The impact of closures to summer programs is felt by participants, staff members, families, camp owners, and whole communities, and reminds us of the developmental power of camps for social-emotional growth and positive effects on mental health. The ACA has gathered resources to offer support for those feeling loss and to reiterate the essence of the critical value of camps for promoting positive mental health. Hope cannot be canceled, care will not be postponed, and the benefits of camp to everyone’s wellbeing will persist beyond this challenging time.
Benefits of Camp Programs for Mental, Emotional, and Social Health (MESH)
- Anxiety and the Importance of Play: An Interview with Shimi Kang, MD (Camping Magazine)
- Happy Campers: A Counterintuitive Conversation about Youth Mental Health (Camping Magazine)
- No Retreat: Convening Communities of Caring in Times of Loss and Grief (Camping Magazine)
- Psychological Benefits of Summer Camp (Washington Parent)
- Ready, Set, Go: How Camp Prepares Children for Lives of Success (Camping Magazine)
- SOS: Youth at Risk and Seven Survival Skills from Summer Camp (Camping Magazine)
- Summer Camp as a Therapeutic Tool for Reducing Anxiety in Youth
- The Impact of Camp Experiences on Social Skills and Happiness (Camping Magazine)
- The Interface between Camp and Family: The Challenge of Dealing with Loss and Bereavement (Camping Magazine)
MESH - Mental Emotional Social Health at Camp
- Become Trauma-Informed: Add Capacity to Your MESH Toolbox (Camping Magazine)
- Making Mental Health Matter at Camp (Camping Magazine)
- Mental, Emotional & Social Health during a COVID-19 Pandemic w/ Dr. G (CampWire podcast)
- Riding "The White Water" of This Turbulent Time with Bob Ditter (Recorded Session)
Coping with the Loss of Camp
- Grieving the Loss of Summer 2020: Concepts Adults Must Understand Before Talking with Campers (Dr. Chris Thurber, PDF)
- How to Talk to Your Child Grieving the Loss of Their Cancelled Summer Camp (Deborah Gilboa, MD, video)
- Mourning Summer 2020: How to Communicate Camp Closings to Your Community (Bob Ditter, blog post)
- National Alliance for Grieving Children COVID-19 resource page
- Resilience for Camp Staff Regarding Camp Cancellation (Deborah Gilboa, MD, video)
- Responding to Change and Loss (National Alliance for Grieving Children, English version)
- Respondiendo Al Cambio Y Perdida (National Alliance for Grieving Children, Spanish version)
- Support for Camp Directors, A Conversation with Bob Ditter (Bob Ditter, video recording)
Mental Health Resources
- ACA’s Suicide Prevention resource page
- Keep Calm: The Science Behind Managing Stress (Michelle Post M.A., LMFT, National Alliance for Grieving Children - webinar)
- National Council on Behavioral Health COVID-19 resource page
- Trauma Informed Care at Camp (John Hamilton, Alliance for Hope, webinar)
Mental Health First Aid Training
ACA’s MESH content is made possible with the generous support from Markel Insurance.