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/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...

https://www.acacamps.org/blog/nellies-gift-story-trauma-informed-care

Nellie was a conundrum. She didn’t smile very readily and preferred hanging out at the edge of camper groups. She didn’t initiate conversation either; she generally waited until someone approached...

https://www.acacamps.org/blog/how-prepare-food-allergies-camp

In honor of Food Allergy Awareness Week (May 14–20, 2017), Margaret Redmond, MD, discusses how to be lower the chances of food allergy reactions at camp and what to do in case of allergen...

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/tips-lyme-disease-prevention-camp

As staffers, parents and kids prepare for another memorable summer at camp, there is one important detail that must not escape our attention - doing everything possible to ensure that children are...

https://www.acacamps.org/blog/talk-set-success

Like many camps that are hiring college-aged staff to work during the summer, over the past few years I have noticed an increase in staff that are being treated for (or have recently been treated for...

https://www.acacamps.org/blog/most-important-question-you-can-ask-alumni-staff-applicant

We love having alumni apply to work for our program. Following their years of participation as campers, we ask them to step away for a year or two before they can reengage as a staff member. We...

https://www.acacamps.org/blog/update-camp-program-quality-initiative-spotlight-continuous-quality-improvement-systems-design-work

This blog is the first in a five-part series that will dive deeply into the work of our working groups and describe our plans for our Program Quality Coach/Observer processes.

https://www.acacamps.org/blog/handwashing-make-it-really-effective

Handwashing remains one of our most effective protective behaviors against communicable disease. While handwashing doesn’t guarantee protection and safety, a person can certainly reduce risk of...