https://www.acacamps.org/blog/no-generation-left-behind
No Generation Left BehindWithout a doubt, the most popular comment I get from clients in my public speaking work is (some variation of) “’Kids today have absolutely no initiative or basic work ethic! I ask them, ‘Well, how...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/meet-staff-where-they-are-not-where-you-wish-them-be
Meet Staff Where They Are — Not Where You Wish Them to BeUnanswered emails. Requests (demands) for time off. Over-involved parents. What's the matter with young people today? Most likely nothing! We have more in common with this cohort of staff than one...
https://www.acacamps.org/blog/refining-survey-instruments-amplifying-youth-voice
Refining Survey Instruments: Amplifying the Youth VoiceThrough our ongoing efforts to inform and continually improve, we’re building a multi-faceted approach to collecting camper impact data and feedback.
https://www.acacamps.org/news/press-release/lilly-endowment-grant-supports-program-quality-initiative-summer-camps
Lilly Endowment Grant Supports Program Quality Initiative in Summer CampsThe grant will help strengthen and expand how summer camp experiences support learning and growth among children and youth. Indianapolis (Jan 24, 2020) – Lilly Endowment...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/indigenous-instructional-programming-camp-professionals
Indigenous Instructional Programming for Camp ProfessionalsCamp professionals are taking a greater interest in the concept of allyship, a process of unlearning and re-evaluating whereby those in positions of privilege attempt to adopt a stance...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/yes-only-means-yes-until-something-better-comes-along-making-camp-best-offer-gen-z-staff
Yes Only Means Yes Until Something Better Comes Along: Making Camp the Best Offer for Gen Z StaffStaff sign a contract, then inform you the week before camp begins that they won’t be coming after all. Or staff commit to working the entire season only to tell (not ask!) you they are leaving for...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/project-real-job-moving-forward-together
Project Real Job — Moving Forward TogetherIn the early ’80s, I graduated from high school and made a simple but life-changing decision. It was May and I hadn’t yet made plans for the summer. My mom encouraged me to call my former camp...
https://www.acacamps.org/blog/national-conference-takeaways-practitioners-researchers-everyone-between
National Conference Takeaways for Practitioners, Researchers, and Everyone in BetweenIn the latest Research 360 blog post, ACA Research Assistant Victoria Povilaitis shares highlights from several research sessions that were held at the ACA National Conference
https://www.acacamps.org/blog/summer-camp-unique-environment-social-emotional-learning
Summer Camp: A Unique Environment for Social and Emotional LearningAs an education research organization affiliated with the Graduate School of Education at Stanford University, we thought it was an exciting opportunity to investigate camp as a unique learning...
https://www.acacamps.org/blog/unexpected-upside-evaluation-how-your-program-may-improve-even-results-are
The Unexpected Upside of Evaluation: How Your Program May Improve, Even Before Results Are InSimply by being more intentional about assessing your program, and using existing research to sharpen your focus onto the things that matter most, you may be surprised by just how easy it is to make...