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https://www.acacamps.org/research/special-projects/camp-program-quality-initiative
2020-2022 Camp Program Quality InitiativeFunded by the Lilly Endowment, Inc., ACA began a special project to explore and develop systems that support camp professionals in promoting positive youth development through camp experiences.
https://www.acacamps.org/research/continuous-improvement
Tools for Continuous ImprovementAt ACA, we believe in continuous improvement. We believe that our work for young people is not conceptualized in boxes or checklists; instead, we think about our work in a cyclical way—a way that...
https://www.acacamps.org/blog/what-know-about-demographic-evaluation-questions-how-make-them-count-part-1
What to Know about Demographic Evaluation Questions and How to Make Them Count, Part 1Wheewww! Summer is about over, if not over for most camps, which means that it's time to reflect on another eventful and exciting season. Along with a bit of a breather, this time of year brings lots...
https://www.acacamps.org/resources/summer-camp-therapeutic-tool-reducing-anxiety-youth
Summer Camp as a Therapeutic Tool for Reducing Anxiety in YouthThis study provides the first preliminary evidence that overnight summer camps—including those with and without specific treatments for anxiety, and youth with and without diagnosed behavioral and...
https://www.acacamps.org/blog/creating-inclusive-culture-increase-staff-retention
Creating an Inclusive Culture to Increase Staff RetentionA camp culture where everyone feels a sense of belonging can lead to better staff retention.
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/program-outcomes-resident-camp-youth-serious-illnesses-disabilities-life-challenges
Program Outcomes at a Resident Camp for Youth with Serious Illnesses, Disabilities, and Life ChallengesIn 2005, the American Camp Association (ACA) published the first large-scale national research project assessing the youth development outcomes of children who attend day and resident camps in the...
https://www.acacamps.org/research/our-research-innovation
Our Research & InnovationThe ACA research team supports and facilitates rigorous research in order to expand the value and visibility of the summer camp experience and provide research-informed resources for camps. ...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/interrupting-isms-what-do-if-campers-say-or-do-something-ist
Interrupting Isms: What to Do if Campers Say or Do Something "-Ist"This resource offers advice to summer camp counselors who need to deal with campers saying something "-ist."
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/lost-boys-finding-their-way-summer-camp
Lost Boys: Finding Their Way at Summer CampAre boys in crisis? Popular literature (Raising Cain, Lost Boys, Boys and Sex) and theater (Dear Evan Hansen) seem to suggest so. Terms such as “boy code” and “toxic masculinity” further paint a path...
https://www.acacamps.org/press-room/camp-trends/family-camps
Camp Trends: Family CampsSummer camps for children, adults, families, and seniors operate under trained professionals and have volunteer or paid staff to work with their special client groups. Camps may be found in rural,...