https://www.acacamps.org/blog/sponsored/goes-your-guide-summer-training

Summer is just around the corner, which means it’s almost time for summer camp! Growing up, I spent my summers at a three-week sleepaway camp on the Oregon Coast. It was where I learned to love the...

https://www.acacamps.org/events-education/event/culture-climate-collective-marks-trauma-identity-camp

When we consider the thresholds people cross, entering the space we call camp, do we trace the roots of trauma beyond a person and to a group of people? The term collective trauma exposes the...

https://www.acacamps.org/blog/2024-camp-hill-days-recap

Camp Hill Days allowed camp professionals to advocate for camp to the government.

https://www.acacamps.org/blog/value-discomfort-creating-learning-environment-camp-staff

“I don’t feel safe discussing this topic, and if a camper wanted to discuss it, I would just tell them that and redirect them to something else.” – Camp Staff 2023 I was leading an...

https://www.acacamps.org/blog/conversation-katie-how-one-camper-handles-mental-illness

The thing about mental, emotional and social health (MESH) is that you never know when, and you never know how, it is going to affect you...

https://www.acacamps.org/blog/aca-visits-white-house-talk-about-outdoor-opportunities-youth

On Thursday, November 17, the American Camp Association (ACA) was honored to participate in a White House meeting on opportunities for youth to experience the outdoors in collaboration with the...

https://www.acacamps.org/blog/making-sense-mesh-partnerships-parents

As we tackle mental, emotional, and social health (MESH) issues in our programs, we must use every tool possible to help the struggling person. ...

https://www.acacamps.org/blog/planning-mental-emotional-social-health-mesh-summer

The smiling faces and laughter heard across camps each summer result from days, weeks, and months of planning. We spend considerable time meticulously planning our themes, activities, equipment, food...

https://www.acacamps.org/blog/why-every-camp-should-be-teaching-practicing-meditation-campers

The wonder of a child — it’s something we strive for in adulthood. Imagination, amazement, and the simple appreciation for life’s little treasures: the gold spray of sunlight through a window, or the...

https://www.acacamps.org/blog/how-get-kids-calm-down

Working closely and networking with other camp professionals is one of the best tools for growing our own camp programs. I am fortunate to have a dear friend, Audrey Monke, who is the owner/director...