Repetition, Repetition, Repetition: One Reason Camp Is a Unique Professional Experience

Summer camp jobs can teach camp staff important lessons, such as how to fail and bounce back — an important professional development skill.

Camp Staffing: We Can Avoid a Crisis!

Over the past few years, directors all over the country have reported struggling with the fact that good staff are harder to find. They also indicate that it is much more difficult to convince quality applicants to accept summer camp jobs and stay for the entire summer. In the late spring of 2018, with minimum wage issues, the shortage of male candidates, low unemployment rates, and the increased number of internships, we heard more urgency. In some circles, the staffing situation was being labeled as a “threat to our industry.”

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Counselor with campersCurious what ACA has to offer? Interested in becoming one of the next camp leaders?

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NOLS Risk Management Training 2018 - Orlando, Florida

You can step forward in the industry by actively managing the risks to your participants, staff, and organization. Risk management planning is critical for any organization taking people into remote environments, whether close to home or across the globe.

In the two-day NOLS Risk Management Training, you will build a prioritized action plan to improve your organization’s risk management practices. You will identify your program’s strengths and areas for growth. You will also learn a framework for designing risk management systems that meet the unique needs of your program.

NOLS Risk Management Training 2018 - Portland, Oregon

You can step forward in the industry by actively managing the risks to your participants, staff, and organization. Risk management planning is critical for any organization taking people into remote environments, whether close to home or across the globe.

In the two-day NOLS Risk Management Training, you will build a prioritized action plan to improve your organization’s risk management practices. You will identify your program’s strengths and areas for growth. You will also learn a framework for designing risk management systems that meet the unique needs of your program.

NOLS Risk Management Training 2018 - Denver, Colorado

You can step forward in the industry by actively managing the risks to your participants, staff, and organization. Risk management planning is critical for any organization taking people into remote environments, whether close to home or across the globe.

In the two-day NOLS Risk Management Training, you will build a prioritized action plan to improve your organization’s risk management practices. You will identify your program’s strengths and areas for growth. You will also learn a framework for designing risk management systems that meet the unique needs of your program.

Staff Workforce Development: What Helps and What Hinders It

Camp is a fantastic place for growth and development, not only of campers but young staff too. The skills they learn while working in this context prepare them for college, career, and life! 

Tips for Calming Down Overwhelmed Camp Counselors

“It’s hot.” “I’m tired.” “My campers are crazy.” “My co-counselor is not pulling his/her own weight.” “I am just not sure I have enough left in my tank to finish the summer.”

All of these are excuses or complaints that I and many other directors have heard over the summers from camp staff. And truth be told, many of them are very legitimate complaints. We hired what we thought was the best staff ever. We trained them, guided them, and watched them impact the lives of campers all summer long.

Martin and His Friends: Counseling Skills that Effect Change at 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-tootypical response for nine-year-old Martin, he lashed out at the camper, charged him with cheating, and then got angry and swore at the counselor who had been trying to intervene. He accused the counselor of "always picking on" him and favoring the other camper. Eventually, Martin stormed off with the counselor in hot pursuit.

No Reservations Needed! Please Be Seated for a 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 previous years, this can be hard to swallow for returning staff. Because of the large amount of information that needs to be conveyed in a short amount of time, it makes sense to present training topics in a way that will maximize the learning and retention capacity of staff (and have fun while doing it!).

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