https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/informed-staffing-through-form-follows-function-program-assessment
Informed Staffing through "Form Follows Function" Program AssessmentIn architecture, the phrase “form follows function” means that a building’s purpose should be the starting point for its design. Similarly, the purpose of camp staff — why you have them and what...
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/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...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/staff-retention-recruiting-revving-season
Staff Retention, Recruiting, and Revving Up in the Off-SeasonBy this point in the year, you've processed your staff evaluations, and you've been thinking about those difficult decisions: "Should I hire her back?" or "This person just didn't cut it; is it time...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/play-healing-therapeutic-recreations-role-coping-grief
Play and Healing: Therapeutic recreation's role in coping with griefCamp can be an ideal setting to help children cope with the death of a loved one. Since 1991, Camp ReLeaf, a weekend camp hosted by Triangle Hospice of Durham, North Carolina, has been helping...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/aquatic-safety-staff
Aquatic Safety for StaffIt's a bright, sunny, warm day and you and your friends have the next twenty-four hours off. Not far from camp, about an hour away, is a remote yet popular swimming area where you can hang out, swim...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/staff-training-what-do-you-expect
Staff Training: What Do You Expect?Summer camp staff training — what exactly is it? If you take all the ideas and definitions; all the content from years past provided by the American Camp Association (ACA), the health department, and...