https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/mind-part-1-what-directors-need-know-about-staff-mental-health
With That In Mind, Part 1: What Directors Need to Know About Staff Mental HealthHiring young adults to care for other people’s children seems like folly, from a neurodevelopmental perspective. Nobody’s brain is fully developed, many activities are dangerous, the weather can be...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/five-star-recipe-excellence-camp-food-service
A Five-Star Recipe for Excellence in Camp Food ServiceMoving about confidently, two cooks snatched the garlic bread from the oven, prepped the salad bar, whipped up chocolate pudding, and a meal was complete. As the new food service director at Camp...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/expand-your-mesh-capacity-summer-begins
Expand your MESH Capacity Before Summer BeginsConsider these scenarios: A parent calls: “My child has ADD and takes medication for depression. Can she come to camp?” A counselor dashes into your office: “We need you at Cabin 5. A camper...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/childrens-mental-health-camp-what-our-role
Children's Mental Health and Camp: What Is Our Role?Few children's issues have drawn more attention, or been more controversial, than those involving their mental health. For example, in the past twenty years, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/make-commitment-encouraging-wellness-healthy-living-camp
Make a Commitment: Encouraging Wellness and Healthy Living at CampAn alarming study purports that the current generation of children may have shorter life expectancies than their parents for the first time in over two centuries. The rapid rise in childhood obesity...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/buffet-serving-line-family-style-pros-cons
Buffet, Serving Line, and Family Style: The Pros and ConsWhat type of dining service does your camp use? To get an idea of what is currently popular in camps, I conducted a survey among camp food service directors and received some insightful responses...
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...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/your-mesh-professional-making-decisions-success
Your MESH Professional: Making Decisions for SuccessWondering what type of mental health professional might be a good fit for your camp’s needs? Interested in knowing what this professional needs to be successful? Concerned about having a mental...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/evaluating-bereavement-camps
Evaluating Bereavement CampsSpending time in nature is often therapeutic and provides many benefits, such as improving cognitive functioning (Berman, Jonides, & Kaplan, 2008) and improving memory (Berto, 2005). Spending...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/become-trauma-informed-add-capacity-your-mesh-toolbox
Become Trauma-Informed: Add Capacity to Your MESH ToolboxDid you know that two out of every three adults have experienced at least one adverse childhood event (ACE) by the time they reach 18 years of age? In addition, one in eight adults reports...