The 86th ACA New England Conference Recap

April 2008
80 Westview Street
The 86th ACA New England Conference Recap
Lexington, MA 02421
(781) 541-6080
camp@acane-camps.org
ACA New England Board
of Directors
Executive Committee
Eric Arnold, President
president@acane-camps.org
Pam Cobb, Past President
Rob Grabill, Vice President
Emily Parker, Vice President
Sarah Seaward, Vice President
Danita Ballantyne, Treasurer
Marijean Legnard Parry,
Secretary
Board Members
Scott Brown
Jennifer Cavazos
Ellen Flight
Ron Hall
Sherry Mernick
Gregg Pitman
Gus Planchet
Nat Saltonstall
Jason Silberman
Steve Sudduth
Posie Taylor
Lani Toscano
Craig Whiting
Amanda Zoellner
Inside:
Board President’s Letter—3
Awards—4
State News—5
Member News—6
Conference Perspectives—7
National News—8
Annual Fund Update—8
Accreditation—9
Raffle Winners—10
Our annual conference, in its fifth consecutive year back at the Center of New Hampshire
Radisson in Manchester, was a huge success by pretty much every possible measure. Inside
these pages, you’ll find more specific coverage of the event – articles and pictures – but here,
on the front page, it seemed worthwhile to provide a brief overview.
For a quarter of conference-goers, the weekend began in earnest on Thursday. Ninety
showed up for a standards course, thirty for the standards update, and another thirty for extended workshops with “the Bobs” (Ditter and Selverstone). Thirty-six new camp directors
opted to take our aptly-named New Camp Directors’ workshop, and forty-five board and committee members attended meetings in the late afternoon.
Friday greeted the conference with
snow. Dozens of area schools were
closed or enjoyed delayed openings, but
our conference attendees are a vigorous
lot: out of the more than eight hundred
people who registered, just thirty folks
couldn’t make it. Those who showed up
were treated to the usual wide variety of
workshops and seminars. The keynote
speaker, Dr. Richard Ginsburg, addressed a packed ballroom, and other
sessions were similarly full. Bob Ditter
filled every seat for his talks on effectively teaching boys and girls; a dozen
people sat on the floor in order to attend
the ECP-led session on working with
Amelia Adams and Connor Timmons, both of Nayoung staff. CampEXPO 2008 also
shoba
North, flank Lauren Abrami of Merrowvista,
opened on Friday, where over eighty
whom they met at the conference.
vendors made their services and wares
available. They must have enjoyed the
experience – nearly half have already signed up again for next year’s conference.
Forget about sleeping in on Saturday (we don’t do it at camp, so why would we do it at the
conference?). Attendees rose for state meetings at 7:45 am, which were followed by another
broad slate of workshops and seminars. The annual raffle entered its second day, dexterously
run by volunteer Michael Drumm, with prizes largely donated either by our vendors or our
members. Everyone seemed to drool over the gigantic commercial grill, though only Paul
Davis ended up winning it. Evening brought the annual banquet, where awards were presented, dinner was consumed, and Mindy Schneider, our guest speaker, ably competed with
music blaring from the military ball in the adjacent salon.
So, what did people like the most about their 2008 conference experience? “The speakers
were excellent,” wrote one. “Most of them were good to great,” said another. A third attendee
wrote, “I found everything I was looking for in the expo hall.” Many others spoke of the opportunity to connect with friends in the camp community, sharing ideas and stories with them.
One person said it was a great chance to stretch yourself, “just like we ask of the campers and
staff!”
American Camp Association, New England
•
32% report the same enrollment rate as last year
•
25% are experiencing lower enrollment
53% are experiencing lower enrollments in the 9 and under age group
STAFFING
•
•
21% of camps are behind last year’s staffing
43% are at the same staffing level at this time of spring
•
•
34% are ahead of last year
Numbers are holding at the same levels as last year for:
Specialized Staff
International Staff
Returning Staff
Please send in your survey responses if you have not already!
For more enrollment information, follow this link: www.acacamps.org/
research/improve/enrollment__recruitment_survey.php
Are you sad because you lost your black, spiral-bound, 2008 calendar at the ACA New England Conference?
BE SAD NO LONGER, because we have it here at our office. Someone found it after a session and turned it in— if
it’s yours, claim it by calling (781-541-6080) or emailing (camp@acane-camps.org) and letting us know.
