Announcing: Camp Services Conference coming this Fall…..
For more information regarding the conference, click here. (http://www.acatexoma.org/ServeCon.php)
If you are interested in presenting a session or workshop idea at the conference, click here. (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SPK)
PEAK Program Grant - Applications now being accepted
The PEAK program is the result of a unique partnership between REI (Recreation Equipment, Inc.) and the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. PEAK is based on the seven principles of Leave No Trace and is designed to educate children about the outdoors and responsible use of our shared public lands.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
In response to requests from organizations in need of Leave No Trace materials, training and information for youth, the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics has established a grant-giving fund specifically for PEAK Packs. This program is administered by the Center for Outdoor Ethics and supported by a generous grant from REI. Consideration will be given to grassroots, community-based groups who adhere to the Leave No Trace mission and whose goal is to communicate outdoor skills and ethics to youth audiences.
The Center will give strongest consideration to projects or organizations that:
- Have a local, regional and/or community focus
- Have specific objectives quantifiable by the grant applicant
- Mobilize volunteers to successfully reach a project goal
Go to http://lnt.org/programs/packing_with_PEAK.php for more information.
ACA Media Update
ACA Media Update
- Parenting Magazine included ACA in an article on homesickness.
- Peg Smith participated in a Podcast for VickyandJen.com.
- Marla Coleman, past ACA president, participated on behalf of ACA in a segment for Dr. Radio on Sirius Satellite Radio.
- ACA was included in an article for ParentDish.com on tipping camp counselors.
- ACA has been mentioned in two articles for the Christian Science Monitor, including one discussing life lessons learned at camp and one discussing camp as an American tradition.
- Peg Smith appeared on Fox News’ Strategy Room program as part of the variety hour.
- ACA was included in an article on “Glee” summer camps in USA Today.
- Past ACA president Ann Sheets was interviewed for NPR’s Here and Now program on behalf of ACA.
ACA Begins Building Professional Development Center
A Message from Deb Bialeschki, Ph.D.
Chair, Professional Development Center
For one hundred years, ACA has been pushing the boundaries, challenging the status quo, and enriching the camp experience for millions of our nation’s children. ACA recognizes that informed, dedicated, and skilled professionals are at the very core of this mission. In this vein, the ACA professional development team is excited to announce that work on a Professional Development Center is underway, providing new education and growth opportunities. ACA believes it is essential to support our members in personal development and professional ambitions. And, by investing in the professional development of individuals, we are ultimately investing in quality experiences and settings that result in positive development of our entire camp community.
The Professional Development Center will serve as an association-wide platform, which will include resources to support individual educational growth and career development. The Professional Development Center Dashboard will include ACA-developed, as well as ACA-endorsed, educational offerings and experiences available at local, regional, and national access points. Many of the educational tools already exist in ACA’s repertoire, while others are yet to be developed.
As ACA members become engaged in their own individualized professional development plans, they will have access to their own Professional Development Portfolio. This online portfolio links to the ACA database and serves as a place to maintain a record of one’s accomplishments, achievements, and ongoing training activities. The portfolio serves as a professional development profile and will be available only to ACA members.
Features of the Center will become available over the next four to twenty months. The professional development team will share more Center details and achievements as they are developed and implemented, including ways you can contribute to the process.
Thank you for your continued support in these efforts and for your enthusiasm and encouragement as we develop these outstanding professional development opportunities.
ACA NOW - May 18, 2010
May 18, 2010
Public Policy
EPA Issues Ruling Concerning Lead-Based Paint
Under the authority of the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a final ruling that took effect April 22, 2010, regarding lead-based paint hazards created by renovation, repair, and painting activities that disturb lead-based paint in target housing and child-occupied facilities. This may impact your camp renovations.
Education
New e-Institute Course! Awesome Campfire Programs
Are you ready to have campers sit around the bright campfire where camp loyalty and friendships are born and nourished? Purchase ACA's newest e-course, Awesome Campfire Programs, designed especially for front-line camp staff to bring attention to their role in providing campers with a memorable campfire experience. By the end of this course, camp staff will understand the what, why, and how of campfire progression and planning.
Latest News
Buying Energy Efficient Appliances
Buying a new water heater, refrigerator, or air conditioning unit for your camp this summer? The Federal Trade Commission's publication EnergyGuidance: Appliance Shopping With the EnergyGuide Label can help you learn how to compare the energy use of different models using the yellow EnergyGuide label found on appliances. Energy efficient appliances cost less to run, lower your utility bills, and are better for the environment, too.
Mark Your Calendars: Webinar this Week- ACA and the Innovation Center for Community Development Webinar
ACA and The Innovation Center for Community Development Webinar
Caring adults are the cornerstone of a young person’s development. Camps provide an exceptionally strong environment in which youth can develop positive relationships with peers, engage in meaningful activities, and build life skills for a successful transition into productive citizens. Increasingly, camp directors are also recognizing that young people are a valuable – but frequently untapped – resource for program planning, implementation, and evaluation. Many camp directors are searching for better ways to partner with teens and engage them in meaningful decision-making roles. This webinar takes an interactive look at concepts, skills, opportunities, and resources to support effective youth-adult partnerships. ACA and the Innovation Center for Community and Youth Development are proud to offer this webinar.
Date: Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Time: 1:00-3:30 PM (Eastern Time)
Presenters: Carla M. Roach
Webninar - from AIC 6 Abuse Concerns That Keep Camps Directors Awake at Night
AIC is offering this Webinar and we still have a few spots open.
FREE!
