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/recruiting-interviewing-hiring-ensure-best-best
Recruiting, Interviewing, and Hiring to Ensure the Best of the BestRecruiting, 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
Developing and Keeping Great CounselorsIt 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/staff-retention-recruiting-revving-season
Staff Retention, Recruiting, and Revving Up in the Off-SeasonBy this point in the year, you've processed your staff evaluations, and you've been thinking about those difficult decisions: "Should I hire her back?" or "This person just didn't cut it; is it time...
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/creating-connection-between-university-education-programs-summer-camp
Creating the Connection Between University Education Programs and Summer CampIn Beach Lake, Pennsylvania, at a large residential summer camp, over one hundred male counselors pack the air-conditioned canteen on July 1. It is late as the off-duty counselors watch the re-run of...
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/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/camping-magazine/camp-staffing-we-can-avoid-crisis
Camp Staffing: We Can Avoid a Crisis!Over the past few years, directors all over the country have reported struggling with the fact that good staff are harder to find. They also indicate that it is much more difficult to convince...