ineffective or “the very opposite of synergy” challenge us to take a different approach to choosing a yearbook theme. Try something new this year: ask “What don’t we want in a theme?” 

“Oh snap,” said my eighth-grade self.

This could result in something quite powerful: there’s a leadership movement to replace brainstorming with problem-solving strategies inspired by Einstein. Yes, the Theory of Relativity guy. And “problem” in this context isn’t a crisis, it’s more like a mathematical expression: solve for theme.

Questions to ask when selecting a theme

We have our question: What don’t we want in a yearbook theme? Now, it’s time to find the answers. 

Ask why. And do it five times.

In each of the examples above, students started with their ideas and defined what they wanted to highlight. You may choose to do two or three sets of these to direct your team before narrowing down your theme.

Treering’s nearly 300 themes can provide the visual to align with the story you want to tell (verbal). Here’s what I mean:

Yearbook red flags

Usually, a red flag is a full-on brake moment. Because we are problem-solving to develop a yearbook theme, let’s add some drama. 

1. Trendy or Timeless?

A theme that feels relevant only to the current moment might not resonate with readers in the future. If your theme conveys a you-had-to-be-there vibe, consider how it will be perceived years from now. And whether you want your sigma theme to resonate with your grandkids.

I know. I know. After the trendy theme “problems” above, you thought timeless might be the way to go. Timeless themes might be perceived as "safe," which could stifle creativity*. They often rely on classic or traditional designs, which might lead to a yearbook that lacks innovative or fresh elements that can make it distinguishable from previous years’ books. They also might be beacons of a longstanding tradition.

*PSA: That’s not a reason to ignore design hierarchy. 

2. Themes that are difficult to execute verbally

I’m just going to say it: if you have a visual theme and don’t know how to implement it, you don’t have a complete theme. You have a look. So does my mom.

A complete yearbook theme provides that proverbial lens through which the entire school year is viewed. It helps prioritize content that aligns with the central idea, ensuring that the yearbook tells a cohesive story rather than just a collection of unrelated events. Remember our school that chose POV above?

POV is gorgeous. The included layouts focus on student voices and impactful photography, neither of which works if you only feature a subset of students in the book. To truly convey POV, you need multiple perspectives.

3. Themes that don’t reflect the school’s identity

If the theme feels out of sync with the school’s identity or geography and/or doesn’t capture the essence of the student body, move on. 

This is when you could involve the student body and get that buy-in we previously discussed. Theme surveys help choose the visual identity of your yearbook theme. Our design team put all of Treering’s themes together so you could pare down the selection. (We suggest five or fewer.)

Throughout the school year, some many events and activities might seem unrelated at first glance. An intentional theme helps tie these events together under a common narrative. Visual elements from fonts to graphics, develop that narrative and provide a cohesive look. After you choose yours, check out these additional theme development resources:

(Then again, if theme brainstorming is your jam, check out these questions in the Theme Module of Treering’s free curriculum. We’re that flexible.)

Aside from the release of the annual Year in Review pages, nothing fills our DMs like the fall theme launch. After holding theme focus groups with freshly finished yearbook coordinators and interviews with customer-facing team members, our design team created the largest collection of layouts to date. Treering editors said they wanted the 2024 theme collection to have increased customization, more room for text, and variety in the coordinating layouts and graphics. Yes, yes, and yes.

Many of the 2024 yearbook themes use editable shapes, so yearbook squads can change up the color palette to coordinate with their school colors. You’ll see more caption boxes in the included layouts. Each theme also contains dedicated layouts and graphics for holidays, school events, sports, and academic subjects.

In addition to the ten new yearbook themes below, Treering’s design team added 35 new fonts and 100s of graphics.

"Stick Together" - a design that’s still fire

Stickers have always been and will remain a significant part of contemporary youth culture. They are everywhere: laptops, phone cases, notebooks, and water bottles. Incorporating this concept into the yearbook aligns the design with Gen Z and Gen Alpha students' everyday experiences and interests, making it instantly relatable and engaging. 

