80 Westview Street Lexington, MA 02421 (781) 541-6080 [email protected]

ACA New England Board Our Sponsors proudly join us in presenting of Directors Executive Committee th The 86 Annual ACA New England Conference Pam Cobb, President [email protected] THE best way to SHARE, EXPLORE, LEARN & CONNECT Eric Arnold, President Elect Rob Grabill, Vice President about Emily Parker, Vice President Nat Saltonstall, Vice President Danita Ballantyne, Treasurer ALL THINGS CAMP Marijean Legnard Parry, Secretary Designed with camp professionals in mind, Board Members this dynamic opportunity for Scott Brown Jennifer Cavazos Tricia Driscoll luminous learning Ellen Flight Nancy Frankel noteworthy networking Jeff Hacker Ron Hall Nancy Hartmann exceptional exhibits Keith Klein Sherry Mernick Gregg Pitman could revolutionize and re-energize Gus Planchet Ed Pletman what happens at your camp this coming summer! Jason Silberman Jody Skelton Steve Sudduth Posie Taylor

Inside: Letter from Pam Cobb...2 ACA Forms online...2 Conference News...3 ACA News...4, 11 State News...5 Member News...6 ECP @ the Conference...7 Camp-Related Media...7 Annual Fund Report...8 Job Listings...9 Trip Raffle...10 National Conference Recap...11

American Camp Association, New England

Greetings! I will continue to help ACA New England move forward on im- portant issues regarding safe camps and inspiring the public to We have a fantastic program and speakers understand the value of the camp experience. and exhibitors this year – thank you, con- ference committee and ACA New England I hope to see you at and around the conference, at the Friday staff, for all you do to make it happen! night gatherings, Saturday night annual meeting/banquet, and in between. Here’s a tip I use myself: keep yourself sane this confer- Pam Cobb, Over my presidency, I have learned so ence by setting a reasonable number of “take-aways” – things you President much from all of you. At this conference, I can actually use at camp, in your life, as a supervisor, director, or hope to continue to hear from you – please counselor. stop me and let’s talk about the issues. I am proud that Eric Ar- nold, someone I respect so much for his thoughtful, bright, and Have fun, meet people – after all, this is the camp professionals’ creative (and let’s not forget FUN) vision and leadership style, will “camp”. Warmly, be at the helm as our incoming president.

BECOME AN ACA STANDARDS VISITOR! NEW UPDATED TRAINING TIMES! Associate Visitor Training (AVT) NOW ONLY ONE NIGHT, $25.00 This experience will provide each Associate Visitor with an opportunity to grow professionally and contribute in a valu- able and meaningful way.

The ACA visitor is one of the most important elements of the accreditation process. Anyone is welcome to apply, but appli- cants must be members of ACA, and must have completed one standards course. Please contact Stephanie Baker at stephanie@acane- camps.org if you are interested in becoming a visitor or would like more information.

Registration Form (PDF)

Links to ACA’s Downloadable Forms

ACA members may download and print any of these individual forms free of charge

(100 count packages for order from the Bookstore)

New Health Form (Part 1: health history) https://www.acabookstore.org/pdf/9781585180820.pdf

New Health Form (Part 2: licensed medical professional portion) https://www.acabookstore.org/pdf/9781585180776.pdf

Accident/Incident Report Form https://www.acabookstore.org/pdf/1585189715.pdf

Camp Staff Application https://www.acabookstore.org/pdf/9781585180967.pdf

Voluntary Disclosure for Camp Staff https://www.acabookstore.org/pdf/9781585180950.pdf

March 2008 Communicate 2 American Camp Association, New England

• Discover more about violence in children’s play, appropriate and inappropriate camper sexual conversation and behavior, evening activity ideas, defusing emotional bombs, creating a high staff-retention rate, reducing bullying, service learning, 5 sure ways to get sued when working with children, facing the Facebook phe- nomenon, moving teen programs to the next level, youth at risk, greening your camp, teaching social skills and more. So much more! Explore conference offerings category by category:

http://www.acane-camps.org/conference/workshops_kids.php

http://www.acane-camps.org/conference/workshops_staff.php

http://www.acane-camps.org/conference/workshops_childhealth.php

http://www.acane-camps.org/conference/workshops_policy.php

http://www.acane-camps.org/conference/workshops_programming.php

http://www.acane-camps.org/conference/workshops_other.php

or by downloading our entire brochure: http://www.acane-camps.org/conference/ conference_brochure.pdf

