https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/when-competition-just-right
When Competition Is Just Right"I don't want my child to take part in this contest you've dreamed up," a visiting parent told me on the grounds of my camp. "I don't want him to lose. He's not good at this." She pointed out to the...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/summer-camp-moving-along-continuum-inclusion
Summer Camp: Moving along the Continuum of InclusionAccording to the National Center for Education Statistics (2016), 8.5 percent of school-aged children are receiving specialized education services, not including those students with specific learning...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/whats-wrong-song-we-love-it-have-been-singing-it-forever
What’s Wrong with This Song? We Love It and Have Been Singing It Forever!Here you are, catching up, maybe relaxing now that camp is over. You’re reflecting on the joy of having experienced another successful season; the sadness of saying goodbye to...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/enhancing-inclusion-campers-sensory-processing-concerns-through-camp-counselor-training
Enhancing Inclusion for Campers with Sensory-Processing Concerns through Camp Counselor TrainingSummer camps provide children an opportunity for goal achievement, a sense of community, and development of self-concept. Toward that end, goal-directed camp activities revolve around teamwork, as...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/life-autism-how-camps-can-support-campers-staff-autism-spectrum
Life and Autism: How Camps Can Support Campers and Staff on the Autism SpectrumAnton, Maya, and James march into camp on opening day with nerves and excitement, just like any other camper or staff. They have brought the items on the camp list, their eyes are wide with...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/games-activities-strengthen-positive-mental-health
Games and Activities That Strengthen Positive Mental Health“Remember this — every member of your staff and every camper in your program has been through a traumatic experience!” One of my absolute favorite ACA National Conference moments came a few years...
https://www.acacamps.org/events-education/online-learning/recorded-webinar/we-need-play-now-more-ever
We Need PLAY Now More Than Ever!Play is beneficial for ALL ages. It positively impacts brain growth, academic development, social emotional wellbeing and enhances creative and critical thinking across generations. Sadly, playful...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/hitting-high-notes-camp-courageous
Hitting the High Notes at Camp CourageousAs a group of children with autism play the outdoor musical instruments together in harmony in the Rotary Musical Park at Camp Courageous, a lady with a visual impairment sits holding her ears,...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/considering-access-summer-camp-part-iv-helping-families-overcome-barriers-participation
Considering Access to Summer Camp, Part IV: Helping Families Overcome Barriers to ParticipationConsidering Access to Summer Camp is a four-part series that highlights recent research aimed at helping camp practitioners increase access to summer camp for all youth. The first article...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/inclusive-camp-making-summer-camp-joyful-place-everyone
Inclusive Camp: Making Summer Camp a Joyful Place for EveryoneSummer camp is a sacred community which, as a rule, has always been willing to find common ground in respecting and accommodating individual values and needs. The values and needs of campers with...