https://www.acacamps.org/blog/connecting-nature
Connecting with Nature"Camp is a time to explore, a time to let your brain grow, and a time to connect with the outside." In this video blog, former ACA CEO Tom Holland explains the benefits of getting outside at...
https://www.acacamps.org/blog/instilling-meshages-marginalizes-toxic-stress-camp
Instilling MESH'ages Marginalizes Toxic Stress at CampAs the Healthy Camp Education and Monitoring Program (HCEMP) committee studies MESH and its implications, I was interested to see some foundational work in this area. In...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/nature-noticing-excursions-making-connections-camp-through-seeing-story-drawing
Nature Noticing Excursions: Making Connections at Camp through Seeing, Story, and DrawingIn the November/December 2015 issue of Camping Magazine, I wrote about a phenomenon I called Noticing Deficit Disorder (NDD), a culturally induced form of vision...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/putting-sustainability-practice-simple-strategies-implement-camp
Putting Sustainability into Practice: Simple Strategies to Implement at CampNext to national, state, and municipal parks, camps manage some of our most important natural resources. Camp settings not only introduce children to natural resources, build their skills to recreate...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/mind-part-1-what-directors-need-know-about-staff-mental-health
With That In Mind, Part 1: What Directors Need to Know About Staff Mental HealthHiring young adults to care for other people’s children seems like folly, from a neurodevelopmental perspective. Nobody’s brain is fully developed, many activities are dangerous, the weather can be...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/putting-nature-perspective-interview-scott-sampson-phd
Putting Nature in Perspective: An Interview with Scott Sampson, PhDScott Sampson, PhD, is a dinosaur paleontologist, science communicator, and passionate advocate for connecting people with nature. He currently serves as vice president of research and collections...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/expand-your-mesh-capacity-summer-begins
Expand your MESH Capacity Before Summer BeginsConsider these scenarios: A parent calls: “My child has ADD and takes medication for depression. Can she come to camp?” A counselor dashes into your office: “We need you at Cabin 5. A camper...
https://www.acacamps.org/resources/native-american-night-sky-storytelling
Native American Night Sky StorytellingExplore the mysteries of our Universe with Sky Tellers! Ten Native American myths and legends investigate the reason for day and Night, why we have seasons, the origin of the stars and other wondrous...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/childrens-mental-health-camp-what-our-role
Children's Mental Health and Camp: What Is Our Role?Few children's issues have drawn more attention, or been more controversial, than those involving their mental health. For example, in the past twenty years, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder...
https://www.acacamps.org/events-education/online-learning/recorded-webinar/top-training-techniques-fast-effective-ways-increase-staff-learning
Top Training Techniques: Fast & Effective Ways to Increase Staff Learning & PerformanceThe number one best-selling author in camp training has packed this session with terrific activities and training methods that are easy to use and can be plugged into your existing training right...