Skip to main content
For Camp Professionals
For Parents & Families
News
Volunteers
Donate
Login
Main Menu
Close
Back to Main Menu
About
Who We Are
Mission & Vision
Leadership
Strategic Plan
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Safety at Camp
Staff & Local Offices
Membership
Benefits & Rates
Manage Membership
Join/Renew
Partnerships
Brand Alliance Partners
Foundation Partners
Collaborations
Kindred Groups
Get Involved
Volunteer with ACA
ACA Connect
Annual Report
Awards & Recognition
Public Policy & Advocacy
Events & Education
Events Calendar
ACA National Conference
ACA Conferences & Events
Certifications by Camp
Camp Fairs
Online Learning
Courses & Webinars
Staff Training Certificates
Customized Staff Training
New Director Orientation
Learner Benefits
Continuing Education Credits
Digital Badges
Educational Endorsement Program
University Directory
Accreditation
Accreditation Overview
Introduction to Accreditation
Getting Started
Standards at a Glance
Accreditation Process Guide
Accreditation Academy
Learning
Accreditation Portal
Annual Accreditation Report (AAR)
Accreditation Volunteers
Visit Assignment Tools
Volunteer Resources
Accreditation Volunteer Portal
Become An Accreditation Volunteer
Jobs
Job Seekers
Summer Camp Jobs
Year-round Camp Jobs
International Staff
Work for ACA
Find Staff
Summer & Seasonal Staff
Year-Round Staff
Recruitment/Retention Tools
Job Fairs
Research
Camp Research
National Camp Impact Study
ACA Research Forum
Camp Business Operations
History of Camp Research
Continuous Improvement
Camp Program Quality
Youth Development Outcomes
Innovative Projects
Camp-School Partnerships
CampWell
Youth Programs on Campus
Leadership Pathways Project
Get Involved in Research
Submit to Research Forum
Research & Evaluation Advisory Committee
Resources
Resources for Camps
Core Competency Toolkits
ACA Connect
Camping Magazine
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Health Forms & Records
Recruit/Retain Staff
Starting a Camp
Marketplace
Bookstore
Buyer's Guide
Group Purchasing
Buy/Sell a Camp
Listing on Find a Camp
New Product Spotlight
Laws and Regulations
State Regulations
Public Policy Updates
Advocacy Tools
Search
Become a Member
Main Menu
Close
Back to Main Menu
About
Who We Are
Mission & Vision
Leadership
Strategic Plan
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Partnerships
Brand Alliance Partners
Collaborations
Foundation Partners
Kindred Groups
Get Involved
Support ACA
Partner with Us
Volunteer
Benefits of Camp
Value of Camp
Because of Camp
The Case for Camp
Why Summer Camp?
Health & Safety
Why Accredited Camps?
How to Choose a Camp
Camp and State Regulations
Planning for Camp
Expert Advice
A Camp for Every Child
Gauging Your Child's Readiness
Coping with Homesickness
Blog
Preparing for Camp
Affording Camp
Planning Checklist
Camp Visits/FAQs
What to Bring
Search
Find a Camp
Breadcrumb
Home
Jeffrey Leiken, MA
Transitioning Teens Into Responsible Young Adults
November 3, 2004
Each generation tends to look at the next generation and claim things aren’t as they used to be. There was a time in the 1970s and 80s when summer job opportunities for teens were...
The Hidden Motivator for Today’s Staff
May 1, 2008
One thing you say or do can still change a child's life, but is that enough anymore? When I first began training camp counselors a decade ago, I loaded the program with an...
Heightened Awareness Camp Counseling: Going Beyond Great
May 1, 2009
Tell your campers stories. Give them the rich gift they are missing when they stare at a screen. The stories do not need to be great — just tell them. By the time your campers...
Teens at Camp, Camp and Teens
October 20, 2007
Camp Programs that Dare to be Different! When TIME magazine ran its cover feature on "Being 13 in America" in the summer of 2005, they wrote about the complex pressures and...
An Inside Joke Worth Having
May 1, 2014
There are many different kinds of relationships you will have in your life. The relationship you will have with your campers this summer, though, will be among the most unique...
Before You Give Your Campers Advice: Do This, Not That
May 1, 2013
Can you relate to this situation? Something happens that is upsetting, difficult, and/or problematic. You talk to a friend or your parents about it, and they offer rational, useful...
Moments of Truth: The Things You Say and the Things You Do
May 1, 2012
Kevin Kevin was nine years old when his parents sent him to summer camp in Minnesota. He was overweight, not athletic, not very confident — and more than anything, not wanting to...
Cool Under Pressure: How to Do What You Know How to Do When You Most Need to Do It
Tue, 09/29/2015 - 12:18
This may seem like an unusual subject for an article on camp counseling, but as you read on, I think you'll find it actually is a most relevant topic. Consider this: Anyone can...
Camp Counseling in the Twenty-First Century: Connecting the Disconnected
Tue, 09/29/2015 - 12:18
Throughout the year, Camping Magazine publishes articles for full-time camp professionals. Once a year, it is written specifically for you — the camp staff who are on the front...
Subscribe to Jeffrey Leiken, MA