Camping Magazine articles from May 1998

Camping Magazine archives from May 1998

From the consulting editor. (personal narrative as camp counselor)(Column)
May 1, 1998... During the summer of 1966, a month shy of my sixteenth birthday, I started my first gig as a junior counselor. An hour before camp opened the director sought me out with bad news. My senior counselor's father was in the hospital. The counselor...

A view from the woods. (traits of an effective leader)(Column)
May 1, 1998... During my third week of work at ACA, my youngest son, Dayton, came to spend a few hours with me at the office. As an active seven year old who loves the outdoors. he was naturally impressed with ACA's office in Bradford Woods. That evening at...

Crisis management in action. (camp administration)
May 1, 1998... What would you do if your dining hall was destroyed by fire two days before campers were scheduled to arrive? If you've given some thought to crisis management as part of your risk management planning, you may have a quick answer. If you haven't...

Sound ideas. (marketing of summer camps)(includes related article on case studies of summer camp promotions)
May 1, 1998... A consistent challenge in marketing summer camps is finding new and exciting ways to attract significant attention to your camp's message. Camp marketing packages almost always involve two primary tools, the brochure and the video. Over the past...

Staff loneliness and communication issues.
May 1, 1998... This edition of "Research Notes" focuses on loneliness, with implications for international camp staff, and communication methods. Social Networks Minimize Loneliness In a study of college students studying overseas for one year,...

Drama can be full of surprises. (presentation of surprise plays during camping)
May 1, 1998... Surprise dramas are aptly named because the narrator calls unknowing campers to the stage to be actors. Camp is the ideal place for trying new things, whether sports, arts, or drama. Yes, drama. Surprise dramas are a great addition to any...

A counselor's tool kit for campers.
May 1, 1998... Each summer millions of campers come to camp, bringing with them the tasks of growing up they happen to be working on at the time. Counselors who are not equipped with tools for coping with the challenges of working with these campers can become...

Getting to know you: activities for learning names. (summer camps)(includes team-building exercises)
May 1, 1998... The start of the camp season is filled with constant activity. Counselors are trained, campers arrive, and rules are stated. There is hardly time to eat, let alone learn the names of dozens of new co-workers and campers. Learning names is vital...

Turning scowls to smiles: helping campers make friends.
May 1, 1998... Every counselor encounters campers who have trouble making friends. At my camp, his name was Allan and he was eleven years old. He had no friends - not in the cabin, not in his activity periods, and if I had to guess, probably not at school or...

Special days to remember: sports and arts events. (summer camps)
May 1, 1998... Campers love horseback riding, waterskiing, sailing, and archery. But after several days, they can become bored with even those activities. To help break up your regular program, schedule some special days or afternoons. Special events don't...

Gorp, again? Alternate camp trail meals.
May 1, 1998... You can cook an entire Thanksgiving meal during a campout?" I questioned the boastful Scoutmaster. He guaranteed me that he wasn't joking - he wasn't sending me to find that proverbial left-handed smoke sifter. His detailed plan was so...

Sun-smart safety tips: avoiding the burn. (includes related articles on ultraviolet index and measurement of effectiveness of ultraviolet risk reduction program)
May 1, 1998... Skin cancer is increasing faster than any other form of cancer. More than one million cases will occur in the United States this year. However, sunburns and skin cancer can be prevented. By using sunscreen and avoiding exposure to the sun during...

Inspiration from nature: creative outdoor writing activities. (summer camps)
May 1, 1998... Oscar Wilde once said, "Nature is a foolish place to look for inspiration in, but a charming one in which to forget one ever had any." Despite this lazy view of the outdoors, many summer camps continue to offer creative writing programs. In fact,...

Behavior management: parenting skills for counselors. (summer camps)(includes related article on time out program for campers' behavior problems)
May 1, 1998... While at camp, counselors often become campers' surrogate parents. You monitor their diets, bedtimes, and whether they brush their teeth. You cheer for them when they master a new skill and discipline them when they break a rule. Classes exist to...

Emergency 911 - putting ACA standards into practice. (American Camping Association)
May 1, 1998... July 23, 1997, began as a typical day. Camp was alive with the sounds of cookouts and swimming games. It was hot, but the early evening winds of the Catskills evaporated the stickiness of the day. Staff members and campers with varied abilities...