Warm Welcome
On a hot August afternoon, I stepped into the room where I would sleep for the next three nights. It was stuffy and felt at least 90 degrees. A couple of sheets and a postage stamp-sized
A Royal Treat
It is a typical camp setting. Lake Whatcom sparkles in the background; tall fir trees drop pine cones on cabin roofs while happy campers swim, tie-dye T-shirts, and shop in the camp store.
And The Award Goes To …
For a camper, it isn’t the amount of money or the size of the award, but the reason behind it. As a camp coordinator, it’s important to understand the distinction.
Designing A Camp Program
This past summer I sent out a new curriculum for camps to consider. It included activities for counselors to help campers learn and practice the skills required to make friends. The concepts
Have A Camper Family Feud
Shortly before I left for Beijing to work the Summer Olympic Games, I was asked by Camp Med, a licensed day care program and summer camp sponsored by the city of South Pasadena,
Inter-Camp Activities
Inter-camp activities involve merging children from two separate camps, and having them compete in sports and other recreational activities. Inter-camps typically include team sports, such as soccer,
Making A Memory
The summer of 2017 was my 25th summer involved in summer day camp. I have worked as a counselor, arts and crafts specialist, nature specialist, unit leader, archery specialist, program
Life-Skills Training
This space is often filled with articles about the ways that camps add value to children’s lives, such as providing and identifying skills that stimulate leadership, independence,
Elevate Your Game
Are you just getting a new basketball camp off the ground? Or are you a veteran camp director who is looking for a new approach to boost the motivation of staff members and
The Timber Rattler Run
Back in the 1980s during my college summers, I buried myself in camp culture and soaked up all the nuances it offered. Consistent themes of accepting campers as they came, warding off
Water-Supply Challenge
We all learned in school that two-thirds of the Earth’s surface is covered in water, but only 3 percent of that is fresh water. And of that, only a fraction is available for human use; that is
Top Programming Ideas
The possibilities are endless—but what makes your campers shout for more or ask to play “that game” one more time? We surveyed our readers and here’s what they told us makes their
You Can Do It
A great indicator of a successful camp experience is hearing former campers attribute much of the success in their adult lives to their early years at camp. I never tire of hearing, “I think that
Get Up And Get Moving
Whether it’s a relay race, a skit, or a game, nothing gets the blood pumping like good, old-fashioned play. Here are some ideas to get your campers moving (and playing) together:
Ready, Set, Action!
My husband, a TV and film producer, often compares my summer camp life to a film shoot—a 24/7 job filled with trouble-shooting and dealing with a wide range of personalities.
A Spiritual Approach
The true goal of any church-based recreation program is to retain participants and attract prospective members. However, there’s another crucial element in delivering a successful
Regrouping For Youth
Just because summer is over doesn’t mean the fun has to end. Freshen up your day camp or after-school program with these new ideas:
Retreat For One
Living in overdrive and well on the road to burnout 20 years ago, I bumped into the idea of personal retreat. This revelation coincided with an unspoken longing. Is this it?
Staffing Your Camp The Easy Way (Kind Of)
“Employees are a company's greatest asset - they're your competitive advantage. You want to attract and retain the best; provide them with encouragement, stimulus, and make them feel that they are an
Spinning Yarns
After several decades of resting in the corner of my living room--and basically serving as a decoration--my spinning wheel is back in use.