https://www.acacamps.org/blog/aca-standards-arent-important
ACA Standards Aren’t Important . . .UNTIL: A parent tells me they assumed “someone” was monitoring the camp. The media calls and asks what set of best practices/standards my camp follows. I am faced with a difficult...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/out-about-creating-safe-environment-lgbtq-campers-staff
Out and About: Creating a Safe Environment for LGBTQ Campers and StaffIt was June 2006. I had been conducting staff training at a coed camp in the Northeast. I had already spoken to the entire staff about the “real work” of camp, which I see as helping campers use the...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/superstar-counselors-uploading-right-connections-generation-text
Superstar Counselors: Uploading the Right Connections for Generation TextHow many texts did you send yesterday? How about e-mails? Did you tweet any of your opinions? Was this distracting to you or anyone else? Were you misunderstood or did you get your point across?...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/find-something-do-no-prop-games-camp
Find Something to Do! No-Prop Games for CampIn between all the wonderful events you have during your camping program this year, there will always be those random moments of opportunity. Every one of you should have a dozen or more ideas of how...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/risk-management-camp-directors-wish
Risk Management: A Camp Director’s WishSoon hundreds of children and camp staff from all over the world will be joining me here at my camp. This is the beginning of the much anticipated and long-awaited summer of 2013. My wish is that...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/you-give-your-campers-advice-do-not
Before You Give Your Campers Advice: Do This, Not ThatCan you relate to this situation? Something happens that is upsetting, difficult, and/or problematic. You talk to a friend or your parents about it, and they offer rational, useful advice. Even...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/cool-counselor-right-reasons
The Cool Counselor: For the Right ReasonsWhen I first began teaching and working with kids, I began by thinking, “We are all going to get along. I am going to be the best teacher these kids have ever had, and we are going to be friends.” I...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/wise-use-time
Wise Use of Time OffLast Night Phil Bader did everything wrong on his last night off except give his keys to a sober colleague. He’d left camp ten minutes early, bought alcohol with a fake ID, indulged in binge...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/where-camp-happens
Where Camp HappensWhen was the first time you really felt camp? Whether you are a longtime camp person or this is your f irst summer, chances are that the answer to that question is (or will be) intangible,...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/counselor-judgment-campers-lives-depend-it
Counselor Judgment: Campers’ Lives Depend on It!The title of this article, “Counselor Judgment — Campers’ Lives Depend on It!” is not in any way written to be frightening to a new counselor, but quite honestly, it is very much written to make the...