https://www.acacamps.org/article/parents/because-camp-possibilities-are-endless

For almost 150 years the camp community has had a secret. Not a well-kept secret, mind you, because you can see it in your neighborhoods, in your office buildings, on your favorite TV shows — you can...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/parents/impact-loss-free-undirected-play-childhood-what-camps-can-do-about-it

As wonderful as the cherished traditions and programmatic aspects of a camp may be, what we teach campers may not be the most important part of their summer experience. The most crucial and...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/parents/camp-squared-deciding-if-camp-should-be-sibling-experience

Camp can be a beneficial, fun, life-changing experience for every child, but if you have two or more children in your household the biggest decision looking ahead to this summer may be "Do I send one...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/essential-staff-training-activities

You expect your staff to think on their feet — so why not train them on their feet? For more than three decades, I've been assisting camps, outdoor education centers, youth development agencies,...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/parents/field-guide-preserving-childhood

It is commonly said that it takes an entire village to raise strong, healthy children. Yes, it takes a village of people to raise a child, but it also takes the village itself. A hundred years ago...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/embracing-larger-culture

At all levels of camp, people of color are dramatically underrepresented: in ownership, directorship, staffing, and as campers. This circumstance is unacceptable, especially because, within a...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/over-under-back-story-behind-drinking-age-debate

With the presidential debates now in the rearview mirror, another national dialogue is unfolding before the American public. It, too, is enormously consequential. Young lives hang in the balance....

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/what-now-understanding-supporting-campers-mental-health-issues

What's Going On? Are you finding youth more complicated and challenging to work with? Did you know that today one in five youth ages ten to twenty-four years is diagnosed with a defined mental...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/no-reservations-needed-please-be-seated-five-course-staff-training-smorgasbord

During the spring of each year, many camp directors are faced with what can seem to be an overwhelming task of planning for staff training. While it is tempting to use the same "recipes" from...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/martin-his-friends-counseling-skills-effect-change-camp

Martin was sitting in the office of the boys' head counselor again. He'd been playing "Ga Ga" when another camper got him out. In what had quickly become an all-too-typical response for nine-year-old...