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 Maine, 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.