April 2008 Communicate
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Links to ACA’s Downloadable Forms
•
Spring is here, which means summer is soon, which means you’ll be needing these forms ASAP.
42% of responding camp professionals have higher enrollment than last year
ACA members may download and print any of these individual forms free of charge
•
Accident/Incident Report Form https://www.acabookstore.org/pdf/1585189715.pdf
ENROLLMENT
Camp Staff Application https://www.acabookstore.org/pdf/9781585180967.pdf
Are these trends true for your camp? Survey responses so far indicate:
New Health Form (Part 1: health history) https://www.acabookstore.org/pdf/9781585180820.pdf
If not, your responses will be welcomed until May 9th.
www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=r_2bWYrq2qMJUpS8dKzU2f0Q_3d_3d
New Health Form (Part 2: licensed medical professional portion) https://www.acabookstore.org/pdf/9781585180776.pdf
Have you had time to complete the ACA Spring Enrollment Survey?
Voluntary Disclosure for Camp Staff https://www.acabookstore.org/pdf/9781585180950.pdf
Enrollment Trend Information is ESSENTIAL!
American Camp Association, New England
Who’s Who in the
ACA New England Office
781-541-6080
camp@acane-camps.org
Stephanie Baker, Ext. 16
Member Services Associate
stephanie@acane-camps.org
Bette Bussel, Ext.11
Executive Director
bette@acane-camps.org
Diane Chaisson, Ext.10
Coordinator of Administrative Services
diane@acane-camps.org
Josh Fischel, Ext. 15
Public Information Associate
josh@acane-camps.org
Donna Johns-Thomas, Ext. 17
Director of Member Services
donna@acane-camps.org
Lucy Norvell, Ext. 14
Director of Public Information
lucy@acane-camps.org
HUZZAH!
A Message from Our New Board President
Greetings!
Over 800 people at our conference – what a great
weekend. As I roamed the halls and enjoyed great
educational sessions, I was frequently awestruck by
the amazing community of camp professionals that
gathers every spring for the ACA New England Conference. There are those who have been a part of
camp for 50+ years and those who are enjoying
their first summer working at camp, those who have
been campers all their lives and are now becoming
staff and those who are returning to camp after a
life in the “corporate world”. Regardless of how
everyone comes to camp and the conference, it is
Eric Arnold, President
wonderful to see so many people energized about
“enriching lives, building tomorrows”.
I am honored to step into the role of President for ACA New England and very
excited about furthering our current efforts. Outgoing President Pam Cobb has
been an extraordinary leader and the work of our section has been exceptional
during her term. We can’t thank her enough for all her hard work. ACA, of
course, is not just about the President – it is about the staff (who do such an
amazing job), the volunteers, the Board of Directors, the vendors, and the thousands of children whose lives are improved thanks to the thoughtful work of ACA
members.
At our facility, Hale Reservation, we are in the mode of preparing for school
group arrivals and getting ready for camp. There is that sense of excitement as
spring weather slowly (very slowly, this year) takes hold and we begin to complete more outdoor projects. I know that hundreds of other New England facilities and staff are doing the same thing. Our conference can mark an arrival of
spring as it provides some of the energy, education, and motivation needed to
crank up the camp season again – but it also reminds us that our work is not
being done in isolation. We are in a camp community, and ACA serves as our
hub.
Thanks to those who attended our conference – including our vendors – and
good luck with the early spring preparations for another season of camp in New
England.
Warmly,
We’d like to toast all the hard-working volunteers
who made this year’s conference a success— your
participation and selfless involvement is crucial to
the event, from its planning to its execution.
WERE YOU AWARE???
