https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/project-real-job-moving-forward-together

In the early ’80s, I graduated from high school and made a simple but life-changing decision. It was May and I hadn’t yet made plans for the summer. My mom encouraged me to call my former camp...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/meeting-minds-camp-directors-higher-ed-college-students

Camps need staff to run their programs; colleges/universities have various requirements for students regarding coursework and internships; and students are usually pulled between what they want to do...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/signing-dotted-line-commitment-two-way-street

Congratulations! You committed to working at camp this summer, and the director and/or team who hired you have been anticipating your arrival since you signed on the dotted line! It is completely...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/program-outcomes-resident-camp-youth-serious-illnesses-disabilities-life-challenges

In 2005, the American Camp Association (ACA) published the first large-scale national research project assessing the youth development outcomes of children who attend day and resident camps in the...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/camp-research-your-link-between-work-you-love-real-world

Yes, I said it. “Research” — that nasty stuff your teachers make you do in school, typically involving math, Excel, APA citations, etc. When I was in school, writing research papers always felt so...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/cultivating-leaders

Cultivating leaders is one of the best aspects of my job. For the past ten years, I have used the leadership curve to initiate the training with our Campers in Leadership Training (CILT). Our CILTs...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/translating-passion-growth-camp-leadership-skills

For 24 years, I have been a camp professional. Most of that time, I have led nonprofit camps that serve the Jewish community. For less than three years in between two camp directing positions, my job...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/developing-resilience-girls-through-camp-experiences

Girls today face a diverse range of challenges that can negatively affect their development. According to a recent report by the Girl Scouts of the USA (2013), such challenges include increased...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/trenches-nimble-coaching

Dear Bob, One of the challenges we've had working with staff is figuring out how to get them to tone down or adjust their behavior when working with campers. We often hire staff who seem to have...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/camp-preparation-life

To say that expectations and pressures for high school students have increased is an understatement. The competition to get into the best universities dominates the minds of teenagers and parents...