https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/stress-camp-no-never-three-mindful-practices-create-kinder-happier-healthier-campers-counselors

When people think summer camp, they think tranquil natural setting, fun, happiness, and bliss. While this permeates throughout camp life, the threat of stress — and a lack of resiliency to that...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/camper-enrollment-continued-upward-trend-2014

Economically speaking, 2014 felt a little better across the nation. The Dow was up a bit, the jobs reports were somewhat positive, and people seemed to be spending money. Early in 2015 it still feels...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/getting-social-it

It is said, even among the youngest of audiences, that if you are not on social media you don’t exist. Think about it: You may have already researched my credentials on LinkedIn® or checked to see if...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/play-camp-talking-funders-versus-preaching-choir

Camp professionals just get it! Play is a valuable aspect of childhood and, of course, camp. It’s a given, an easy sell. But that’s just preaching to the choir. Explaining to funders the need to...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/pressure-camp

The positive pressure one experiences at camp is something rare and hypnotizing. Friends at home call what you are doing a summer holiday, but you know the work is tough and comes with daily...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/case-melted-fingerprints

My first time working at summer camp, in fact during my first week, I melted off every one of my fingerprints. I was only 16 at the time, and I remember feeling shocked that this could actually...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/welcome-world-camp-food-service

If you’re new to the food service staff at camp, then the first week may feel a bit overwhelming. There are a lot of mouths to feed! But rest assured, the camp administration wouldn’t have hired you...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/essential-communication-requirements-caretakers

Counselors, other camp staff, volunteers, parents, guardians, and friends of camps join camp directors as partners in the responsibility of caring for other people’s children. How many times have we...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/welcome-generation-camp

I live in Minnesota where the season’s changing is often dramatic and spectacular. One day it’s ten below zero and the next 65 with bright sun and birds gleefully singing. And although we are all...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/what-more-can-we-do-help-homesick-campers-homesickness-anxious-withdrawal-motivations-avoid-new

When Rudy ran away in the Ivan Reitman movie Meatballs he helped enshrine homesickness as one of the hallmarks of the camp experience alongside morning announcements, pranks,...