Elementary, middle, and high school students will love the playful, whimsical look a sticker-based yearbook theme will give. With over 250+ pieces of art to mix and match, layouts become even more customizable to showcase the personality and energy of your school community.

The modular theme: "POV"

English teachers know POV as a literary device. Students see it on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. It’s a concept where content is presented from a specific perspective, often creating a more immersive and engaging experience for viewers.

As a yearbook theme, POV emphasizes storytelling and relatability by framing school events and experiences through student and faculty perspectives. To help, our design team created a full suite of quote-based graphics and 70 modular layouts.

By using modular coverage, you can combine more topics on a spread, which helps more students in the yearbook. It’s a design shift. Using templates can help: by employing professionally designed mods, students see what works and can edit and adjust these to work for them. Then, they can move on to create their own.

Most spirited: "Mascot"

A symbol of identity and school unity, school mascots embody the essence of your school’s identity and values. Why shouldn’t your yearbook reflect that?

Older yearbook classes and clubs may choose to use the mascot to create a narrative of the school year such as, “Through the Eyes of a Lion,” or include their own “Mascot Moments” to tell how the school values come into play day-by-day.

The mascot can also be used to highlight important school traditions, events, and cultural moments, reinforcing its role as a key part of the school’s heritage.

A collage-themed yearbook

With over 65 layouts for school events and activities, “Collage” used photo-realistic graphics for a mixed media effect. The yearbook theme focuses on photography.

The included tapes, papers, and cutouts provide textures and layers. These elements play a major role in enhancing the tactile and visual appeal of the pages. Different textures—like the smoothness of a photo, the roughness of a paper-cut effect, or the subtle grain of a background—can evoke emotions and draw the eye to specific elements. The layers also help to break the monotony of flat images that a traditional grid structure may give a spread.

"Picture This" spotlights students

From the opening act to the closing credits, this vintage Hollywood-inspired yearbook theme is part glamor, part photojournalistic chronicle. 

Some fun spin-offs can include:

• Movie-inspired superlatives
• Renaming your portrait section “cast of characters”
• School hall of fame with science fair, spelling bee, and speech contest winners
• Adding a section of behind-the-scenes fun from picture day and yearbook club meetings

Add in Treering’s custom pages, and every student is truly a star!

"Sketchbook"

It’s a challenge to create a yearbook that appeals to both kindergartners and sixth graders. Or even one that captures the essence of a K-12 school without being too young or too old visually. In one of our focus groups, a Treering editor suggested a yearbook theme that “grows” with students. “Sketchbook” was born from this idea.

The diversity of designs is perfect for young learners in kindergarten and young adults in middle school. The graphics offering “grows” in maturity from chunky to streamlined.

Highlight digital design with a cyber yearbook theme

As esports continue to grow in popularity as an NFHS-recognized sport, the digital design trend will heighten on pace. Ascend to the top of the leaderboard with the included graphics: neon color borders, glitch effects, and digital grids. This creates a striking visual impact that reflects the cyberpunk aesthetic, emphasizing vibrant, high-contrast visuals and futuristic elements.

If your school’s focus is on advancement, Cyber may be the 2024 yearbook theme for you

"Organic Retro"

This design trend blends the charm of vintage aesthetics with a modern, natural twist. It's characterized by earthy tones, organic shapes, and a nostalgic vibe that harkens back to design styles from the 60s and 70s. With retro yearbook themes continuing as a trend in 2024, the “Organic Retro” theme is modern despite its “old school” roots.

The soft, welcoming color palette and bold, organic shapes are non-intrusive and can complement a wide range of photos and content. It can be playful and energetic for casual moments like the Fun Run or more subdued and elegant for formal events like awards night. This flexibility allows the yearbook to capture the full spectrum of school experiences. 