You know that Eric is our new board president, but you may not know that there
have been other changes at the ACA New England Board Headquarters— the kind
The Steering Committee— Amanda Choiniere, Gus of change that’s due to the steady and expected turnover of elections and the expiPlanchet, Doug Sutherland, Ian Moorhouse, Jane ration of terms. Specifically, please note the following: Nancy Frankel, Tricia
Bielefield, Kate Seeger, Marcy Kornreich, Michael Driscoll, Nancy Hartmann, Jeff Hacker, Ed Pletman, and Jody Skelton have all
completed their terms on the Board. Nat Saltonstall has stepped down as ViceDrumm, Neil Callaghan, Penny Kerns, Peter
President, but remains on the Board. Joining him are Lani Toscano, Craig WhitChristnacht, Steve Lockney, and Sue Hurn
ing, and Amanda Zoellner, all newly selected. The following ladies and gentlemen
The Program Committee— Becky Gilles, Bronwyn
remain on the Board, beating on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly
Crocker, Chris Burke, Dana Sears, David Platt,
into their elected places: Scott Brown, Jen Cavazos, Ellen Flight, Ron Hall, Sherry
Emily Golinsky, Ian Moorhouse, Lani Toscano,
Mernick, Gregg Pitman, Gus Planchet, Jason Silberman, Steve Sudduth, and PoMary Atwell, Mary Strom, and Susan Kaufman
sie Taylor.
In particular, we’d like to acknowledge:
April 2008 Communicate
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American Camp Association, New England
Some might say that awards and official recognition have become cliché or gauche, but the acknowledgment of meritorious service
and good deeds, especially before a room full of like-minded volunteers, can still inspire. During the banquet, on the final evening of
the conference, ACA New England had the pleasure of presenting several well-deserved awards to people who have meant plenty to
the growth and continued strength of our organization, of their own camp communities, and of the message that “camp gives kids a
world of good.”
Our outgoing president, Pam Cobb Heuberger, was recognized with the Distinguished Service Award, the
highest honor given by ACA New England, for her outstanding leadership and service to the organization. In
acknowledging Pam’s achievements, Sherry Mernick said, “Pam voices vibrantly, tirelessly, and frequently on
her rewarding experiences with MYCA, ACA New England, and
ACA National, savoring her many connections with camp folk,
bright thinkers, and visionary role models.”
Nat Saltonstall and Sherry Mernick were honored by sharing
the Meritorious Service Award, for each making outstanding contributions to ACA New England in a multitude of ways. After
listing Nat’s many volunteer efforts on our behalf—Chair of the
Day Camp Committee, Vice-President of the Board of Directors,
Standards Visitor, a member of the Board of Mass Camping, etc—
Liz Young said, “Nat has devoted himself to the fields of youth
development and the education of all involved.” Sherry has her own long record of volunteerism, as a member of the Conference Steering Committee back in 1990, as Chair of
both the Membership and Board Stewardship Committees, as well as service on various
committees, task forces, and the Board of Directors. “In New England,” Liz said, “we are very fortunate with the number of people
who give of themselves untiringly to ACA New England. Sherry Mernick is one who has
done so for many years, giving generously of her time, knowledge, and friendship.”
Rob Grabill received the Peter Kerns Award for the Advancement of Professional Development, the title of which pretty much explains the gist of the prize. Alex Thomas presented the award. According to Bette Bussel, Rob was recognized in part for helping to
take the New Camp Directors’ Workshop to a new level over the last several years. “He’s
encouraged seasoned and new professionals to be on the staff, and he’s been a great mentor to the people who have been through the course, both during and outside of it.” Bette
continued, “In everything he’s done for us — serving as vice-president of the Board or
chairing our capital campaign — Rob has always had the education of camp professionals
at the forefront of
his work.”
Two foundations, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and
the Wildflower Foundation, were recognized as recipients of
the Community Honor Award, for their outstanding contributions to organized camping or ACA New England. Cyndi
Jones, Wildflower’s President & Founder, accepted the award
alongside her son, Matt Ringelheim. Wildflower’s mission is
to provide scholarship assistance for summer camp programs
to families in which a parent has died. Sue Klein, Director of
the Grinspoon Institute for Jewish Philanthropy, was at the
banquet to receive the honor for her foundation, which seeks
to enhance the vibrancy of Jewish life in
western Massachusetts.
Finally, Diane Chaisson, ACA New England’s unimpeachable coordinator of administrative
services, is retiring in June. Bette Bussel had a Special Recognition Award for her, as well as
kind words, among them: “Diane is a behind-the-scenes kind of woman who is integral to all
we do. She quietly and competently takes care of things are the office and our building. Diane
has incredible institutional knowledge. I am spoiled because I will often ask her about something instead of looking up myself. I have never worked at ACA New England without Diane,
since she started the month before I did. She has been like my right arm for many years, and I
will certainly miss her presence. It is an honor to present Diane with this special recognition
award, with gratitude for outstanding service and dedication to our mission and our members.”
