https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/hitting-high-notes-camp-courageous
Hitting the High Notes at Camp CourageousAs a group of children with autism play the outdoor musical instruments together in harmony in the Rotary Musical Park at Camp Courageous, a lady with a visual impairment sits holding her ears,...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/commitment-how-do-we-earn-it-how-do-we-keep-it
Commitment: How Do We Earn It — and How Do We Keep It?An answer to this question of the century may seem counterintuitive, yet it is at the core of most camp communities: Relationships. More than ever, staff are looking for connection and belonging. So...
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/life-autism-how-camps-can-support-campers-staff-autism-spectrum
Life and Autism: How Camps Can Support Campers and Staff on the Autism SpectrumAnton, Maya, and James march into camp on opening day with nerves and excitement, just like any other camper or staff. They have brought the items on the camp list, their eyes are wide with...
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/good-bad-ugly-issues-camp-providers-face-when-providing-family-camp-programs
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Issues Camp Providers Face When Providing Family Camp ProgramsFamily camps have become increasingly prevalent over the past several years. The number of camps offering family programs has exploded since the early 90s; reports of increases in family camps range...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/climb-mountain-lessons-resiliency-high-altitude-mountaineer-luis-benitez
To Climb a Mountain: Lessons in Resiliency From High-Altitude Mountaineer Luis BenitezDescribed as one of the world's foremost high-altitude mountaineers, Luis Benitez gives Camping Magazine a personal account of struggle, valor, and resilience as he rose above his own physical...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/confessions-disciplinarian-how-managing-camper-behavior-can-save-summer
Confessions of a Disciplinarian: How Managing Camper Behavior Can Save the SummerLike many camp directors — and other educators for that matter — I am frequently thrust into the unenviable role of disciplinarian. And, frankly, I don't feel that I'm very good at it. That is my...
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...