An unfiltered yearbook theme: "Be You"

The design team spends all year cataloging design trends. Social media is usually at the top of the list. To focus on authenticity and the in-the-moment aspect of yearbook reporting, once again, they took inspo from a trending movement and created the largest collection of layouts (90!) attached to a Treering theme. 

The designers love promoting positive messages, thus creating a series of “Be” statements, such as “BeKind,” “BeCurious,” “BeResponsible,” or “BeImaginative.” Pair these with the included emojis to react to the activities and efforts of students on campus.

"Together We Can"

A puzzle visual as a unifying yearbook theme is a powerful metaphor for the school community, emphasizing how each student, teacher, and event plays a crucial role in completing the overall picture of the school year. Piecing together individual contributions to academics and activities with a small cluster of pieces reveals the larger picture as readers turn the pages. This approach can represent how the school year builds over time, with each event, achievement, and memory contributing to the final, complete image at the end of the year.

Bold colors and oversized graphics showcase the big moves and bright spirits across campus. Enjoy pre-designed, drag-and-drop templates for clubs, events, and academic subjects.

How do I use a Treering theme?

Applying a Treering theme is as easy as click, drag, drop, and done.

After applying the theme, you can customize it by adjusting colors, fonts, and layouts. You can also mix and match elements from different themes or the extensive graphics library.

We always say we will get started on yearbook planning over the summer. Raise your hand if you follow through. (My hand is down too.) Meet Camp Yearbook, Treering's two-day virtual yearbook planning course. It's part large-group training; part small-group mentoring and idea sharing. And it's 100% live.

The goal: have the first six weeks of yearbooking planned.

What to expect

Treering's Camp Yearbook is a cameras-on, all-in yearbook planning experience.

Event structure and registration‍

Camp Yearbook Session 1‍

Early Birds tick some boxes off your yearbook to-do list: page count, ladder, theme, Treering design hacks, photo tips, portrait settings, team structure, and more.

9 AM ET/6 AM PT

Live on Zoom Events

July 30-31, 2024

Camp Yearbook Session 2

‍Your yearbook to-do list just shrank: page count, ladder, theme, Treering design hacks, photo tips, portrait settings, team structure, and more.

1 PM ET/10 AM PT

Live on Zoom Events

Both sessions will have the same schedule, staff, and support materials. Register via the Yearbook Club webinars page.

Treering mentors

All attendees will be in a small group led by a Treering staff member who served—or currently serves—as a yearbook adviser. In groups specific to school style and yearbook team structure, you can ask questions about grading, crowdsourcing, club structure, page count, and whatever else you need answered. (Your camp counselors aren't Treering life coaches, but close.)

Grow together

Breakout groups for parent volunteers, solo yearbook coordinators, educators, and club leaders mean you get meaningful support and specific-to-you resources.

Camp Yearbook FAQs

Your questions deserve answers!‍

How is Camp Yearbook different from Treering Live (TRL)?‍

TRL is Treering’s flagship event. TRL will have all the design training, coveted prizes, and organization inspiration yearbook advisers have come to expect. We look forward to it as much as you do!

Camp Yearbook is a virtual summer PD program for yearbook coordinators and advisers who want to get more from their program through professional mentoring and collaborative idea-sharing. It’s a cameras-on, all-in yearbook planning experience.‍

What do I need to prepare for Camp Yearbook?‍

Having previous copies of your yearbook and the 24-25 school calendar may be helpful. We'll provide the goal-setting worksheets, ladders, idea decks, and resources because we want you to finish Camp Yearbook with your first six weeks of yearbooking planned.

For best results, have two monitors: one for demos and one so you can work as we go.‍

How much is it?‍

Free ninety free. Charging extra for support and training is not our thing.‍

Will I get CE/PD hours for attending?‍

Yes! Upon completion, attendees will receive a certificate for six hours of yearbook production and classroom planning.‍

Can students attend?‍

Nope. Consider this a break… a working break.‍

Will Camp Yearbook be recorded?‍

Camp Yearbook is an interactive, experiential event. Recordings will not be made public.‍

Can I attend both the AM and PM sessions?‍

No, the programming is the same for both sessions. Please do not register for both.