• Listen to the keynote address, Whose Game Is It, Anyway?, by Dr. Richard Ginsberg, a clinical psychiatrist at MGH & Harvard Medical School, author, and motivational speaker who provides practical advice about cre- ating a positive sports environment in your program. http://www.acane-camps.org/conference/ conference_keynote.php

• Laugh along with Mindy Schneider, author and TV writer, whose hilarious New England camp memories will set the tone for Saturday’s banquet and annual meeting.

• Gear up for summer—literally—by shopping our expansive Camp EXPO 2008—an experiential, one-of-a- kind, one-stop-shopping opportunity you won’t want to miss. http://www.acane-camps.org/conference/ vendor/index.php

• Come for the entire conference or just for a day. Registration is easy: http://www.acane-camps.org/ conference/conference_registration.php

March 2008 Communicate 3 American Camp Association, New England

Who’s Who in the ACA News ACA New England Office ACA’s New Facebook Presence 781-541-6080 Spread the word about ACA through Facebook! You, your staff, and your campers can easily spread the message about the importance of the camp [email protected] experience by adding the Causes application to your account and searching for (and joining!) American Camp Association. (Or you could just go here:

Stephanie Baker, Ext. 16 apps.facebook.com/causes/view_cause/64256?recruiter_id=311625) Member Services Associate Through this application, you can invite more friends, who can, in turn, tell [email protected] their friends, about ACA and its important work. Facebook provides one more way to tell everyone you know that you believe that Camp Gives Kids a Bette Bussel, Ext.11 World of Good! Executive Director Educational Opportunities & Resources [email protected] • ACA Basic Camp Directors Course (BCDC)

Diane Chaisson, Ext.10 April 6, 2008 * JCYS Camp Henry Horner, Ingleside, IL Coordinator of Administrative Services Register online: www.acacamps.org/education/bcdc/ [email protected] bcdcmidstates.php

th Josh Fischel, Ext. 15 • Registration opens for the 8 International Camping Congress Public Information Associate October 4-7, 2008 * Quebec City Convention Centre [email protected] Early bird discount until April 15th Full information and registration online: Donna Johns-Thomas, Ext. 17 www.iccquebec2008.com/ Director of Member Services [email protected] • The web-based course Designing Quality Youth Programs will be available soon through ACA’s E-Institute. Other online course options will include ACA Camp Standards and Camp Is Lucy Norvell, Ext. 14 for the Camper. Director of Public Information [email protected] • Offer your camp staff the best trainers and consultants available with the special staff training edition of Camping Magazine, May/ June edition. Reserve copies now for staff orientation at a special low bulk rate: www.acacamps.org/campmag/mayjune.php To Camp Directors Out There With Visitors To Impress—It’s Easy To Do, Just Follow These Steps Online Parent Resources Your Camper Families Won’t Want to Miss 1. Access the Revised Interpretations and • Camp e-News, a timely and informative online newsletter, is designed Standards Update online. Two documents are specifically for families and packed with expert advice and articles. available: the inclusive 64 page list and the shorter Families can sign up for this great resource online: www.acane- list of revisions that became effective in January: camps.org or: www.campparents.org/newsletter http://www.acacamps.org/accreditation/hyes.php • Videos designed to answer parents’ critical questions about the camp 2. Read through the Accreditation Process experience are now available: www.acane-camps.org Guide, especially all of the applicability boxes and • www.campparents.org offers comprehensive, online camp information the interpretations, to verify which standards you and resources on many topics important to families as they prepare for will need to score. Call or email Stephanie Baker camp! with questions, [email protected] or (781) 541-6080. Staff Recruitment Options on the ACA Website • Check out www.acacamps.org/jobs to post summer job opportunities at 3. Enroll the staff person who will be involved your camp. with your camp’s preparation and on-site visit in a Standards Course. Courses will be held at the ACA • Add your posting to year-round jobs at camp, which will become part of New England Conference and afterward: http:// an email listing of camp opportunities that is distributed to job seekers www.acane-camps.org/training/standards.php twice a month: acacamps.org/jobs/search.php • Check out job fairs and international staffing options: acacamps.org/ 4. Organize and document. Organize and docu- jobfair ment. Organize and document.

