https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/commitment-how-do-we-earn-it-how-do-we-keep-it
Commitment: How Do We Earn It — and How Do We Keep It?An answer to this question of the century may seem counterintuitive, yet it is at the core of most camp communities: Relationships. More than ever, staff are looking for connection and belonging. So...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/first-contact-end-contract
From First Contact to End of ContractWe know that staff can be a challenge to find, attract, hire, engage, and retain. What makes the staff journey result in forward progress from start to completion of their camp experience? Current...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/games-activities-strengthen-positive-mental-health
Games and Activities That Strengthen Positive Mental Health“Remember this — every member of your staff and every camper in your program has been through a traumatic experience!” One of my absolute favorite ACA National Conference moments came a few years...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/camp-songs-history-traditions
Camp Songs — History and TraditionsHarriet Lowe, editor of Camping Magazine, and Rita Yerkes, historical series editor, were kind enough to invite me to write about the history and traditions of camp songs. However, you...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/staff-training-what-do-you-expect
Staff Training: What Do You Expect?Summer camp staff training — what exactly is it? If you take all the ideas and definitions; all the content from years past provided by the American Camp Association (ACA), the health department, and...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/make-copies-or-make-difference-camp-real-job
Make Copies or Make a Difference? Camp Is a Real JobThere has never been a better time to work at camp!
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/meet-staff-where-they-are-not-where-you-wish-them-be
Meet Staff Where They Are — Not Where You Wish Them to BeUnanswered emails. Requests (demands) for time off. Over-involved parents. What's the matter with young people today? Most likely nothing! We have more in common with this cohort of staff than one...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/biting%E2%80%85my%E2%80%85nails-revisiting-staff-anxiety
Biting My Nails: Revisiting Staff AnxietyIt was three years ago when I first wrote about the increasing levels of anxiety that camp directors were seeing in their staff (Ditter, 2016). At the time, the Centers for Disease Control and...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/when-competition-just-right
When Competition Is Just Right"I don't want my child to take part in this contest you've dreamed up," a visiting parent told me on the grounds of my camp. "I don't want him to lose. He's not good at this." She pointed out to the...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/campline/j-1-visas-camp-counselor-summer-work-travel-programs
J-1 Visas: Camp Counselor and Summer Work Travel ProgramsThe ACA Government Affairs team — consisting of ACA leadership, ACA volunteer leaders, an ACA consultant, and ACA hired lobbyists — continue to vigorously defend the need for and value of J-1 Visa...