https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn Please share questions and resources related to summer camps. Please 'like' a resource if you found it helpful. en-us 2023-02-14 20:09:17 UTC 2025-11-06 20:04:15 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-uploads.storage.googleapis.com/1504234218/cc8bfd9e0051adec1b86a077fd107806/ANCA_leaf_circle_social_dark_green_trans.png ANCAmembership https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2482546412 2023-02-14 20:09:17 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2482546412 ANCAmembership https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2482546413 2023-02-14 20:09:17 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2482546413 ANCAmembership https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2482546430

The Youth Mental Health First Aid Course is designed to teach individuals how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders. The scenarios used throughout the course are camp based.

]]> 2023-02-14 20:09:17 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2482546430 ANCAmembership https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2482546432 Hi all, in the Camper Emotional Needs group I shared some successes we had at Tremont with moving to a responsive management system. Here are the slides from our training session. We also spent a lot of time in training on clear, concise directions, which we few as the first line of camper management that can prevent issues before they arise. Let me know if you have any questions- logan@gsmit.org ]]> 2023-02-14 20:09:17 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2482546432 ANCAmembership https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2482546433 2023-02-14 20:09:17 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2482546433 ANCAmembership https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2482546434 2023-02-14 20:09:17 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2482546434 pcoulling https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2528980309 The Alliance for Camp Health (formerly the Association of Camp Nursing) just came out with a revised MESH+ (Mental, Emotional, Social Health) resource guide ($50 for non-members, $25 for members). There is also a handy pocket guide for summer staff ($5).

https://allianceforcamphealth.org/product/mesh-document/]]> 2023-03-23 14:45:10 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2528980309 pcoulling https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2528985199 I am heading into my 20th (gulp!) summer as camp director with the least experienced staff I have ever had. We have some solid folks returning, but there is only one counselor left from 2020 and only three from 2021. It will be a daunting task to try to get all the new folks up to speed.]]> 2023-03-23 14:47:34 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2528985199 pcoulling https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2528989051 I'm just curious what everyone's thoughts and plans are for this third (or maybe fourth for some of you) summer operating in the pandemic, particularly with the imminent end of the emergency declaration. Specifically, what if any requirements are camps planning to implement regarding vaccination or testing?]]> 2023-03-23 14:50:00 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2528989051 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529007246 Difficulty getting counselors for full summer commitment. Many requesting multiple weeks off and struggling to find fill-ins that are also available for training week. What are others doing? Do you offer competitive pay, or weeks off, or other creative perks for your staff? ]]> 2023-03-23 15:00:43 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529007246 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529017199 Creating an engaging and valuable camp training week that covers conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion, safety, and team building!]]> 2023-03-23 15:06:50 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529017199 lviator https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529018965 For staff recruitment: we have raised our pay rates, offered hiring bonuses, and let them pick and choose the weeks they work. It might bite us in the but in the end, having to try and fill in empty spots. But, we have hired people that normally would not have applied because of their availability. We have struggled for so long with staffing that we are taking what we can get. 
For turnover: we are going to have an incredibly green staff this year as well. Only a few counselors from the pre-pandemic days. It is daunting thinking about getting them ready. We have upped our training, and are putting more work into it than ever before. ]]> 2023-03-23 15:07:49 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529018965 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529036368 Child Behavior Training with new staff, does anyone bring in a paraprofessional or do you lead your own instruction? We are looking for a deeper training for our staff.

How do you communicate important information with parents best during camp - email? text? 

For registration- do you have specific age parameters and birth dates for grade groups? More and more we have students falling outside of our age parameters and getting bumped out of their group which we need to manually override in our system (our camp sells out in minutes). 

Mentoring CITs (counselors in training) during camp day, do you have a dedicated staff member for that or is it a shared role?]]> 2023-03-23 15:19:09 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529036368 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529101191 How do other camps deal with time off for lunch breaks? I need staff to still supervise campers during lunch. In the past, I have had staff sit with campers through lunch and then allowed them to leave 30 minutes early but have recently gotten push back from staff on this. ]]> 2023-03-23 15:59:22 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529101191 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529110627 We've always done our own staff training for the past 20 years with staff that have moved up within our ranks (campers to CIT's to staff), but that doesn't always happen the last few years and with more inexperienced staff lately, we are looking for ways to supplement our staff training. Does anyone know of good resources out there on staff training?]]> 2023-03-23 16:05:46 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529110627 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529259407 2023-03-23 17:48:36 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529259407 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529262999 2023-03-23 17:51:22 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529262999 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529280135 2023-03-23 18:04:18 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529280135 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529284582 We only have a one day orientation for all of our Seasonal Staff and it is difficult to get the training
 we need in only one day.]]> 2023-03-23 18:07:26 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529284582 ANCAmembership https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529296527 2023-03-23 18:15:35 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529296527 ANCAmembership https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529296693 2023-03-23 18:15:44 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529296693 ANCAmembership https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529298615 2023-03-23 18:17:03 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529298615 ANCAmembership https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529311913 2023-03-23 18:27:06 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529311913 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529316669 -Add section to registration "how can we help your child have a good time" so that parents can offer proactive solutions

-Train staff in mindfulness (drop the emotional rope)

-Yoga (ABC's of yoga for kids)]]> 2023-03-23 18:30:51 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529316669 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529317927 Using online trainings (such as expert online training) to better train staff before the staff training formally starts. 