5. Involve key staff members in preparation for If you send us a fax and don’t hear back from the on-site visit. Invite health, maintenance, kitchen, and program staff to assist with the prepa- us within a week, please contact ration. [email protected] to follow up. March 2008 Communicate 4 American Camp Association, New England

State of the States

Our state news this edition comes en- NEW FRONTIERS IN CAMP STAFFING: tirely from , thanks to the illustri- Be advised also that the issue of discrimi- ous Mary Ellen Deschenes. Helpfully, nation against transgender staff is in the both items could easily be applicable to news, as a recent hearing before the Maine the other five New England states as Human Rights Commission demonstrates. well. Read on, , Ver- mont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island: To see articles and author’s commentary about a challenge to Camp Kieve from a SNOW LOAD transgender staff member, visit Bob Strauss of Wigwam says he's "never www.mainelincolncountynews.com. Click seen anything like it.” The snow load on on ‘archive’ in the lower left corner of the camp buildings this year is tremendous, homepage. Use the keyword “transgender” and we've unfortunately heard of at to access the articles and commentary. least several camp building collapses.

The fallen snow has become a layered, icy, deep mess, and an asphalt shingled There are no legal precedents in Maine building that has not been shoveled recently now has a dan- camps on this issue. MYCA will follow it. gerous snow load on it, with more snow on the way before spring! We know that a majority of out-of-state directors have addressed this issue with their maintenance crews, but if not, please be advised, snow removal is critical this year.

Tecumseh (NH) Campers

Pompositticut Farm Day Camp (MA)

