Read It To Believe It
Ever wonder about the impact a camp program really has on campers? This camper has many happy summer memories! Does it matter whether staff members have camp names, or whether the camp hosts skit nights, or offers creative craft projects?
Teeter-Totter Effect
Balance! That’s my word for the year, or maybe for the next decade. In other words, where is the balance between building character and risking harm; between overcoming
Creating A More Joyful Journey
As a passionate advocate for camp, I feel strongly that what sets our industry apart is the ability to share with one another our challenges, obstacles, solutions and best practices. We are a
Colleagues In Camping--Guest Editor’s Note
Photo: © Can Stock Photo Inc. / hwahl3Like you, I have a deep passion for camping and I find inspiration in hearing from members of the camp community on what works best, what could be improved, and
This-N-That
Word On The WebCampDoc.com@CampDoc“Are you going to eat that” Interesting article from @campbusiness ow.ly/l8vGf #eatinghabits #kids---------- --------- -----
The Difference Diversity Makes
Photo Courtesy Of Easter Seals Nova Scotia, Camp TidnishWhen I was nine years old, my mother accepted a summer job as a camp counselor. Since she would be working full-time, my sister and I were
The Warm-Up Before the Work-Out
The best reaction may be no reaction - at least immediately.Thinking on your feet is one of the hardest things you’ll do as a professional. In fact, what comes out of your mouth will either reinforce
Take It From The Top
Summer camp is an important part of IslandWood’s mission to provide exceptional learning experiences and to inspire lifelong environmental and community service.Like the residential school camping pro
End of Innocence
What's Wrong With This Picture? Absolutely nothing.Yeah - we were teenagers and most people that observed us do the crazy things we did always said that, “Well, they’re teenagers, what do you expect?
Water Color Wars
What do you get when you mix a relay game with water and add in a little bit of dye? A wild and fun activity that cools off campers and keeps them talking for days. Nothing beats the heat like a
A Conversation For The Ages
The Fourth of July is the federal holiday when we in the United States commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence (from the Kingdom of Great Britain) signed on July 4, 1776. © Can Sto
The Silent Majority
Earlier this month, a South Carolina high school valedictorian stepped up to the microphone to make his speech. He’d discussed his proposed remarks with school officials and they had approved what he
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
Founding Principles
When you drive out of the city of Cleveland and travel Interstate 71, Interstate 77 or even the Ohio Turnpike, the real beauty of Ohio lies before you. Miles and miles of rolling acres, quaint farm
Are You Gonna Eat That?
Said one way, the question, “Are you gonna eat that?” is an informal query among friends that is the chummy equivalent of “Can I finish that?” You might hear it at a diner among best friends. Although
Thank A Teacher
Three Lifetime Lessons From Unforgettable Elementary TeachersEach year in May, students celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week by honoring teachers with thoughtful cards and other tokens of
Staff Pointers
Camps are the most powerful counter-cultural mechanism there is for positive youth development. Founding directors wove military, Native American, pioneer, folk and religious traditions into a unique
Pondering The Big Questions
It was almost 4 o’clock on a summer afternoon in 1971. I was 11 years old and my buddies were over at my house playing kickball in the back yard. I heard the cranking noise that the window off the kit
Time Redesign
Attacking Five Common Enemies of EfficiencyPart 1 of this Week-Ender series (“The Science of Time Management”) drew the distinction between controllable and uncontrollable aspects of our existence. Re
Perfect Eggs
Visiting my relatives in California is always a pleasure. They’re a West Coast group and we’re Midwestern, so we can go decades without seeing each other. As we’ve aged, visits have been fewer and fa