Latest ACA Blog Posts

March 21, 2014

Is Overnight Camp the Right Option?

Here’s how to choose the right fit and get your child excited about the adventure.

Guest post by Katie Bugbee, Senior Managing Editor, Care.com

Photo courtesy of Cheley Colorado Camps, Estes Park, Colorado

March 14, 2014

Dear Parents and Guardians Alike

Guest post by Tamsin Andrews

Send your kids to camp.

For your benefit. For theirs.

For the camp and for the campers there.

Send your kids to camp.

March 11, 2014

Back to the Future: Summer Camp and the New Economy

Guest post by Lance Ozier

February 24, 2014

Summer Camp: The Social Supplement for Modern Society

By Peg Smith & Andy Pritikin

January 29, 2014

The Farm-to-Campfire Experience

Guest post by Diana K. Rice, RD

As a registered dietitian and staff member of The Kids Cook Monday, I’ve seen firsthand how efforts to involve children in food production and preparation can influence them to make healthy choices. Much of my work involves school-based efforts to teach these skills, but with all of the other academic learning objectives students must meet, I know that it can be difficult to find time during the school day to give kids truly enriching food-related experiences.

January 28, 2014

Play: The True Serious Learning!

For today's kids, free, unstructured play is on the decline, and access to the outdoors is dwindling. ACA CEO Peg Smith explains why play is so critical to a child's success. Read Peg's article in USA Today.

January 27, 2014

Crisis Management, Community, and a "Rig of Bamboo"

Guest post by Kevin Austin

As Rex, Stephanie, and I walked we argued over the proper way to sing "Rig of Bamboo.” We were at the Lazy W Ranch for the Student Camp Leadership Academy (SCLA), and took a walk while sharing our camp experiences, games, plans for the future, and favorite debrief tools. I knew I had found a special community of camp professionals.

January 24, 2014

Advocate for the Child Protection Improvement Act

There is no single, all-encompassing background check database available in this country.The purpose of the Child Protection Improvments Act (CPIA) is to "close a gaping hole in the federal law that prevents camps, children's groups, and other organizations that work with children from gaining access to federal criminal background checks on employees and volunteers."

View this video blog from ACA CEO Peg Smith encouraging advocacy for the CPIA and advocate at ACA's CPIA page today.

January 23, 2014

7 Reasons Why Your Middle Schooler Needs Camp

Guest blog by Anne Archer Yetsko

When I Googled the phrase “middle school,” two of the top hits were “Middle school survival” and “Middle school: the worst years of my life.” I found that to be a pretty good depiction of how most people feel about this slightly (or not so slightly) traumatizing and awkward period of life. There are a few key aspects of the camp experience that are really beneficial for this age group.

Camp gives your middle schooler:

January 21, 2014

3 Ways to Be a Better Camp Director in 2014

This guest post is by Audrey Monke, owner and director of Gold Arrow Camp.

I love flipping my calendar to January and the promise it offers of a fresh start. There’s something about the clean pages of a whole year stretched out in front of me that makes me believe I can accomplish more this year than I ever have before.