We love nothing more than seeing yearbooks personalized with each student's memories. Custom pages embedded within the pages of classmates, activities, and school-wide celebrations deliver more than memories. They celebrate the uniqueness of the individual holding the yearbook. Congratulations to all the parents who created and shared their designs. The following six wowed our panel of designers and yearbook parents to earn the top honors in either the K-8 category or high school one.

K-8 custom page winners

First place: Laura Dauley, IL

"I wanted to honor Harper’s eleven years at Mayer with custom pages that show her journey from beginning to end," Dauley said.

Why we loved it: this spread looks like it could be a magazine ad. It's clean. The photos have a strong alignment. Dauley's use of the canary for both Harper's name and the years adds balance where the polo shirt could have been a distraction. The negative space in the parent message is a place of rest for the eyes among the thirteen photographs.

Second place: Nicki Prettol, TX

Since her son loves baseball, "it seemed fitting to give him baseball-themed custom pages," Prettol said.

Why we loved it: Again, the use of color made the designers on the judging panel smile: the orange is in both photos and text, unifying the design. From the stats on the left-facing page, to the highlights on the right, Prettol used a little text to make a big impact.

Third place: Colleen Packman, TX

"As his elementary 'mission' comes to an end," said Packman, "I couldn't think of a better way to represent his time than to relate it to one of his favorite hobbies."

Why we loved it: E-sports and cyberpunk are trending in the design world. That alone made us take a second, third, fourth (you get it) look. She used subheadings to organize the content in a game UI.

High school custom page winners

First place: Ethan Scrogham, IL

"This year I am a senior and wanted to put something to show all of my accomplishments and activities," said Scrogham. He compiled this spread using photos from the past four years.

Why we loved it: The story. Scrogham's involvement increased each year (as did his smile). Seeing a freshman on the court wearing a mask grow into a campus leader is a portrait of resilience.

Second place: Amie Kelp, MI

"This [creating a custom page] is the best way to personalize a book possible," Kelp said. She created over ten to celebrate her daughter and the memories they made.

Why we loved it: The title made us smile, as did the pet photos. Kelp used the border color to visually connect related adventures, which brought some order to the collages.

Third Place: Kirsten Megaro, NJ

Megaro said, "As homeschoolers, most of life is part of our learning. This first spread gives an overview of our year." Each child also has their own spotlight custom pages spread for their personal memories.

Why we loved it: This spread shows the impact three people can have on their family and community. Megaro matched the photo styles bringing unity to the various backgrounds and locales. She also made the busy background work by using white text blocks with transparency.

We took to Instagram and you told us what you want to include; now show us your creations! Treering’s custom pages design contest is back! And since it’s Treering’s 15th birthday, we’re stuffing the winner’s goodie bags with even more custom pages and Amazon gift cards.

Official participation rules and steps to enter

1. You must be at least 18 years old and a parent, faculty/staff member, or student at a Treering school to participate.
2. To participate, complete the submission form. Entries are open from April 3rd to April 17, 2024.
3. Share your custom page designs on social with #treeringmemorymaker for a bonus point.
4. Submissions are due by Wednesday, April 17, 2024, by 8 PM PT. No late or incomplete entries will be accepted.

Incomplete entries will not be accepted.

Social sharing

To share the post using your personal Facebook and/or Instagram account,

• Include the screenshot of your custom pages in your post.
• Tag @treering on Facebook and @treeringcorp on Instagram in your post.
• Use the hashtag #treeringmemorymaker in your post.
• Ensure this post is shared publicly so we can see it and include your submission.