More to come about this changing of the guard. Congratulations to all.
April 2008 Communicate
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American Camp Association, New England
State of the States
Big news! Mary Ellen Deschenes reports on a significant policy victory in the Maine legislative
branch: “MYCA successfully worked with Maine legislators to pass a bill that clarified that camps
are not liable for sales tax on meals. This bill amends the definition of ‘prepared food’ under the
sales tax law to exclude food and drinks served by any youth camp licensed under the Department
of Health and Human Services. The bill was recently signed into law by Governor Baldacci. Camps
were facing a 7% tax on each camper meal served, due to a re-interpretation of a 40-year-old law
by the Maine Revenue Services, by which camper meals were equated with prepared food for sale
at a restaurant, snack bar, or convenience store.
“Needless to say, Maine camps are thrilled with this outcome, and cite the excellent work of
Jack Erler and Steve Sudduth on this bill,” Mary Ellen wrote. “Also, many Maine camps contacted
their legislators repeatedly over the past year to educate them and urge passage of this clarifying
bill.”
In New Hampshire, Gus Planchet and Pearl Lourie are both monitoring the state’s overhaul of environmental laws for any
changes that might impact camps. They’re also keeping an eye on two acts in the legislature having to do with mooring permits on
public waters and petitions for restricting boating use on a lake, pond, or river.
Dave Peterson of Cape Cod Sea Camps checks in with a few items of note for Massachusetts camps. Minimum wage has increased in the state to $8/hour. The Department of Occupational Safety continues to suggest guidelines on paying staff relative to
this rate and on allowable deductions for room and board.
A bill requiring children younger than 8 or shorter than 57 inches to use a booster seat has been signed by Governor Patrick.
The old standard required children younger than 5 or weighing less than 40 pounds to use one. While it will have an impact on
transporting your youngest campers in the future, the bill will also bring Massachusetts in line with 38 other states and the District of
Columbia, which have all passed similar legislation, according to AAA Southern New England.
New license requirements are in effect for ropes course regulations. They’re now covered under Amusement Devices and no
longer examined by the Department of Public Health. On March 17th, Emily Parker and Nobles Day Camp hosted a seminar on getting licensed. It should be noted that low ropes courses are exempt from these new regulations.
Mass Camping also incorporates CORI Training into a gathering at Camp Wind-in-the-Pines called “Getting Ready for Camp”, to
be held May 8th, 2008. This could prove important to attend because there have been a few shifts in ID requirements and CORI authorization. The Criminal History Systems Board has heard Mass Camping’s concerns about the ID requirements for camp staff. It
will continue to be sufficient to get copies of passports, driver’s licenses, and/or visas before staff arrive and use those for checks, as
long as you verify the ID upon arrival for the purposes of background checks and I-9 forms. Massachusetts camps should also make
sure their authorization is current, as it’s more difficult under the new policies and could take a month to get re-authorized, a process
that’s required every two years. New directors at an authorized camp should submit their individual applications to review CORI
results. Finally, it should be helpful to take advantage of the online submission of CORI requests.
TWO FACTS:
1. Handouts from some of our conference sessions, as well as photos from the entire weekend, will soon be available
here: www.acane-camps.org/conference/index.php
2. Cake is delicious.
The show allows us to meet folks from many of our New England-based camps and communicate with them face-to-face. We
enjoy the chance to present our custom apparel line and showcase our state of the art techniques & graphic skills to the memBolduc's Apparel has been exhibiting at the ACA New England
Conference for nearly 15 years. The ACA show has afforded us the bership. We're very happy to have worked with so many members
opportunity to align ourselves with a multitude of area camps. We over the years & we look forward to working to addressing the
have been fortunate to have made a number of long standing rela- future needs of the ACA membership..
We're pleased that we could express our gratitude to the ACA
tionships through the conference and we are truly grateful to ACA
through this issue of the Communicate and we look forward to
New England for providing this forum.
many more years at the ACA New England Conference together!
A Word From A Sponsor: Perspectives on the Conference
from Todd Adelson of Bolduc’s Apparel
April 2008 Communicate
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American Camp Association, New England
Member News
In Walden, Thoreau wrote, “What if all ponds were shallow? Would it not react on the minds of men? I am thankful that this pond was
made deep and pure for a symbol. While men believe in the infinite, some ponds will be thought to be bottomless.” We recognize the passing
of three leaders in the camp community, tied inextricably to that same boundless, transcendent sense of possibility: Clifford ‘Click’ Pulis, cofounder of Camp Thoreau and founder of Camp Beech Cliff; Wendy Cohen, director of Camp Walden; and Bill Hacker, co-founder of Camp
Cedar.
