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https://www.acacamps.org/blog/nellies-gift-story-trauma-informed-care
Nellie's Gift: A Story of Trauma-Informed CareNellie 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-get-kids-calm-down
How to Get Kids to Calm DownWorking 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/most-important-question-you-can-ask-alumni-staff-applicant
The Most Important Question You Can Ask an Alumni Staff ApplicantWe 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/talk-set-success
The Talk That Set Up SuccessLike 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/making-sense-mesh-partnerships-parents
Making Sense of MESH: Partnerships with ParentsAs 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/conversation-katie-how-one-camper-handles-mental-illness
A Conversation with Katie — How One Camper Handles Mental IllnessThe 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/want-improve-your-response-mental-health-challenges
Want to Improve Your Response to 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/moderating-childhood-stress-through-camp
Moderating Childhood Stress Through CampExposure 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/instilling-meshages-marginalizes-toxic-stress-camp
Instilling MESH'ages Marginalizes Toxic Stress at CampAs 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/aca-visits-white-house-talk-about-outdoor-opportunities-youth
ACA Visits the White House to Talk About Outdoor Opportunities for YouthOn 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...