]]> 2023-03-23 18:31:53 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529317927 ANCAmembership https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529322815 Staff limits, capacity for whole family to attend same camp, 1/2 vs full day, be at the same week as campers friends. ]]> 2023-03-23 18:35:49 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529322815 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529324380 Irvine - Marketing person heavily uses social media and local ads
Chatahoochee - That plus Job Fairs, posters around nature center
Hawaii - HR unit has a "real jobs" local hiring platform, also Indeed, big problem is people wanting to come from mainland - want people from HI preferably. 
Scuylkill - Outdoor Ed FB groups, direct college connections and job fairs, Handshake
Bluff Lake - Facebook Ads, but not known if effective
Darien Nature Center - FB Moms groups

Handshake is hit or miss - Maybe good for virtual job fairs

]]> 2023-03-23 18:36:56 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529324380 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529328060 Having a support system for staff, which is well defined, can be great for helping staff know who to talk to and how to handle more situations. ]]> 2023-03-23 18:39:51 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529328060 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529329297 A mental health training for staff can help them handle the higher social emotional needs of todays campers. ]]> 2023-03-23 18:40:56 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529329297 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529330379 I enjoyed being taught to "drop the emotional rope" when working with kids as a counselor to redirect the behavior without engaging in it too deeply or becoming dysregulated

]]> 2023-03-23 18:41:57 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529330379 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529332977 https://www.kickinitwithki.com/services

]]> 2023-03-23 18:44:10 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529332977 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529333454 We do plant & animal poses from the ABCs of yoga for kiddos book!

]]> 2023-03-23 18:44:30 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529333454 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529333870 Mindfulness Educator: https://www.kickinitwithki.com/services

]]> 2023-03-23 18:44:51 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529333870 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529334318 I took a training focusing on "restorative" consequences, and how we can return the child to the class and to their peers. We try to talk about differences between us and our emotions on day one, using social stories and other books on feelings for little ones.

]]> 2023-03-23 18:45:07 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529334318 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529334645 ACA Incident Report Form: https://www.acacamps.org/sites/default/files/resource_library/03-HW-Accident-Incident-Report-Form.doc

]]> 2023-03-23 18:45:24 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529334645 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529335177 There are costs associated with these trainings: https://www.acacamps.org/events-education/online-learning/courses-webinars

]]> 2023-03-23 18:45:51 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529335177 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529335598 Do it on a timescale - higher for earlier hiring, paid at end of minimum time

Call it a "completion bonus" instead

]]> 2023-03-23 18:46:14 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529335598 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529335697 PBIS model training is helpful, though a bit more focused on long-term classroom management. Trainings were all online!

]]> 2023-03-23 18:46:18 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529335697 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529336097 Check Out CampDoc's webcasts-- The CheckUp: https://vimeo.com/docnetwork

]]> 2023-03-23 18:46:34 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529336097 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529336855 https://naaee.org offers lots of training & a database of jobs and conferences, super helpful!

]]> 2023-03-23 18:47:15 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529336855 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529339008 https://challengingbehavior.org/docs/SocialEmotionalSkills_solution-kit_cue-cards.pdf here's one that's good! you can also add ones that fit best for your classroom

]]> 2023-03-23 18:49:04 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529339008 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529339844 here is a similar one: https://vkrp.virginia.edu/content/pdfs/40.%20Solutions%20kit%20cards%20II.pdf

]]> 2023-03-23 18:49:45 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529339844 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529340254 Include on camp forms "How can we help your camper have the best experience?
Then meet with parents/guardians before camp to discuss needs and strategies 

Have a daily schedule posted with words and pictures. Laminated schedule for the individual children who need it. Potentially share a loose schedule with parents/guardians prior to camp.

Train staff in mindfulness, lots of mindfulness resources and consultants out there. Consider yoga.

Drop the Emotional Rope- don't get pulled into emotionally charged conversations, take a break to breathe and calm yourself if needed

Talk through scenarios

How do we help other campers deal with one of their friends having an emotional outburst? 

Make sure you document instances and connect with supervisor and parents/guardians

Restorative Consequences 

Try to connect with an expert in child behavior to train you or staff or just ask questions 

ACA (American Camp Association) has lots of resources

PBIS trainings (Positive behavioral intervention)

PAX training

Letting children know that you're so glad to see them, particularly after a bad day. Glad that they're back, you're here to support them.

Conflict Resolution Training

Resolution Station - Kids in conflict go and select something to do to resolve their conflict (draw a picture for each other, for example)



]]> 2023-03-23 18:50:06 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529340254 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529340613 Counselors - Paid at normal rate
CITs - Expense of First Aid/CPR paid

July 3 in-service training day

3-days of training is not a lot, especially when staff need to also plan activities.  


]]> 2023-03-23 18:50:27 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529340613 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529341049 Find local orgs that work with kids to be a pipeline

Set up in blocks of time (two weeks, four weeks, etc)

Training separate from staff as a one-day event

Use as a pipeline for new staff]]> 2023-03-23 18:50:49 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529341049 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529343744
1-week break scheduled in advance

Blocks of time offered (4-week or 5-week options)

Offer PTO-  1 hr/wk?  




]]> 2023-03-23 18:52:42 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529343744 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529345987 Related to what was mentioned earlier about preteens and teens being destructive of property- doesn't always help, but I try to make a "Yes" space- AKA something they can destroy, providing an outlet for their anger, frustration, etc.

]]> 2023-03-23 18:54:40 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529345987 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529349166 We've done something similar by having cardboard boxes and things we were going to throw out anyways so they can take their frustrations out

]]> 2023-03-23 18:57:24 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529349166 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529350860 Having LGBTQ+ training done to help educate staff. (the childrens' book "Neither" can also be helpful)

Also having training done for staff on ADD/ADHD/ASD/etc. to better help them and set the campers and staff up for success. ]]> 2023-03-23 18:58:57 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529350860 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529355798 Curriculum and prep taken care of in advance, included in training]]> 2023-03-23 19:03:42 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529355798 ANCAmembership https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529408196 2023-03-23 19:53:52 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/ic5lwo7gwlg5dydn/wish/2529408196