When Click served on the Concord (MA) Recreation Commission, from 1948 to 1954, he realized the town’s need for a children’s camp.
Together with his wife, Dot, he started Camp Thoreau in 1951. Three years later, he opened Beech Cliff in Mount Desert, ME, as a resident
wilderness camp for boys. A tribute from The Thoreau Club in Concord says, “Click’s philosophy of living with, and learning from nature was
exemplified throughout the programs and activities offered at Camp Thoreau and Camp Beech Cliff.” He served as director of Beech Cliff for
25 years, retiring in 1979, but remained devoted to his wife and family, and the love of nature and the outdoors that a camp experience can
instill. Camp Thoreau Day Camp is currently run by Click’s eldest son, Todd, and his granddaughter, Faith; Camp Beech Cliff now exists to
provide outdoor educational experiences for boys and girls. Click died in September at the age of 90.
Wendy Cohen’s passing was more sudden – while busily preparing for the upcoming summer at Walden, she collapsed in her office in
Charlottesville, VA. She was 56 years old.
For Wendy, as with the Pulises and many others in our community, camp was an integral part of her family. Her mother was a former
owner and director of Camp Walden, and Wendy committed herself to it as well. According to a statement from the camp’s trustees, “She
grew up there, learning to swim and water ski on Walden Pond, honing her acting skills in the Ark, and becoming adept at writing verses to
‘Laugh it Off’ while sitting around the Peace Circle.” Further down in that same letter, it’s easy to see that Wendy shared the passions of
many camp directors: Her “greatest joy was in seeing those young girls grow into mature, happy, confident young women.” As familiar as
those goals are to readers of this newsletter, they are also the sort that drive singular individuals. Click and Wendy will both be missed terribly, appreciated even more.
News of Bill Hacker’s death also recently reached us. Bill, who co-founded Camp Cedar with his brother, the late Henry Hacker, and the
late Henry Lesser, passed away on April 11 at the age of 79. After serving in the Army during World War II, followed by a stint in Albuquerque where he met his wife, Sheila, Bill came back east to devote his life to summer camp, teaching, and counseling. Upon his retirement in
1981, “he continued to be active in the community, where he touched the lives of thousands of campers and counselors through the years.”
Camp Cedar, in Casco, ME, is currently run by Bill’s children, Jeff Hacker and Sue Hacker-Wolf. He will be missed, but his legacy will no
doubt continue. One mourner wrote, “Bill was a big influence on my life at Cedar, and his imprint on camp and on all of us who spent time
‘beneath the pines’ is everywhere.”
***
After twenty years, Sue Miller of New England Camp Cherith is stepping down. Into her shoes, effective May 1st, is Becky Riley; the camp’s
new administrator, effective the same date, is Rob Riley, whose last name is not a mere coincidence. The Rileys and their three children are
currently in the process of moving to camp—they have several years of experience between them with the Girl Scouts and the YMCA.
Finally, in error, we left one thing out of our last issue, saved here for last in order to appropriately highlight it. Back in March, when we
listed the names of the New England section’s members who had received awards from ACA National, we missed one important person. Posie Taylor, ACA National Board Member, former ACA New England Board President, and former Executive Director of the Aloha Foundation, was recognized with the President’s Award at the national conference in Nashville in February. The inscription of her award reads, “In
recognition of outstanding service and support to the president and the work of the national board and the American Camp Association, presented in appreciation to Posie Taylor.” We appreciate her service as well, and applaud her alongside all of the honorees at both the national
and section levels.
Left: Liz Young catches up with Lauren
Blackington and Veronica Droser, all
from Pleasant Valley. The conference is
a great place to both reunite and meet
new friends.
Right: Some people who attended Beth
Johns-Thomas’s ‘Down and Dirty’ workshop got to make paper necklaces out of
magazines. Other projects included the
manufacture of crayons and slime.
April 2008 Communicate
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American Camp Association, New England
A Presenter’s Perspective
Where Was ECP at the
ACA New England Conference?
The answer to the headline is ‘everywhere’!
