https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/mind-part-1-what-directors-need-know-about-staff-mental-health
With That In Mind, Part 1: What Directors Need to Know About Staff Mental HealthHiring young adults to care for other people’s children seems like folly, from a neurodevelopmental perspective. Nobody’s brain is fully developed, many activities are dangerous, the weather can be...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/expand-your-mesh-capacity-summer-begins
Expand your MESH Capacity Before Summer BeginsConsider these scenarios: A parent calls: “My child has ADD and takes medication for depression. Can she come to camp?” A counselor dashes into your office: “We need you at Cabin 5. A camper...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/childrens-mental-health-camp-what-our-role
Children's Mental Health and Camp: What Is Our Role?Few children's issues have drawn more attention, or been more controversial, than those involving their mental health. For example, in the past twenty years, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/mind-part-ii-what-staff-need-know-about-their-own-mental-health
With that In Mind, Part II: What Staff Need to Know about Their Own Mental HealthThink, for a minute, about the adults to whom you were most strongly attached as a child. Can you see their faces and remember how they treated you? Perhaps you see parents, teachers, coaches, clergy...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/camp-el-tesoro-de-la-vida-camp-experience-bereaved-children
Camp El Tesoro de la Vida: A Camp Experience for Bereaved ChildrenThe death of a loved one is a reality that each of us must face at some point. The experience of a loss invokes a myriad of feelings for adults and children alike. Some will maintain the belief that...
https://www.acacamps.org/blog/want-improve-your-response-mental-health-challenges
Want to Improve Your Response to Mental Health Challenges?Camp professionals often ask what they might do to more effectively respond to staff and camper mental, emotional and social health (MESH) needs. This often arises from a desire to be as inclusive as...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/camp-antidote-stress
Camp: An Antidote to Stress?At a recent gathering, a group of camp professionals were talking about stress. They mentioned how it seemed fairly pervasive among campers and staff, sometimes at debilitating levels. Then they said...
https://www.acacamps.org/blog/instilling-meshages-marginalizes-toxic-stress-camp
Instilling MESH'ages Marginalizes Toxic Stress at CampAs the Healthy Camp Education and Monitoring Program (HCEMP) committee studies MESH and its implications, I was interested to see some foundational work in this area. In...
https://www.acacamps.org/blog/moderating-childhood-stress-through-camp
Moderating Childhood Stress Through CampExposure to adverse childhood events (ACE) can lead children to drinking alcohol, smoking, illicit drug use, overeating, and other maladaptive behaviors (Stevens, 2015). These children can experience...
https://www.acacamps.org/resources/talking-children-about-tragedies-death-national-disasters
Talking with Children about Tragedies, Death, and National DisastersTop Tips for Camps Establish a mental health support network. Build relationships with community mental health resources prior to your camp season. Have...