March 2008 Communicate 5 American Camp Association, New England

Member News

News about camps first, followed by news about individuals, because Baby news came flying at us like an army of storks. Connecticut aren’t we really all about putting the camps first? It’s also good to put State Association president Dana Sears informed us of Sue and Bruce the camp news first because it is, by and large, stellar. In Fall River, Kaufman’s new grandson, Jacob, born January 19 (Janis Joplin’s MA, for instance, the Diabetes Association, Inc. (DAI) recently received birthday!), and of Kate and Chris Tucci’s new son, Hyatt Rocko, born a $3,000 grant from the Bill Andrade-Brad Faxon Charities for Chil- January 23 (the 44th anniversary of the ratification of the 24th Amend- dren. The grant will support DAI’s Junior Counselor program at Camp ment). In Maine, Kamp Kohut Assistant Directors Steve and Jenny Kyle T. Woodruff for Children with Diabetes. Camp Kyle, ACA- Green welcomed William (above) on January 21, when he joined his accredited and a member of the the Diabetes Education and Camping big sister Eliza, all of whom will be at Kohut this summer. William Association (DECA), will run for four weeks in July at Camp Buxton, in shares his birthday with several people, including Placido Domingo, Rehoboth. Telly Savalas, Stonewall Jackson, and Christian Dior; fortunately, he’s adorable enough that those four will probably all happily share the Congratulations are also in order to the three ACA-accredited camps date with him. in New England that were selected to be among the sixty-six locations in thirty-six states to host Operation Purple for the 2008 season: Bear Hill 4-H Camp in Allenstown, NH; YMCA Abnaki in North Hero, VT; and 4-H Camp Marshall in Spencer, MA. Operation Purple, facilitated by the National Military Family Association, offers free, weeklong sum- mer camp opportunities to bring together youth from military families who are experiencing some stage of a deployment and the stress that goes along with it. Operation Purple camps give kids the coping skills and peer support networks to more ably handle life’s ups and downs. The Barton Center for Diabetes Education, which currently operates ACA-accredited Clara Barton Camp in North Oxford, MA, has signed on to manage ACA-accredited Camp Joslin, a camp for children with diabetes, in Charlton, MA. The transition should prove smooth: Jos- lin’s owners will remain in place, but the Barton Center will handle the day-to-day operation, “serving 350 boys with insulin-dependent diabe- tes each year,” according to the press release. The organizations have The Green Family, Kamp Kohut already worked together extensively in the past, given their close prox- imity (five miles apart) and their similar missions. In fact, Elliot Jos- lin, founder of the Joslin Diabetes Center, “helped found both camps There is, it seems, always some sad news to temper the good. We and served as medical director at both camps in the early days.” learned recently that Karen Stager, wife of Jay Stager and former co- director of Camp Med-O-Lark passed away on February 20 after a cou- Two more camps are also undergoing transitions. At Camp Wazi- rageous, 15-month battle with ovarian cancer. Karen devoted her life yatah, in Waterford, ME, Penny Kerns has completed a two-year-long to children, co-directing Med-O-Lark with Jay, practicing social work search for her replacement as director there. “With faith and excite- on behalf of at-risk youth, and directing an international adoption ment for both Wazi’s future and my own, I am happy to announce that agency. The sad fact of Karen’s death will hopefully be balanced by the this year, Gregg and Mitch Parker have become Wazi’s new owners,” incredible joy she brought and got from changing so many young lives. she wrote in a letter. “Their enthusiasm for the camp was evident from There will be a memorial service scheduled in Maine sometime in the our first meeting.” Penny will be in Maine this summer to help with spring. In the meantime, condolences may be sent to the family. Jay the transition. Such is the case as well for Camp Avoda, in Middleboro, and the children are making a booklet of memories, including letters MA, where Paul Davis, their long-time Director, has been promoted to and comments about Karen, and Jay welcomes any such remem- Executive Director. Ken Shifman, who spent eleven summers at Avoda brances and notes that the booklet project is “keeping us going during as a camper and counselor from 1980-1990, was just named Camp these empty and tearful days.” Correspondence may be sent here: Director. Jim Singer, President of the Camp Avoda Board of Directors said, “With Paul and Ken at the helm, I am very enthusiastic about the Jay Stager future of Avoda. Paul said, “I think Ken will be a tremendous asset to Hidden Lagoon B#5 Avoda, and I look forward to working closely with him.” Both Penny 1645 Pinellas Bayway South and Paul, it should be noted, have close ties to ACA New England: Tierra Verde, FL 33715 Penny, a former president of the board, plays a major role at our con- ference in coordinating volunteers. Paul serves on our Nominating Email: [email protected] Committee; his wife, Bobbie, also volunteers after spending 17 years on the ACA New England staff.

March 2008 Communicate 6 American Camp Association, New England

Emerging Camp Professional (ECP) Events at the ACA New England Conference:

Newcomers' Workshop Friday, March 28th 8-8:30am, Salon A: New to camping or to our annual conference? We want you to feel welcome right away. Come join us, meet at least 10 new people, and leave with a desire to make connections with even more! This session will set the tone of

the conference for newcomers, and encourages more interaction through a series of lively ice-breaker activities. Working With Young Staff Friday, March 28th 10:30-11:45, Hale Room: They're young, inexperienced, full of energy, and excited about seeing the other side of camp ... now how do you mold them into excellent counselors?

