https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/beanies

When I was 20, I needed a job for the summer months and decided to accept an opportunity at a sleepaway camp. Since I was studying to be a teacher, I thought being a camp counselor for a group of six...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/enrollment-risky-business

Risk comes in many forms, some of which we spend more time considering and mitigating than others. On the “yeah, obviously” side of the ledger: we don’t allow campers on the ropes course without...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/risk-management-supervising-young-supervisor

Because frontline staff, such as cabin counselors or activity leaders, typically spend the most time directly with campers, most accidents involving campers occur under their care. Therefore, it is...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/rethinking-risk-how-build-resiliency-reward

So much of a camp director’s time is oriented toward risk reduction. From hiring lifeguards to teaching CPR, the number-one priority is “keeping kids safe,” followed by fun and learning in form or...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/preventing-burnout-caring-your-staffs-mental-health-while-camp-session

A camp job is hard work. Camp is so worth it, as evidenced by all the positive outcomes research has shown campers achieve. But that does not make the job any easier — especially for the teenagers...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/retreat-conundrum-there-pot-gold

The last year and a half have seen many organizations stretching, shifting, and praying for the financial wherewithal to keep operating into the future. This may have also included discussing how to...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/changing-framework-abuse-prevention-training

This past summer was one of navigating “firsts.” For many camps, it was navigating a reopening in the middle of a pandemic. For others it was dealing with the challenges created by quarantines and...

https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/mitigating-long-term-bereavement-risks-addressing-family-grief

Bereavement camps for children are now commonplace around the United States (McClatchey & Wimmer, 2018). Some of these are recreational, and others are more clinically focused. Most do not...

https://www.acacamps.org/resources/magazine/2021-november-december-camping-magazine

This issue focuses on risk management.

https://www.acacamps.org/news/press-release/american-camp-association-white-house-recognize-innovative-new-hampshire-program-benefits-camps

Extensive research has established that children can't begin to learn until their emotional needs are addressed — and camp is part of the solution. To make the benefits of camp more accessible to...