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/what-camp-staff-can-do-help-children-excerpt-homesick-happy
What Camp Staff Can Do to Help Children: An Excerpt from Homesick and HappyDear Colleagues, When I sat down to write my new book, Homesick and Happy: How Time Away from Parents Can Help a Child Grow, I wanted to answer three questions: 1) Why is it...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/working-children-special-needs
Working With Children With Special NeedsIt is often said by people who mean well that working with children with special needs “requires the patience of a saint.” Not true. What it does require is human compassion — something more of us...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/parents/new-thinking-needed-helping-kids-avoid-or-cope-homesickness
New Thinking Needed on Helping Kids Avoid or Cope with HomesicknessANN ARBOR, MI 2010 — A new report urges parents and children's doctors to change their thinking about homesickness among children, to see it as a nearly universal but highly preventable and treatable...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/camp-yofi-family-camp-children-autism
Camp Yofi: A Family Camp for Children with AutismCamp Ramah Darom, in partnership with Nova Southeastern University, provides an overnight camp experience for children with autism and their families. Based upon Ramah Darom's five-day family camp...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/no-reservations-needed-please-be-seated-five-course-staff-training-smorgasbord
No Reservations Needed! Please Be Seated for a Five-Course, Staff-Training SmorgasbordDuring the spring of each year, many camp directors are faced with what can seem to be an overwhelming task of planning for staff training. While it is tempting to use the same "recipes" from...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/martin-his-friends-counseling-skills-effect-change-camp
Martin and His Friends: Counseling Skills that Effect Change at CampMartin was sitting in the office of the boys' head counselor again. He'd been playing "Ga Ga" when another camper got him out. In what had quickly become an all-too-typical response for nine-year-old...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/yes-only-means-yes-until-something-better-comes-along-making-camp-best-offer-gen-z-staff
Yes Only Means Yes Until Something Better Comes Along: Making Camp the Best Offer for Gen Z StaffStaff sign a contract, then inform you the week before camp begins that they won’t be coming after all. Or staff commit to working the entire season only to tell (not ask!) you they are leaving for...