Camp Pemigewassett (NH) Younger staff can have a tough time making the transition to hard- working, caring counselors or understanding camp from “the other CAMP: The Word is Out! side.” Explore the generational differences that make these millenni- als unique and the distinct implications they create for camp. Learn ACA New England had been doing its best to get the word what makes younger staff tick ... what motivates them, what matters out about the benefits of camp through every media outlet we to them and how to get them to “buy in” to being the right kind of can think of. Here are a few highlights: role models. Create a community of support and a true understand- ing of younger staff so you can increase retention, improve training • Pam Cobb, our Board President, talked with a reporter and develop great counselors. from Maine Public Radio about the impact snow days in Join Us at Jillian's the state might have on summer camps there. Listen to the story here: http://www.mpbn.net/radio/ Friday March 28th , (exact time TBA—check your packet) The mainenews/080213snowdays.htm. ECP Committee might be best known for our unbeatable workshops, our winning smiles, or our irreverent approach to all things "camp;" • Bette Bussel’s advice was featured in the Seacoast Media but we sincerely hope that everyone recognizes our ability to Group’s Camp Guide. Their circulation spans Maine, "connect." Join us on Friday night at Jillian's in Manchester for Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Check it out here: some pool, socializing, and fun. Look for the balloons and Mardi http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section? Gras beads. category=CAMPGUIDE2008&nocache=1. Department Heads: The Trials and Tribulations of Middle Managers at Camp • Bette was also featured on WFXT, Boston’s Fox affiliate, Saturday, March 29th 9:15-10:45, Hale Room: Whether in January, talking about how to conduct a camp search. they’re recruited from outside of camp, or they've come up through the ranks, the staff members you choose to lead your departments By the way, if your camp is featured in a positive story by and programs at camp need to be knowledgeable, have great man- the local media, please let us know so that we can share your agement and organizational skills, and be able to think on their feet. great news with all of our members! A sense of humor, teaching and mentoring skills and patience doesn’t hurt, either! On a somewhat related note, ACA New England is leading the national charge to build a better Find-a-Camp tool. Our Come to this interactive session to learn how to identify the right current tool has served families for a few years, but given the staff for department head positions, help counselors make this chal- constant advance of technology, several regional and national lenging transition and train and support department heads so they staff members and volunteers have started to come together to can work effectively with peers, campers, fellow administrators and improve ACA’s ability to be a key resource for camp seekers parents. online. If you are interested in receiving ECP communications, please email us at [email protected]. Recently, Bette convened the group to discuss updating the tool. Participants included Jason Silberman and Nat Salton- stall from our board, members of the national ACA staff, and section staff from New England, New York, and SoCal. An Look in your conference bags internet search expert was an important guest. There’s a long way to go, and lots of conversations to be had before our new for a handout of ECP-recommended online camp search tool emerges, but ACA New England is sessions! proud to be participating so fully in the new tool’s develop- ment. We’ll keep you posted.

March 2008 Communicate 7 American Camp Association, New England

2008 Annual Fund Update from Rob Grabill, Development Chair

The ACA New England Development Committee would like to thank the following donors for their contributions to the 2008 Annual Fund. Their generosity has raised $12,600 so far – just over halfway towards meeting this year’s goal. The ACA New England Annual Fund supports the costs of programs provided for our members and keeps the office technology up-to-date. If you have not already donated, there is still ample time to do so, and your support would be greatly appreci- ated. We deeply value our donors and their myriad contributions of not only money, but time and energy as well. An- other way you can support the Fund is by participating in the annual raffle at our upcoming conference.

Susan B. Baird Pam Cobb, Camp Runoia Sherry Mernick Stephanie Baker Anna Crew Fred Miller, The Chatham Group Danita A. Ballantyne Darrow Wilderness Trip Camp Lucy Norvell Allen Beavers Paul G. Davis, Camp Avoda Robert W. Patterson, Jr. Putnam Blodgett Barbara Davis Gus Planchet Blue Hill Society for Aid to Children Mary Ellen Deschenes David A. Platt Bourdon's Institutional Sales Lisa Durrell Ed Pletman Scott Brown Jane Cooper Fall Laura B. Richards Richard C. & Donna L. Brown Fenn Summer Programs Will Rubenstein, Camp Wingate*Kirkland Brown Ledge Camp Josh Fischel Whit Ryan Nan E.B. Burns William B. Ford Sarah Seaward Bette Bussel Sara Foster Diane Smith Camp America Rob & Debra Grabill Barbara Steward Diane Haessler Carol Sudduth Camp Cedar Ron & Susan Hall Steve Sudduth Camp Kawanhee Nancy J. Hartmann Summer's Edge Day Camp Camp Matoaka Hidden Valley Camp Jim Talbot, Camp Tecumseh Camp Med-O-Lark Holiday Hill & High Meadow Posie Taylor Camp Moosilauke Vivianne Holmes, PhD Tripp Lake Camp Camp Nashoba North Dan & Marcy Isdaner, Davis & Louise Van Winkle Camp Sunshine Donna Johns-Thomas Jeanette Wiggin Camp Thoreau Michael & Lori Katz Liz Young Kingswood Camp YMCA Camp Belknap Camp Wa-Klo The Laurel Camps Camp Wawenock Marijean Legnard Perry Toni Carros & Diane Lasher Bill & Martha Lerman Center Church Camp Asto Wamah Pearl & Phil Lourie Diane Chaisson Molly Lourie Butter Richard Chamberlain & Associates Maine Camp Outfitters Ben Clements Meadowbrook Day Camp

