https://www.acacamps.org/research/special-projects/character-camp-initiative

The American Camp Association® (ACA) is honored to announce that Lilly Endowment Inc. has awarded ACA a $45,535,623 grant to support the creation of a new, multiyear initiative to grow, improve, and...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/camp-counselor-self-care-guide-emotional-physical-well-being

As a camp counselor, you have many responsibilities to juggle, including home life, camp life, and life after camp. It’s important to prioritize your physical and emotional health, as they are...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/shellfish-allergy-least-encountered-most-dangerous

Almost seven million Americans have an allergy to shellfish based on consumption amount, age, and locale. Shellfish are aquatic animals with a shell or shell-like exoskeleton. The two major...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/fostering-character-strengths-through-camp-life

“Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/five-essentials-supporting-staff-mental-health-well-being

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define mental health as “your emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It can therefore affect every stage of life and impact how you...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/air-quality-camp-environment

Severe weather events and changing climate are contributing to many challenges for summer camps. The summer of 2023 presented new obstacles for traditional outdoor camp activities due to an onslaught...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/cits-our-future-leaders-risk-management-gray-area

For many of us, Counselor in Training (CIT) programs — sometimes called Leaders in Training or Junior Counselors — are an essential component of camp operations and culture. Not only do they serve...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/fema-nonprofit-security-grant-program

In 2023, an overnight camp in the Northeast received $150,000 to upgrade its security. These funds allowed the camp to replace fences, add a security exit gate, and install protective window coating...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/water-exploring-its-significance-sustenance-sources

Water is sustenance for every living being on earth. Albert Szent-Gyorgi, MD summed it up best, saying, “Water is life’s matter and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water” (Szent-...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/does-summer-camp-have-perpetuate-junk-food-culture

"Junk food” is a term we often use to describe highly processed or ultra-processed food that likely has “many added ingredients such as sugar, salt, fat, and artificial colors or preservatives. '...