AIC Webinar - 6 Abuse Concerns That Keep Camps Directors Awake at Night
Join us for a Webinar on May 6
Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/133345867
Join attorney Britt Darwin-Looney of Praesidium to explore the latest strategies for preventing sexual abuse at your camp. Praesidium is the leader in child abuse risk management and has helped camps across the country protect their campers.
This webinar will highlight six areas of concern including: the problem with background checks; risks for adult-to-child and child-to-child abuse; how to prevent false allegations; how to spot red flag behaviors; and what to do about high-risk areas at camps. Time has been set aside to answer your abuse prevention questions at the end of the presentation.
Title:
AIC Webinar - 6 Abuse Concerns That Keep Camps Directors Awake at Night
Date:Thursday, May 6, 2010
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM CDT
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.
System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP, 2003 Server or 2000
Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4.11 (Tiger®) or newer
Tommy D. Ferguson
Director of Camp Olympia
Mark Your Calendars: Webinar this Week - Nature Programming in Day and Resident Camps
Nature Programming in Day and Resident Camps
Does your camp strive to provide campers with meaningful nature-based experiences? Are you looking for strategies to more effectively train staff to connect campers with nature? This webinar, designed for day and resident camp directors and staff, explores four dimensions of this topic, including: buildings and facilities, natural and information resources, training and supporting staff to experience nature with campers, and modeling inquiry and positive engagement to foster nature connections. Whether you have a well established program or little more than good intentions, this webinar will help you take your program to the next level.
Date: Friday, May 7, 2010
Time: 2:00-3:30 PM (Eastern Time)
Presenters: Jim Parry, Denise Mahnke, Tom Neppl, and Elizabeth Rundle
New ACA e-Institute Course: Ticks, Tears, and Toothpaste: A Counselor’s Role in Healthcare
ACA's newest e-Institute course is designed especially for camp counselors!
No matter what job a counselor has at camp, it'll be working with and around children. And while counselors may be excited about teaching crafts or swimming or tiddlywinks, the bottom line for the parents who brought their children to camp as well as for the camp director is that the children have a safe and healthy camp experience. This e-course is designed to bring attention to this.
Course Description: Ticks, Tears, and Toothpaste is a course designed especially for front-line camp counselors, to bring attention to the counselor's role in providing campers with a safe and healthy camp experience. No matter what role a counselor has at camp, he or she will be working with and around children. And while it may be exciting to teach crafts, swimming, or tiddlywinks, the bottom line for the parents who brought their children to camp and for your camp director is the safety and health of the campers.
Parents rely on camp staff to perform their job to a certain standard, and campers need staff to be prepared. Camp staff have a responsibility to conduct activities and supervise groups of campers in a manner that maintains, if not improves, the health of each individual.
By the end of this course learners will understand their role in:
Preventing “Staff Infection”
– How to maintain their personal health and act as a role model for campers
Keeping Your Beauties from Becoming Beasts
– How to help campers maintain their health and when to intervene
Being a Risk Manager
– A counselor's “Duty to Act” and what that means
Click here to purchase "Ticks, Tears, and Toothpaste: A Counselor's Role in HealthCare"
ACA NOW - April 24, 2010
April 23, 2010
Bookstore
All-New Waterfront Resources - Just Add Water!
Looking for new resources for your waterfront staff? Here they are! Check out ACA's aquatic program risk management resources designed to keep campers and staff safe in the water this summer. And bring on the fun with hundreds of swimming pool games for kids, teaching your campers good sportsmanship, leadership, and communication skills while they play!
Education
Webinar: Lifelines to Jump Start Your Camp Program: A Million New Ideas!
Looking for fresh programming ideas to use this summer? Come to Friday's webinar (1 - 2:30 p.m. EST) and discover new ideas for handling staff morale, camper programs and activities, special events, off-camp trips, games, resources, and more! Our expert webinar host, Kim Aycock of Camp 2 Campus Learning Solutions, has over two decades of experience in working in year-round and seasonal camp positions. Aycock's professional resume includes serving as a camp staff orientation trainer, a BCDC facilitator/instructor, and a middle/high school and college-level educator for fifteen years.
Education
Webinar: Creating Effective Youth-Adult Partnerships: Strategies for Camps
Increasingly, camp directors are recognizing that young people are a valuable - but frequently untapped - resource for program planning, implementation, and evaluation. Many camp directors are searching for better ways to partner with teens and engage them in meaningful decision-making roles. This webinar on Tuesday, May 18 (1 - 2:30 p.m. EST) takes an interactive look at concepts, skills, opportunities, and resources to support effective youth-adult partnerships.
ACA
ACA, Texoma
@acatexoma
- "The camp experience is unique in its intensity and density." Peg Smith, CEO, of @ACACamps http://bit.ly/bGlINx #camp 1 week ago
- RT @CampForAll: Please join the Camp For All YP's for the "Camp For All No Barriers Bash" Sept 18, 7-10. http://bit.ly/aYSVTM #summercamp 3 weeks ago
- Camp-School Partnership Survey Results: http://bit.ly/bJCec0 #ACANow 3 weeks ago
- we have lost touch with the value of free time and play from @ChildrenNature http://bit.ly/baQ4oL #summercamp 3 weeks ago
- More updates...
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ACA - Latest News
- 2010 September/October Camping Magazine Magazine August 26, 2010
- Being an ACA Member Pays: Check out Special Pricing from 150 Popular Retailers August 16, 2010
- Promoting SUCCESS Act Introduced in House August 2, 2010
ACA's 20/20 Blog
- Small thought for today June 23, 2010
- Learning June 10, 2010
- Camp in Real Life May 26, 2010
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