Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Fake it till you Make it…by Karly Taylor

Fake it Till You Make it…
by Karly Taylor

That was the advice given to me my first summer as Camp Director. My only thoughts were: “I have a degree in EDUCATION, not CAMPING… how in the world am I gonna survive- they’ll see right through me!” Turns out, Camp was not that much different than what I had learned teaching. My mentor teacher my first year in the classroom told me a “secret”- TEACHERS ARE THE BEST THIEVES she said. You do not have to recreate the wheel, if you see something you like- ASK to borrow it, ASK for the plans, ASK to take it and make your own… if you are too afraid to ASK then you will spend forever recreating the wheel. Bottom line- ASK! 

I learned very quickly that “fake it till you make it” meant the same thing. My first year as the Camp Director I am sure I annoyed any and everyone I came into contact with: Tell me how you do____, explain to me the process you use for ____, what would you differently about ____? I was always asking, probing, and basically harassing anyone with more experience than me.

To save you the time, the effort and the fear of harassing others… here are a few places I have found to be helpful:

ACA's - Camping Magazine

Parent Resources – www.timetotalk.org

GREAT ideas, programs, advice:

Books:

This is cross posted in the November issue of The Buffalo Bur. If you have a resource you want to share, post it for everyone in the comments for this article.

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Tuesday, October 21, 2008

ACA, Texoma EPIC Scholarship Award Recipient

Congratulations to Angela Stevenson recipient of the 2008 ACA, Texoma EPIC Scholarship.

Angela is a student at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville and is currently interning with Camp For All in Burton, Texas. The ACA, Texoma EPIC Scholarship is given to an outstanding student member in ACA, Texoma. As a recipient of this annual scholarship, Angela was awarded tuition and travel represent ACA, Texoma at the upcoming Student Camp Leadership Academy that is being held at Camp White Eagle in Leaf River, Illinois in November.

The Student Camp Leadership Academy (SCLA) is a weekend retreat that brings together students, camp professionals, national ACA staff and leadership to explore, learn, and understand what the camp professional of the future must be and the leadership opportunities within the ACA structure at the local and National levels to impact the development of youth and others.

Click to read more about SCLA or ACA, Texoma EPIC. To find out more about ACA, Texoma Awards and Scholarships please contact the ACA office at 888-559-CAMP(2267).


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