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/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...
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/download/pre-camp-mesh-checklist
Pre-Camp MESH Checklisthttps://www.acacamps.org/blog/planning-mental-emotional-social-health-mesh-summer
Planning for Mental, Emotional, and Social Health (MESH) This SummerThe 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/news/hot-topic/child-protection-improvements-act-becomes-law
Child Protection Improvements Act Becomes LawOn Friday, March 23, President Trump signed the omnibus spending package, which included provisions for the Child Protection Improvements Act (CPIA). The new law enables organizations serving...
https://www.acacamps.org/blog/why-every-camp-should-be-teaching-practicing-meditation-campers
Why Every Camp Should Be Teaching and Practicing Meditation with CampersThe 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/homesickness-dos-donts-parents-preparing-camp
Homesickness Dos and Don’ts for Parents Preparing for CampHomesickness is a fact of life. It is human nature to pine for what is known and comfortable. And a stay at summer camp — even for a seasoned camper — can generate pangs of longing for...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/evaluating-bereavement-camps
Evaluating Bereavement CampsSpending time in nature is often therapeutic and provides many benefits, such as improving cognitive functioning (Berman, Jonides, & Kaplan, 2008) and improving memory (Berto, 2005). Spending...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/become-trauma-informed-add-capacity-your-mesh-toolbox
Become Trauma-Informed: Add Capacity to Your MESH ToolboxDid you know that two out of every three adults have experienced at least one adverse childhood event (ACE) by the time they reach 18 years of age? In addition, one in eight adults reports...