ECPs were hard to miss at this year’s conference.
If you’re wondering just where you saw those
engaging and charming young professionals during your busy weekend, here are a few clues:
• The Newcomers’ Session: Marran Linsky
and Greg Jutkiewicz helped first-time attendees
feel right at home, giving them tips on how to
make the best use of the weekend, introducing
new people to each other, and getting everyone
psyched for a fantastic conference.
• Workshop on Working with Young Staff: The session was
so packed, with over sixty people cramming into the room to find out
about the mystical millennials, that the presenters – Greg Jutkiewicz,
Liz Tully, and Garrett Colgan-Snyder – each had to give up their personal notes to make sure that as many people as possible got a copy.
Don’t despair if you missed getting one or were unable to attend at
all: those same copies will be available via the magical internet on the
ECP page of the ACA New England website.
• Social Event at Jillian’s: We stopped counting after forty, but
at least that many ECPs descended upon Jillian’s on Friday, in between the unopposed CampEXPO time and Jim Cain’s evening program, to connect and network in equal measure. Regardless of the
verb they chose, everyone had fun playing pool, making friends, exchanging business cards, and discussing big plans.
• Workshop on Department Heads: A small but excited
group of directors attended this session to learn the best techniques
for hiring and training their very important department heads. They
exchanged tons of ideas, and discussions lasted well into the next
session.
Clearly, the ECP presence at the conference and its role within the
ACA New England community continues to grow. Not only did we
increase the number of events we held, we were blown away by the
impressive turnout of emerging camp professionals at the conference.
Fortunately, the opportunities for ECPs to connect don’t begin and
end in Manchester. If you missed out on the fliers or Garrett’s ubiquitous business cards at the conference and would like to get on our
mailing list, send your name, camp name, and email to ecp@acanecamps.org and we’ll add you like we’ve been friends forever. BFFs,
even. You’ll receive our ECP newsletter, ECP Speak, which contains
news, events, photos, factoids, headlines, and bylines.
Interestingly enough, just as “communicate” generates
powerful images of people making contact with others, so too
does the word “conference” – as in confer-ence. I often say
in my programs that “None of us is as smart as all of us”, and
examples from two of my programs amply illustrates just
that!
In the workshop in which Bob Ditter and I coordinated our
efforts (“Sexuality and Camp”), we determined that the program would not end at the conclusion of our time limit. Accordingly, Bob and I have collected the ideas generated by
the small “idea groups” from our Pre-Conference program. We are compiling and “massaging” them, and we will
shortly send them back to all the workshop participants
(whose email addresses we collected at our session) so that
they can be used most profitably during the camp season. Additionally, Bob and I are planning to follow up with
an article for an upcoming issue of Camping Magazine.
In a workshop that I ran during the conference proper (not
to suggest that the Pre-Conference program was im-proper!)
on “Responding to In/Appropriate Camp Sexual Conversation and Behavior”, we were all reminded of how our camps
are increasingly being asked to respond to challenges that we
have never faced before. One of the participants indicated
that one of her campers this summer will be a 10-year-old
female who gender-identifies as male. All of us were confronted with the question of how best to help this camper –
and all the other campers and staff and parents – expand our
horizons to be consistent with camp goals which value each
child as a unique individual. How do we address questions
from campers, staff, and parents? There is no easy answer to
this question, but it was wonderful that ACA New England
provided the opportunity for confer-ence.
But what I will NOT communicate about is the fabulous
restaurant where Bob Ditter and I and my wife, Harriet,
dined. We want to be able to score reservations for our next
trip to Manchester!
—Dr. Bob Selverstone
Dr. Bob Selverstone and his wife, Harriet, no doubt on their way to a
clandestine dinner in Manchester.
http://www.acane-camps.org/conference_evaluation.php
If you haven’t already filled out our survey on the 2008 conference — oh, would we be happy if you did. Just click on the link!
http://www.acane-camps.org/conference_evaluation.php
April 2008 Communicate
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American Camp Association, New England
Annual Fund Update
At Camp Pemigewassett, we told the boys that the only legitimate way to get their names in a cabin was to earn it – on a trophy or
inscription, usually burned into a wooden sign and hung from the rafters, commemorating that cabin’s victory in something like soccer or nature identification. It seems we’ve instituted that same policy at the ACA New England office in Lexington. No longer will
you yearn to carve your initials into the library or the conference room on the first floor, or the office space for our staff on the second
floor, or even the flexible work space on the third, because if you contributed anything towards the construction of that building, your
name is now on a plaque worthy of your donation. No hasty wood burning job here – this plaque, which hangs in the front lobby, for
all visitors (hopefully you!) to see, was designed by Partners in Recognition and donated by Allen Beavers in memory of his wife,
Cynthia Beavers. It’s a great testament to the generous community that we’ve established as members of ACA New England.
