https://www.acacamps.org/article/parents/why-kids-flourish-camp

Campers often describe camp as their “happy place” or “the best two weeks” of their year. And, from my own observation, I’ve seen that kids and the counselors who work with them are obviously happy...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/lets-be-friends-paradoxical-approach-bullying-prevention

Despite years of study and progressive program development, bullying behaviors (or “peer mistreatment”), especially among school-aged children, remain a significant public health problem, says the...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/parents/learning-life

Camp is an experience that strengthens one’s life journey; it enables, reinforces, and facilitates one’s ability to learn for life. It is a process of risks and mistakes that are meaningful and...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/campline/important-bullying-resources

For over a decade, the American Camp Association has provided camps with a variety of resources regarding bullying. The 2012 edition of the ACA standards include a standard requiring that training be...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/cyberbullying-camps-role-helping-girls-disengage-online-world

Author Rachel Simmons spoke with ACA about aspects of cyberbullying among girls and camp’s role in helping kids disengage from an online world where they must always be “on.” Recently, Simmons...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/family-camp-impacts-family-functioning

Introduction Families are a foundational structure of society that play a critical role in the health and well-being of communities. Every aspect of the American family is experiencing change,...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/campline/medical-marijuana-current-issues-camps

Introduction A call recently came into the American Camp Association (ACA) Crisis Hotline from a member camp: Three adults attended a family camp and brought medical marijuana with them. Upon...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/recruiting-interviewing-hiring-ensure-best-best

Recruiting, interviewing, and hiring staff is the most important part of your job as a camp director. It is the single most time-consuming and, at times, tedious task you will undertake. However,...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/developing-keeping-great-counselors

It takes a great staff to make a great camp. Jack Weiner once said: "With the right counselors, camp could be held in a parking lot." When one looks at all of the possible aspects of camp in which to...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/brains-emerging-adults-risk-taking-consequences-camps

Risk management in the camp profession often means rigorous tests of equipment, detailed training for staff, and preventative measures to eliminate risk. Yet, we often fail to take into account the...