Judging and finalist selection

A panel of yearbook parents, journalism educators, and graphic designers will select first, second, and third-place winners from two categories: 

• K-8 Parents
• High School

Winning spread designs will appear on the blog, Facebook, and Instagram on April 23, 2024.

Prizes

Treering will send Memory Marvel: 2024 Custom Page Design Contest Winners prizes by Friday, April 26, 2024.

K-8 parents

High school

Ownership

By submitting your custom page designs, you have verified the approval of others pictured, and you approve Treering to use your name, write-up, and school name for any marketing purposes, including but not limited to showcasing on www.treering.com, sharing on social media, and sharing with media. 

If you have any questions, contact us at marketing@treering.com.

The 2024 Design Contest Winners are the most diverse collection to date. 

“Every year, our editors craft spreads that wow and inspire our judging staff.” said Marketing Manager Megan P.

With nearly 50 creatives combing through the submissions, each looked for their ideal. Purists advocated for hierarchy and balance, journalists dug through each piece of copy for the stories, graphic designers sought out-of-the-box applications, and empaths soaked in every moment. The three winners for each category are below, plus some favorites we had to showcase.

Lone rangers (teams of one or two)

Solo yearbook coordinators hold a special place in our hearts; that’s why they have their own category. They tackle both administrative and creative tasks. They are the face and hands of their yearbook programs. And they shared some legendary spreads.

First place winner: Arianna Fang, Thomas Russell Middle School

Arianna Fang displays an understanding of how repetition and consistency enhance design. Fang uses several colors in the swirls and accents. They all share a palette, bringing harmony. One judge called out the “pop” the palette brings to each page.

“I love the use of color and design throughout this spread,” a second judge said. “It immediately sucked me in and made me want to read the page.”

Her spread uses elements of art to showcase students at work. From photo frames that look like brushstrokes to the dotted stroke details on the edging of a few photos, there is a DIY aspect. She also repeats the purple accents as a wash and leopard spots in different levels of transparency, bringing balance. 

“Even with all the elements on the pages, it has good movement and interest,” a judge said.

“Art is expressing ourselves,” Fang said. “And if you believe in the beauty of art, you can achieve wonders.”

We couldn’t agree more.

Second place winner: Karen Goodchild, COACH

Karen Goodchild had us at her brilliant use of modular design. Her spread has a variety of stories, excellent hierarchy, and multiple reader entry points. Several judges called out the detail of students holding up the page numbers.

“This entry includes a lot [over 60] of students without overwhelming the spread,” a judge said.

A dark background could be problematic. Goodchild demonstrates mastery of contrast by ensuring all the copy is readable.

“I appreciate the balance of traditional yearbook content with fun graphics and content,” a judge said.

Third place winner: Sabrina Reimann, Westmont Junior High School

First day traditions at Westmont Junior High include red carpet and music on campus. “Our 6th graders are always nervous, and we make it welcoming for them,” Sabrina Reimann said.

This spread captures that energy.

The DIY look is a huge graphic design trend. It resonated with several judges who said, “The bulletin board vibes take me right back to the first day of school” and “This looks like my school yearbook.”

The layered effect helps the art and photos work together.

“It is a fantastic representation of what you can design with Treering's available background and graphic options,” a judge said.

Group gurus (teams of three or more)

While yearbook clubs and classes use teamwork to create their books, they do it while balancing delegation, learning communication, and trusting one another. The top three team collaborations had little in common stylistically. Where the won the hearts of the judges is in their storytelling.

First place: Jensen Ranch Elementary

Many judges-slash-parents had an emotive reaction to seeing these role models and campus influencers on display in this way.

“Students are going to revisit these pages because not only are they able to see their teachers’ photos as a blast from the past, but their words are influential,” a judge said.

These “relatable” and “heartwarming” “pearls” (the judges’ words) are the result of the yearbook team’s efforts. They collected the quotes and photos, a labor-intensive task in itself, and organized them in the winning design with uniform sizing to keep such a content-rich spread from becoming cluttered. 

