https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/it-personal-its-business
It Is Personal. And It's BusinessWhat folks really mean when they say “it’s not personal, it’s business” is that we shouldn’t take it personally. Yet when we’re in the midst of camp and also engulfed in a swirling cloud of everyone’...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/camps-transformation-economy
Camps and the Transformation EconomyWhat do hibachi restaurants and summer camps have in common? Before I answer that, let me provide some context. Earlier this year, I dined at a hibachi restaurant for the first time. I sat up at...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/spoiler-alert-you-wont-be-around-forever
Spoiler Alert — You Won't Be Around ForeverWhether you plan to be at your camp for another 2, 5, 10, or 20 years, it’s not too early to start your camp’s succession planning. Camps are unique businesses that closely reflect their owners or...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/pulling-plug-why-teaching-campers-how-detach-their-devices-critical-summer-success
Pulling the Plug: Why Teaching Campers How to Detach From Their Devices Is Critical to Summer Success“Have you tried unplugging it?” This is a question we’ve all asked one another, typically when something we have doesn’t work. WiFi’s down. “Have you tried unplugging it?” TV won’t connect to Netflix...
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/how-caffeinated-wild-animals-helped-nine-campers-fall-asleep-other-field-observations-one-camp
How Caffeinated Wild Animals Helped Nine Campers Fall Asleep — And Other Field Observations from One Camp ResearcherI sat on a red camping chair in the middle of a cozy cabin in the woods with the beams of nine small flashlights shining in my face from the surrounding bunks. Third- through fifth-grade 4-H campers...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/air-quality-camp-environment
Air Quality in the Camp EnvironmentSevere weather events and changing climate are contributing to many challenges for summer camps. The summer of 2023 presented new obstacles for traditional outdoor camp activities due to an onslaught...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/does-summer-camp-have-perpetuate-junk-food-culture
Does Summer Camp Have to Perpetuate Junk Food Culture?"Junk food” is a term we often use to describe highly processed or ultra-processed food that likely has “many added ingredients such as sugar, salt, fat, and artificial colors or preservatives. '...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/survey-says-tech-camp-mixed-bag
Survey Says: Tech at Camp Is a Mixed BagIf you attended camp as a child prior to 2007, the likelihood is that your parent or guardian asked the camp director how much it cost and how long you would be away. Your parent(s) may have...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/swims-smores-social-emotional-growth
Swims, S'mores, and Social-Emotional GrowthCamp’s opening day excitement is palpable. Sights and sounds elicit joy and anticipation from staff, counselors, and campers alike. Early arrivers wait in line for the camp gates to open. Campers...