Speaking of generosity, it’s not too late to contribute to this year’s Annual Fund. John Wheeler, the physicist who coined the term
‘black hole,’ said, when describing why he sought to examine broad sweeps of the science instead of specializing in a specific topic,
said, “If I don’t, who will?” Consider that same question addressed to you, valued donor. We’re still on target, but we haven’t
reached our goal quite yet. Your help is, as always, appreciated.
Best Wishes,
Rob Grabill
ACA National News & Resources
ACA’s Online Resources to Help You Find, Recruit, & Retain Staff are worth checking out ( www.acacamps.org/jobs). Post a
position or find one, year round or seasonal. Find related articles and hiring resources, too, collected just for camp professionals.
Celebrating a Centennial in Summer 2008? Let the world know; share your camp’s story. The first step is completing the Historical Profile form (www.acacamps.org/centennial/form.php). Allow ACA to add your camp’s story to the running tribute of outstanding camps that have reached their centennial milestones (www.acacamps.org/centennial)!
New Membership Renewal Alternatives Available July 1! With the exception of student memberships, all membership dues
rates will change. Visitors, Retirees, and Students are eligible for discounted member rates: $95/visitors, $60 retirees, and $35/
students. Individual membership dues will be $200. If your membership expires between now and June 30th, you may extend
your expiration date to take advantage of your current rate; call Rachel Williams at 765-342-8456 x509 or email membership@ACAcamps.org. Be sure to direct any questions about membership dues and renewal to Rachel.
Regulation Information Now Available State by State. Information about states’ minimum wages, exemptions, overtime pay
requirements, whether an FBI records checks is allowed, and request forms/fee information to access state driving checks is now
available online (www.acacamps.org/publicpolicy/regulations)! A complete database of camprelated regulations in each state includes active links to regulations and information. It’s sortable by state to make comparisons easy.
Wheee!
Phil Frazier, on the national ACA staff, can provide additional information at (800) 428-2267 x 307.
See ACA Through a 20/20 Lens! Peg Smith’s closing
keynote at the 2008 ACA National Conference in February is available on ACA’s website (www.acacamps.org/
member/video/pegkeynote.html). Peg introduces
ACA’s new 20/20 vision: 20 million children going to
camp, and 20,000 supporters and members by the year
2020.
Brand New e-Institute Offers Web-Based Professional Development Opportunities. Learn at your own pace in the comfort of your tent, cabin, or office. The distance education format, plus technology
that allows learners to connect with a facilitator and classmates through scheduled meetings, will expand access to ACA’s excellent
educational resources. Follow this link to see courses in this new format: www.acacamps.org/einstitute.
Registration Open for 8th International Camping Congress, October 4-7, 2008, at the Quebec City Convention Centre. This
year’s theme, “In Living Colors,” represents the diversity of participating camps and their missions. Exchange ideas and alliances
between camp representatives from various cultures and countries! Register now: www.iccquebec2008.com. For further information, contact Linda Pulliam (acavirginias@ACAcamps.org).
New Training Resources & Educational Tools in ACA’s Bookstore (www.acacamps.org/member/bookstore.php)! ACA’s
brand new S’Mores training game was popular at the New Camp Directors’ Workshop at our recent conference. The S’Mores
Game and several other quality training resources are now available for members to borrow from the ACA New England Library.
ACA Social Networking Opportunity on Facebook! You, your staff, and campers can add the “Causes” application to your Facebook accounts. Once you’ve added Causes, search for American Camp Association. Use this application to tell your friends about
ACA and how Camp Gives Kids a World of Good!
April 2008 Communicate
8
American Camp Association, New England
ALL ABOUT ACCREDITATION
What a busy past couple of weeks it has been with the Accreditation program!
Thank you to the many camp professionals that have taken Standards and Standards Update Courses this year. We have one more
course scheduled for Saturday, May 3rd, at the ACA New England
office in Lexington.
