https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/what-gets-watered-will-grow-including-you

"Do not  water the plants! Thank you." I actually took a photo of that very sign at an airport’s TSA line. The intent was to deter someone like me, who had forgotten to empty their...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/games-activities-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/useful-techniques-maintaining-physical-distancing-groups

Anytime a group of people gathers together there is an atavistic human instinct to draw closer. Closer to the speaker so to be able to hear what is being said. Closer to friends and family. Close...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/nobody-ever-tells-me-anything-communication-camp

Growing up, my sister’s catch phrase could have been, “Nobody ever tells me anything!” because she said it so often. More and more, this sentiment is being shared at summer camp, too. Our camp staff...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/what-camp-staff-can-do-help-children-excerpt-homesick-happy

Dear Colleagues, When I sat down to write my new book, Homesick and Happy: How Time Away from Parents Can Help a Child Grow, I wanted to answer three questions: 1) Why is it...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/camp-not-school-no-tests-judgment-or-evaluation-excerpt-homesick-happy

Dear Colleagues, For the past thirty years, I have consulted to independent and public schools all over the United States, as well as to international schools. My work has given me a...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/how-speak-so-others-listen

When you speak, do people listen? More importantly, do they remember what you’ve said? Or, do you feel others simply tolerate or ignore you? If you’ve found yourself repeating messages or fighting to...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/risk-management-health-center-log-rich-source-risk-management-data

As camp professionals become more effective risk managers, the need to periodically review camper and staff injury and illness events is a given. One of the best sources of this information is a...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/using-color-communicate-your-camps-culture

Lately, I have been thinking back to a particular summer early in junior high when I was eagerly anticipating my time at camp. I was not yet a camp counselor, but I aspired to be one as soon as...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/growing-tomorrows-leaders-today-cultivating-connection-confidence-curiosity-camps

At every camp, there’s a moment when a counselor steps forward, not because they have to, but because they want to. They notice a camper struggling, take initiative to help, and model calm for others...