https://www.acacamps.org/blog/how-make-your-camp-more-inclusive-lgbtq-friendly-conversation-brave-trails

Chaco interviews Jessica Weissbuch, cofounder and executive director of Brave Trails, a nonprofit organization dedicated to LGBTQ+ youth leadership.  It was 2015, and Camp Brave Trails just...

https://www.acacamps.org/blog/camp-everyone-interview-sarah-kientz

In this interview, the American Camp Association (ACA) sits down with Rev. Sarah Kientz, minister to youth and director of Camp Akita, to discuss Camp...

https://www.acacamps.org/blog/government-relations-update-march-2022

Throughout the pandemic, the American Camp Association (ACA) has been advocating for the full field of camp at the national level to ensure that camps can operate fully — without additional barriers...

https://www.acacamps.org/blog/how-support-camper-mental-health

Here are some steps you can take to support camper mental health.

https://www.acacamps.org/blog/campwire-episode-56-examining-mental-social-emotional-health-campers-staff

Let’s take a moment to discuss mental, social, and emotional health (MESH).

https://www.acacamps.org/blog/big-r-little-r-big-little

With ACA’s new strategic focus on accreditation and research comes the need to evolve our practices and services at a national level. In order to accomplish these important tasks, two special task...

https://www.acacamps.org/blog/want-improve-your-response-mental-health-challenges

Camp professionals often ask what they might do to more effectively respond to staff and camper mental, emotional and social health (MESH) needs. This often arises from a desire to be as inclusive as...

https://www.acacamps.org/blog/instilling-meshages-marginalizes-toxic-stress-camp

As the Healthy Camp Education and Monitoring Program (HCEMP) committee studies MESH and its implications, I was interested to see some foundational work in this area. In...

https://www.acacamps.org/blog/moderating-childhood-stress-through-camp

Exposure to adverse childhood events (ACE) can lead children to drinking alcohol, smoking, illicit drug use, overeating, and other maladaptive behaviors (Stevens, 2015). These children can experience...

https://www.acacamps.org/blog/why-lgbtq-camp-programs-are-important

LGBTQ+ leadership camps allow LGBTQ+ youth to be themselves and feel accepted and loved in a summer camp environment.