Youth Development and Programming

Experts from NASA will present a sample of STEM resources for formal and informal educators. They will cover a program specifically meant for camps, as well as materials on the themes of engineering, technology, and science (Earth and space). They will also provide URLs for additional materials in those themes.

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The Inclusive Camps Tool is designed to help you and your camp identify the work you already do to make your camp an inclusive space. It does this by supporting you in identifying where you are on a five-stage scale of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) advancement from “Not yet started” to “Launched” to “Leading.” From this scale, camps will have a good idea of what they can do to advance their DEI work. You will have the opportunity to examine how the stages of advancement look in what we have designated as four areas of influence. By the end, we hope that camps can identify potential for implementing DEI work at any level.

By utilizing the ACA’s “Creating Inclusive Camps” tool, individuals who participate in this webinar will be able to discuss building relationships with individuals and communities as a collective. By focusing on history, policy & practices, and systems thinking, the group will be able to discuss how our day-to-day actions create impact and the value of creating gradual change that will improve outcomes and develop strong relationships.

Join us for a presentation on the benefits of celebrating differences in the camp bubble. Within any group of campers and staff comes a great deal of diversity and difference. The great equalizer of these differences is the sharing and understanding of them within the camp community. During this interactive discussion, we will learn together:

• The benefits of understanding these differences in advance of camp
• Using staff training to create the culture
• Techniques to get campers talking about their differences
• The benefits of learning from each other’s differences

Learner outcomes

During this interactive discussion, we will learn together:

• The benefits of understanding these differences in advance of camp
• Using staff training to create the culture
• Techniques to get campers talking about their differences
• The benefits of learning from each other’s differences

 Presenter Bio

Our host, Jonah Berger, is a Camp Director, author, and motivational speaker with a physical disability who has used his challenges to help others to share their own. He has brought this culture to the camps he has directed for over 3 decades and seen the benefits of this culture in making all campers feel welcome and able to absorb the full experience. We plan to make this a group discussion using examples from the participants’ experience to teach this concept. Every camp can learn and grow by

creating a culture that celebrates difference. Come ready to be inspired and take that inspiration back to your programs this summer!

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Gen·er·a·tion Y (noun):

Generation Y; plural noun: Generation Ys; AKA: Millennials

1. the generation born in the 1980s and 1990s, comprising primarily the children of the baby boomers and typically perceived as increasingly familiar with digital and electronic technology.
2. the people largely comprising staff at camps across America, often (unfairly) called “entitled, whiners, or snowflakes” by older generations.

Gen-Y (also known as Millenials) are members of the workforce born in the mid-1980’s to about 2005. This age group is often saddled with a reputation of being hard to manage, emotionally fragile, and entitled. Camp executives around the country describe their young staff as having unrealistic expectations, insisting that every moment of their job at camp be fun, easy, and personalized — or else they’ll leave mid-session and go home.

Yet, Gen-Y brings so many positives to our camp programs. Energetic idealism, savvy communication, and adept teamwork skills come naturally to most members of Gen-Y. How can we learn to effectively manage, mentor, and maintain our young staff to receive these benefits camp-wide?

This webinar will look through a generational lens to better understand, manage, and increase resiliency in our Gen-Y staff. My goals are to first Divide our group into understanding the unique strengths and weaknesses that come with being raised in our personal generation's culture and norms. Next, we will Unite our group once more with the commonalities of goals and purpose that we share, no matter age or background. Finally, we will take a specific look at how to Manage Gen-Y’s needs, as we, the old, ancient folks in management, can more accurately design programs, meet needs, and motivate for employee retention and camper loyalty.

Presenter: Beth Jenson

CEC's: 1.0

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Add to your camp’s lineup of activities — or enhance existing strands — with science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) resources from NASA. Hear how one camp enhanced its summer program to include astronomy. Explore NASA’s new online catalog for resources that will have your campers making scientific instruments out of common materials, harnessing the energy of the Sun to roast s’mores, exploring nature, and more! Learn how to bring local expertise into your camp for stargazing. 

Presenters: Keliann LaConte, Lindsay Bartolone, Ryan Rosen, and Suzanne Gurton

CEC's: 1.5

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Some kids have behaviors that are difficult to manage, especially during group situations.  If you’re not careful, you’ll find yourself growing irritated, losing, patience, and getting resentful.  It’s important for all staff to agree on what is considered acceptable or inappropriate behavior and respond in a consistent, fair manner. 

Presenter: Susan Fee, M.Ed.

CEC's: 1.5

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Camp participants and staff experience a range of emotions throughout camp. Some emotional responses are the normal reaction to a new situation while others struggle from a diagnosed condition. Camps must identify strategies to address the mental, emotional, and social health of youth (including staff) during the program. Facility design, programmatic structure, and staff focus are a few ways that camps are beginning to address MESH-related concerns. This session addresses MESH concerns by sharing practical tools for working with individuals that experience MESH issues.

Presenters: Megan Owens, Alli Faricy, and Cori Miller

CEC's: 1.0

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Join us for a TED Talk style webinar highlighting the Belonging in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEIB). Together, we’ll spend time thinking about creating a sense of belonging for campers and staff sharing ways camp professionals can engage between now and the start of summer 23’. Learn from our expert, Dr. Anthony Kane who will share his own experiences at summer camp related to his personal journey of belonging. Together in this webinar our attendees will find the inspiration and motivation to cultivate a sense of belonging amongst campers this summer that will create a safe, and quality experience for all.

Presenter 
Dr. Anthony Kane Jr. is an experienced Student Affairs professional with critical expertise in belonging, social/emotional counseling, and student development. Currently, Anthony serves as Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Saint Vincent College.

Camping and leisure activities are important for all of us, including individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This webinar will begin to identify the benefits of having children with ASD and their peers in an inclusive camp setting. We will explore how a camper with ASD might think and introduce a practical peer program called “PAWSS” to support the social interactions at camp. Strengths and challenges of serving campers with ASD will be problem solved and myths will be discarded.

Learner Objectives:

1. Have an increased understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
2. Be introduced to the “PAWSS” Peer Program to support social interaction at camp.
3. Name three simple ways to support individuals with ASD at camp.
4. State two benefits that campers and staff will experience by including people with ASD into camp.

Presenter: Kathleen "Mo" Taylor

CEC's: 1.0

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The number one best-selling author in camp training has packed this session with terrific activities and training methods that are easy to use and can be plugged into your existing training right away. Save many hours of time by using these highly acclaimed, practical techniques. Increase staff attention, participation, and retention.

Presenter: Michael Brandwein

CEC's: 1.0

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Since the onset of COVID-19, researchers have expressed considerable concerns about the state of our individual and collective well-being. Studies suggest challenges across all generations. Given these trends facing the camp community, the Alliance for Camp Health surveyed camp health care providers and directors to provide clarity on next steps and discoveries to reshape our future. Presenters in this session will share preliminary findings from this survey and provide participants with evidence and stories of the MESH experiences of youth and staff in a national, representative sample of camps. We will discuss the importance of MESH and how to better prepare and navigate your camp through youth, staff, and parent scenarios this summer.

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