Adviser Johnetta Maduakolam said, “It captures the essence of our school community from the past to the present.”

Second place: North Star Academy

Ownership.

“None of the 22 students [in the yearbook program] actually chose to be there,” Adviser Carol Landers said, “Once we got the Treering software, the excitement kicked in, and kids started asking for jobs.”

Now look at them. From theme explanation and the colophon to the stats (hello, 86% in the yearbook 2x or more) and job descriptions, the team at North Star Academy used the space to educate others on their campus about the facets of yearbooking. 

From a visual perspective, there’s so much more to love about this spread:

• “Great mix of images and text to carry the reader’s eye through the spread.”
• “Colors are cohesive and match a beachy theme.”
• “Loved seeing the theme subtly applied to the background, colors, graphics, and text.”
• “Great use of space, equal and consistent spacing, and font choices.”

Third place: Northern High School

Our love of this spread stems from the fact that everything points back to the theme:

• Wordplay
• Blueprint background “pulls it all together“
• Storytelling

“I love the story that this spread is telling,” a judge said. “You can tell that the school is building and making a positive change for the students.”

The team at Northern took care to design each module to fit the content. For example, the timeline is a graphic quick read, and the first-day saga is a feature story with multiple perspectives. The photography is also diverse: action, headshots, groups, and in-progress views.

“It gives readers a great sense of this school’s big move,” another judge said.

Design contest honorable mentions

The above slidwshow contains designs from:

• Karen Goodchild, COACH
• Matt Jones, Mission Oak High School
• Carren Joye, Academy Days Co-op
• Carol Landers, North Star Academy
• Yuri Nwosu, Lennox Middle School
• Brooklyn Vanderhey, Brookings-Harbor High School
• Bri Webb, Rooted Christian Co-op

Treering’s annual layout design contest is back! We want to celebrate the layouts you create for your school community. And since it’s Treering’s 15th birthday, we’re stuffing the winner’s goodie bags with free yearbooks and Amazon gift cards.

Official participation rules and steps to enter

1. Entries open from March 6 to March 20, 2024 at 8 PM PDT.
2. You must be 18 years or older and a parent, teacher, or student at a US Treering school to participate.
3. To participate, complete the submission form and include a screenshot of your favorite 23-24 yearbook* (the current school year) spread and a short paragraph (250 words max) about your school’s story.
4. Double-check everything for accuracy, especially your email and phone number (this is how winners will be notified and prizes will be distributed) and your school name and address (city and state).
5. For a bonus, share your spread on social media via Facebook and/or Instagram

Incomplete entries will not be accepted.

Social sharing

To share the post using your personal Facebook/Instagram account or your school’s Facebook/Instagram account,

• Include the screenshot of your yearbook spread in your post.
• Tag @treering on Facebook and @treeringcorp on Instagram in your post.
• Use the hashtag #treeringwin in your post.
• Ensure this post is shared publicly so we can see it and include your submission.

Judging and finalist selection

Entries close March 20, 2024 at 8 PM PDT. A panel of yearbook parents, journalism educators, and graphic designers will select first, second, and third place winners from two categories:

• Lone Rangers (fewer than 3 people)
• Group Gurus (Club/Committee)

Winning spread designs will appear on the blog, Facebook, and Instagram on April 2, 2024.

Prizes

Treering will send Layout Legends: 2024 Design Contest Winners prizes by Friday, April 5, 2024.

The gift cards will be sent electronically to the email provided in the form. Free book coupons will be loaded into the school's Treering Yearbook account and may be used in the 2023-2024 or 2024-2025 school year.

Ownership

By submitting your yearbook spread, you have verified the approval of others pictured, and you approve Treering to use your name, write-up, and school name for any marketing purposes, including but not limited to showcasing on www.treering.com, sharing on social media, and sharing with media. 

Enjoy yourself! To us, you’re a legend! If you have any questions, contact us at marketing@treering.com.