https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/role-nonprofit-organizations-history-camp

Decade after decade since the mid-1800s, summer residential and day camps have been a barometer for social change, often acting as catalysts for change themselves. What started out as a retreat from...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/were-all-same-boat-together-trends-issues-camps

Since the first days of organized camp for children over 150 years ago, camp administrators have been challenged to respond to emerging issues that impact the camp experience. Although the value of...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/trenches-reflecting-learning

People in medical professions call it a “post mortem” — an unfortunate term that literally means “after death.” People in human services and professional development call it “debriefing,” while the...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/why-do-camp-staff-members-get-hurt

Campers and staff have equal opportunity to be injured at camp because they spend their days, (and in resident camps, their nights) engaged in the same activities of camp life. Since they are exposed...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/ditch-time

Rainfall and snow melt runoff are sworn enemies of the roads and pathways in camp. Erosion moves your road surface to places you don’t want roads. Spontaneous, unplanned drainage channels cut...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/place-share-tiger-fun-saving-world-taking-camp-seriously

Beneath Amy Chua’s personal struggle in Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother lies a deeper ambivalence about learning: What on earth should we do with our children outside of school, during...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/out-about-creating-safe-environment-lgbtq-campers-staff

It was June 2006. I had been conducting staff training at a coed camp in the Northeast. I had already spoken to the entire staff about the “real work” of camp, which I see as helping campers use the...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/patience

When I sat down to write this article, I could still hear Axl Rose (lead singer of the ’80s rock band Guns N’ Roses) whistling the opening of the group’s hit song “Patience” like it was yesterday....

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/will-i-be-enough-make-difference

Last summer I was inundated with questions from counselors who were worried about doing a good job. This theme was repeated over and over in all types of camps in several different states. When I...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/dollar-cents-operating-camp

Most camp professionals love to talk about the impact of the camp experience on the lives of their participants. Sometimes, these professionals wrestle with the business side of camp, especially in...