Search
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/place-share-investing-professional-development
A Place to Share: Investing in Professional DevelopmentFor my camp, the ACA national conference (this year in Dallas, Texas) is always the highlight of our winter. Those of us who are experienced (please note that I am avoiding the word “old”) can get...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/because-i-worked-camp
Because I Worked at CampNow that the summer has come to a close, camp directors are inevitably thinking about the staff they want to invite back next season. If we as directors have created a strong camp community, one that...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/big-eight-other-culinary-menaces-camper-society
The Big Eight . . . and Other Culinary Menaces to Camper Society“The gluten-free cinnamon rolls are amazing!” Those emphatic words are emblazoned in my brain, stamped into my memory. As tears began to well in her eyes, Annalise, one of our counselors, looked...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/moving-mainstreaming-outsourcing-what-everyone-can-learn-working-different-needs
Moving from Mainstreaming to Outsourcing: What Everyone Can Learn from Working with Different NeedsI run two different camps for kids with different needs, including a resident camp for kids with autism. A concerned parent called to talk about how she wanted her son to be “mainstreamed” in the...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/out-about-creating-safe-environment-lgbtq-campers-staff
Out and About: Creating a Safe Environment for LGBTQ Campers and StaffIt 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/moments-truth-things-you-say-things-you-do
Moments of Truth: The Things You Say and the Things You DoKevin 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 be there!...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/four-simple-words-better-communication
Four Simple Words to Better CommunicationOne of the main challenges of being on staff at camp is the degree to which you suddenly have to communicate with so many people. Because you have decided to accept the awesome responsibility for the...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/wanton-words-curbing-verbal-crudeness-cruelty-camp
Wanton Words: Curbing Verbal Crudeness and Cruelty at CampI love language. The beauty of a poem, the lyricism of a novel, the passion of a political speech, the sentiment of a heartfelt toast, the humor of standup comedy, and the simplicity of a handwritten...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/creating-camp-narratives-enhance-emotional-growth-hiv-youth
Creating Camp Narratives to Enhance Emotional Growth of HIV+ YouthBecause of the ignorance and stigma which still sadly surrounds HIV, children born with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) experience additional psychosocial stressors beyond those commonly...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/kids-diabetes-non-diabetes-camp-setting
Kids with Diabetes in the Non-Diabetes Camp SettingI'll never forget walking into the infirmary for my week as a camp nurse and hearing one of the outgoing nurses say, "I got the kid with diabetes again. Don't worry, you don't have one this week." In...