Shop online through iGive.com, and ACA New England receives a donation! When you become a member at http://www.igive.com/ welcome/warmwelcome.cfm?c=39532, you can access the wares of over 600 brand name merchants (Adidas, Barnes & Noble, EMS, Gap, Kaplan, Lush, Radisson Hotels, Staples—even the Vermont Teddy Bear Company), and a portion comes back to us for free!

March 2008 Communicate 8 American Camp Association, New England

JOB POSTINGS

For job descriptions for these year-round and seasonal administrative positions, visit: http://www.acane-camps.org/jobs

YEAR-ROUND POSITIONS Program Manager/Camp Director, Pondicherry

Bridgton, ME Director, Camp Pemigewassett, Wentworth, NH Contact: [email protected] Contact: Anne G. Johnson www.camppemi.com (207) 772-1177 Education Assistant, Stonewall Farm, Keene, NH Email: [email protected] Contact: Marci Birkes, Education Director www.girlscoutsofmaine.org Program Director, Special Needs, MA (603) 357-7278 [email protected] Email: [email protected] www.stonewallfarm.org Resident Assistant Director, Hulbert Outdoor Center Director of Programs, Hale Reservation, Westwood, MA Contact: Andy Williams Contact: Eric Arnold, Executive Director Email: [email protected] (781) 326-1770 www.alohafoundation.org/Hulbert [email protected] Special Needs Program Director, Handi Kids, SEASONAL ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS Bridgewater, MA, Camp Avoda: Male Waterfront Director, Head Chef, Nurse Contact: Ginny Pitts, Executive Director www.campavoda.org www.handikids.com Camp Beech Cliff: Waterfront Director, CIT Director Educator/Administrator, Camp Beech Cliff, www.campbeechcliff.org Mt. Desert Island, ME Brantwood Camp: Boys’ Camp Director Contact: Debra Deal, Executive Director www.brantwood.org (207) 244-0365 Camp Candlewood: Resident Camp Co-Director, [email protected] Waterfront Director www.campbeechcliff.org www.gsofct.org Development Director, Agassiz Village, Lexington, MA Chewonki Foundation: Environmental Educator/Trip Leader

Contact Lisa. M. Gillis, Executive Director www.chewonki.org Email: [email protected] Emagination Computer Camps: Camp Director, Assistant www.agassizvillage.org Camp Director, Program Coordinator, Technology Counselor Camp Nurse, Sargent Center for Outdoor Education www.computercamps.org Hancock, NH Camp Favorite: Resident Camp Director Contact: Search Committee, 36 Sargent Center Rd, www.ptgirlscouts.org Hancock, NH 03449 Camp Murray: Day Camp Director

www.bu.edu/outdoor www.gsofct.org KidSummer Director, Cape Cod Museum Netop Summer Camp: Camp Nurse/Health Manager of Natural History, Brewster, MA www.netopsummercamp.com Contact: Robert F. Dwyer, Executive Director Camp Pattagensett: Day Camp Director (508) 896-3867 ext. 113 www.gsofct.org www. ccmnh.org Stonewall Farm: Head Counselor www.stonewallfarm.org

