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https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/making-mental-health-matter-camp
Making Mental Health Matter at CampIn 1987, I reported to camp for my first full summer as a counselor. The campers were to arrive only a few days later, but I was confident that I would have no trouble as a staff member with a cabin...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/did-you-know-update-your-knowledge
Did You Know? Update Your KnowledgeStaying abreast of health-related updates that impact camp practices is challenging but worth the effort, especially for readers who supervise staff providing care to campers and/or other staff. Here...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/become-trauma-informed-add-capacity-your-mesh-toolbox
Become Trauma-Informed: Add Capacity to Your MESH ToolboxDid you know that two out of every three adults have experienced at least one adverse childhood event (ACE) by the time they reach 18 years of age? In addition, one in eight adults reports...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/program-outcomes-resident-camp-youth-serious-illnesses-disabilities-life-challenges
Program Outcomes at a Resident Camp for Youth with Serious Illnesses, Disabilities, and Life ChallengesIn 2005, the American Camp Association (ACA) published the first large-scale national research project assessing the youth development outcomes of children who attend day and resident camps in the...
https://www.acacamps.org/blog/planning-mental-emotional-social-health-mesh-summer
Planning for Mental, Emotional, and Social Health (MESH) This SummerThe smiling faces and laughter heard across camps each summer result from days, weeks, and months of planning. We spend considerable time meticulously planning our themes, activities, equipment, food...
https://www.acacamps.org/blog/why-every-camp-should-be-teaching-practicing-meditation-campers
Why Every Camp Should Be Teaching and Practicing Meditation with CampersThe wonder of a child — it’s something we strive for in adulthood. Imagination, amazement, and the simple appreciation for life’s little treasures: the gold spray of sunlight through a window, or the...
https://www.acacamps.org/blog/mental-emotional-social-health-situations-camp
Mental, Emotional, and Social Health Situations at CampLinda Ebner Erceg, RN, MS, PHN, shares some mental, emotional, and social health (MESH) situations that may occur at camp and how to respond appropriately.
https://www.acacamps.org/blog/nellies-gift-story-trauma-informed-care
Nellie's Gift: A Story of Trauma-Informed CareNellie was a conundrum. She didn’t smile very readily and preferred hanging out at the edge of camper groups. She didn’t initiate conversation either; she generally waited until someone approached...
https://www.acacamps.org/blog/how-get-kids-calm-down
How to Get Kids to Calm DownWorking closely and networking with other camp professionals is one of the best tools for growing our own camp programs. I am fortunate to have a dear friend, Audrey Monke, who is the owner/director...
https://www.acacamps.org/blog/most-important-question-you-can-ask-alumni-staff-applicant
The Most Important Question You Can Ask an Alumni Staff ApplicantWe love having alumni apply to work for our program. Following their years of participation as campers, we ask them to step away for a year or two before they can reengage as a staff member. We...