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ACA and the National FFA Organization
Collaborate to Promote Nature-Based Curriculum
Camp 2 Grow, an ACA nature-based leadership
program made possible with the generosity
of Lilly Endowment Inc., reaches its first
milestone in a collaborative effort between
the National FFA Organization (FFA) and ACA.
A key objective of Camp 2 Grow is to disseminate
educational materials that integrate best
practices in youth development.
ACA has partnered with FFA to make available
the organization's LifeKnowledge® Youth
Leadership Curriculum to the camp community.
The LifeKnowledge Youth Leadership Curriculum
is a collection of more than 200 lesson
plans for developing the "soft
skills" of leadership, personal
growth, and career success. The curriculum
includes instructional strategies and tools. LifeKnowledge
was created by FFA when a team of more
than 1,000 teachers, researchers, and professionals comprehensively
defined "leadership" and the
competencies that make up leadership attributes.
These competencies, also known as "precepts," are
now taught, cultivated, and reinforced through
experiential lessons that teach "Knowledge
for Life."
Each LifeKnowledge lesson:
- Outlines learning objectives
and applications
- Can be adapted to any
youth setting
- Is based on a solid educational
model
- Makes delivery easy with
step-by-step instructions
- Will reach and engage even
reluctant youth
LifeKnowledge lessons help youth develop essential
competencies through:
- relevant subject matter
- proven teaching methods
- fully articulated handouts,
tests, and activities
- opportunity
for youth to see immediate
results, assigning youth responsibility
for their own learning
The LifeKnowledge curriculum will be distributed
to thirty-five participating ACA-Accredited® Camps
in a pilot program. The camps will incorporate
the curriculum into their nature-based
programs by this summer. This spring, all
ACA camps will have the opportunity to
participate in this important learning
opportunity for campers and staff alike.
Currently in development, the curriculum
has been designed to:
- Teach practical and character-building
life skills identified by business
and intellectual leaders as critical
for today's youth.
- Utilize scientifically supported
teaching methods, theories, and strategies.
- Reinvigorate educators and volunteers
who strive to reach learners in a
natural and engaging way.
- Allow any youth worker to "pick
up and teach" through the use
of scripting.
- Address all learning styles and
inspire active participation of even
reluctant learners.
- Recognize the whole
person, speaking to and optimizing
the best self.
Watch
for more details about this exciting
educational initiative in the next issue
of Inside ACA and upcoming e-communications.
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Changes to the American Camping Foundation
Now that 2008 is behind us and we look
to a positive future, it is important to
remain clear and positive about what we
do. All of you have been leaders of the
Association through many different stages.
We believe that the underlying focus has
always been what is best for the Association.
At this crossroads, we wanted to let you
know of two changes. First, we will continue
to be the American Camping Foundation (ACF),
but we will d/b/a as the American Camp
Foundation. This will align with the American
Camp Association. None of the restrictions
on previously donated funds will change.
The purpose of the ACF is to support the
work of ACA, and this support will also
continue.
Secondly, the Foundation will be expanded.
This is a hard time in the world of funds
development. There is not enough money
to do what our members would like us to
do. Donors' resources are not what they
used to be. This is not the time to rest
or give up; it is time to get to work. We
will be mobilizing a full complement of
volunteer committees resourced and staffed
in ACF:
- Endowment Committee ( ongoing
work and camperships)
- Planned Gifts Committee (restricted)
- Gift Committee (unrestricted annual
giving)
- Corporate Relations Committee (grants)
- Investment Committee (stay on track
with current policies and investment advisers
J.P.Morgan/Chase)
The ACF Board passed both of these measures
at their last meeting. Now is a critical
time to get motivated to find the money
needed to keep our profession vital in
the development of our youth. You will
be hearing more in the near future and
in Orlando. Please encourage everyone you
know to join the Acorn
Society at our next
conference.
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ACA Economic Resources:
Being Proactive in a Tough Economy
ACA has provided a number of camp-specific resources to assist camps in dealing
with current economic times. Visit www.ACAcamps.org/economics for
more information.
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Achieving ACA’s
20/20 Vision Through National Collaborations
An informative,
online listing that provides an overview
of ACA’s various business partnerships
and educational alliances is available
at www.acacamps.org/collaborations.
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Available for Pre-Order: May/June Staff
Training Issue of Camping Magazine!
The ever-popular staff training edition
of Camping Magazine is now available
for pre-ordering. Kim Aycock, Jessica Coleman,
Greg Cronin, Bob Ditter, Jeffrey Leiken,
Ethan Schafer, Michael Thompson, Christopher
Thurber, Stephen Wallace, and more offer
their expertise and professional strategies
in this special staff training issue created
exclusively for staff and for trainers.
Last year, we doubled our orders of this
issue, which is widely used by camps for
staff orientation and training. We expect
even more orders this year . . . that's
why it's critical for you to pre-order
early to guarantee the quantity you want
for your staff training programs.
Reserve your copies today online at www.ACAcamps.org/campmag to
ensure your staff members each get a copy
of this must-have training issue!
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ACA Regional Conferences Listed Online
Check out ACA's Web site for a complete
listing of ACA regional conferences with
live links to ACA local office Web sites for more information.
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