Camp West Woods: Upper Camp Coordinator/Assistant Director www.campwestwoods.com

March 2008 Communicate 9 American Camp Association, New England 5 for 4

Tripping for ACA

Thanks to Steve Fisch and Amerasport Perhaps you want to visit your cousin in California. Maybe you want to go skiing in the Rockies. You’ve always dreamed of taking a cruise. Or going to a resort. Or tak- ing the kids to Disney. Yes, that dream CAN come true…and it all it takes is $25. ACA New England is of- fering a once-in-a-lifetime chance for you to design the trip — or trips — of your dreams. You pick the time and the destination! This fantastic travel voucher, good for $1500, is yours. But, as they say, you’ve gotta be in it to win it! This is a lim- ited raffle of only 250 tickets, and all funds raised go directly to ACA New England’s Annual Fund. And, with this special offer, you can get an extra ticket free. That’s right: buy four tickets, get the fifth one FREE. All you have to do is send in your check for $100 and write “Amerasport” on the check, or call us today with your credit card num- ber and mention the word “Amerasport.” This offer is ONLY good until March 21….and if we run out of the limited number of tickets before that, you’ll be out of luck. Don’t wait until the conference…do it today!!! The winning ticket will be drawn on Saturday night, March 29th, but you do NOT need to be present to win. Thanks to Steve Fisch of Amerasport for his continued support!

Yes! I want 5 tickets for the price of 4!

AMERASPORT ANNUAL FUND RAFFLE—TRIP VOUCHER

1-4 tickets $25 each or 5 for $100 # of Tickets______Total: ______

Name:______Phone______Email______

Address:______City: ______State:______Zip:______

MC/VISA#______Exp. Date____/____ Security Code______

Billing name & address if different:______

March 2008 Communicate 10

Congratulations to New England Camp Professionals Honored at the National ACA Conference!

Special Recognition Award: Stephen G. Wallace, Cape Cod Sea Camp

Golden Quill Honorable Mention: Bob Ditter

Golden Lens Honorable Mention: Kate Fox, Chewonki

Eleanor Eells Award: American Sign Language Department at Windsor Mountain International Camp

Camp To Belong, Maine & Massachusetts

Casey Family Services, New England

sharing our passion for the outdoors

ACA National Conference Recap By Posie Taylor The 2008 ACA National Conference at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville was filled with wonderful speakers, great sessions, and much fun as well! Those of us from New England were particularly delighted when Sally Jewell, CEO of REI, gave her stirring keynote address.

Sally shared her own childhood camping experiences and her deep concerns that children today are growing up without the fundamental connections with nature that were so important to her. Through a series of wonderful slides and her own inspiring words, Sally called us to action, asking that we lead the reconnection effort. She knows just how well-suited camps are to making a difference, as we work to share the joys of being outdoors with kids. Who bet- ter to give them a chance to explore and play freely outdoors? Who better to share the wonder of a sunset or the fun of splashing in a puddle? Who better to teach the “Green Spoken Here” motto and to build life-long habits of con- necting daily with nature?

Certainly, we can count on REI to partner with us in these essential efforts. In her talk, Sally lauded the work of ACA New England in promoting the PEAK program, with REI’s assistance. We were bursting with pride at her words and re-committed ourselves to connecting children and nature in our camps, and in our communities around New England!

March 2008 Communicate 11 CALENDAR OF EVENTS March 27: ACA New England Pre-Conference Sessions — Manchester, NH 27: ACA New England Board of Directors Meeting & Board Committee Meetings — Manchester, NH 28: ECP (Emerging Camp Professionals) Event at Jillian’s — Manchester, NH 28-29: ACA New England Conference & CampEXPO2008 — Manchester, NH April 4-5: Associate Visitor Training — Becket, MA 14: Standards Course — So. Portland, ME—10 a.m.-3p.m. May 3: Standards Course — Lexington, MA—10 a.m.-3 p.m. 16: Standards Update Course — So. Portland, ME--10 a.m.-1– p.m.

Standards and Standards Update Courses posted at: www.acane-camps.org/training/standards.php

[email protected] [email protected]

(781)541-6080 (781)541-6080

Lexington, MA 02421 02421 MA Lexington, 80 Westview Street Street Westview 80