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/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...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/camp-creates-job-magic
Camp Creates Job MagicBy the time camp staff decide what their chosen field of work is going to be, they have unknowingly benefitted from some amazing transformative experiences. Even if they decide not to stay in the...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/staffing-strategies-where-have-we-been-where-are-we-headed
Staffing Strategies: Where Have We Been and Where Are We Headed?What happened throughout one’s generational history influences current views and perspectives, and camp directors carry those perceptions with them in their thoughts and actions — including those...