On April 4th and 5th, we held Associate Visitor Training at Camp
Becket in Becket, MA, and we’re pleased to announce fourteen new
Associate Visitors! Please join us in welcoming them to our visitor
team for this summer: Kyle Jackson, Meghan Schafer, Jeff LaFerriere, Elizabeth Reynolds, Joe Herbert, Noelle Pensyl, Andy Buchle,
Rachel Grostern, Lisa-Beth Sanford, Liz Tully, Daniel Hanlon,
Claire Trainor, and Jeff Gleason.
Re-Accreditation Timeline for Spring and Summer:
•
Visitor assignment packets will be mailed late April/early May.
•
Your visitor will contact you in May to make arrangements.
•
If you have not heard from your visitor by the first week in
Instructor Alex Thomas leads trainees in a final exercise at the conclusion
June, please contact Stephanie at (781) 541-6080, or email her
of the most recent AVT session.
at stephanie@acane-camps.org.
Lastly, and VERY IMPORTANT: The latest versions of standards and interpretations that will be used this summer are posted at:
www.acacamps.org/accreditation/interpretations.
—Nancy Hartmann
BABIES EVERYWHERE!!!
The conference certainly had a youthful glow to it this year. The ECPs certainly lowered the median age of attendees, but the real story was
that everywhere you looked, it seemed like small children abounded. Here is a gallery featuring just a few of those already starting on a lifetime
of camp (we hope!).
(clockwise from R): Chris & Kate
Tucci’s son, Hyatt; Jill Massa’s son,
Colin; Lani Toscano’s twins, Whittier
and Maisley; Beigette Gill holds her
daughter, Sylvie.
April 2008 Communicate
9
American Camp Association, New England
‘Raffle’ and ‘Waffle’ Don’t Rhyme, But ‘Win’ and ‘Grin’ Sure Do!
Okay, yes, you tell us that you get a lot of valuable things from the ACA New England Conference: the chance to connect with old
friends and emerging professionals in the wider camp community, the opportunity to gain knowledge from expert presenters, etc.
But we know why you really come back each year. It’s the raffle, isn’t it?
After an always steady and occasionally furious forty-eight hours of dropping tickets into buckets that corresponded to various
prizes, the raffle revealed its chosen winners. They’re listed here, along with what they won and who donated those prizes.
The real winners, of course, were all of you and all of us, because all of the proceeds went towards the ACA New England Annual
Fund. The raffle table raked in $2138, while the separate raffle for the $1500 travel voucher raised $5175.
The Prize
Contributed By
Won By
5 Background Checks
Youth Archery Target
2 Books, 2 Hats
Strategic Info. Resources
NE School of Archery
Colorado Yurt Company
Alex Jackson of Runoia
Rafting Trip
Full-Zip Hoodie
Moxie Outdoor Adventures
OPI
Stephanie Baker of ACA New England
Rafting Trip
Stadium Blanket
Adventure Bound
CAMPWISE
Mike Katz of Camp Sunshine
Backpack & Sleeping Bag
Sweatshirt
Medical Supplies
6 Jars of Soy Nut Butter
EMS
Lakeshirts
Mid-Island Medical Group
The Soy Nut Butter Co.
Valerie Rykowski of Timber Trails
Canoeing Trip & Dinner
World’s Kindest Cards
Hoodie
Trunk Organizer
Richard Chamberlain
GivaGeta
GivaGeta
PFG Northcenter
Nancy Frankel
of Menotomy Family Camp
5-Gallon Cooler
2 T-Shirts
Westex
ACA New England
Rick Ross of Mi-Te-Na
Stepladder
Lice Treatment
First-Aid Kit
4 Manchester Wolves tix
Alumidock
Lice Treatment Center
Markel Associates
Manchester Wolves
Spencer Ordway of Winona
Complete New Yorker
2 Performance Tickets
Barbara Steward
Palace Theater
Cheryl Kenny Forbes
of Camp Cherith
Sweatshirt
Indoor Water Park Tix
Family Portrait
WingSpeed
Coco Keys Resort
Mountain Graphics
Steve LaFountain
of 4-H Camp Middlesex
Jenga
$250 Gift Certificate
IM Incentives
Bourdon’s
Mike Katz of Camp Sunshine
Laser Level
Fleece
Christian Buying Network
CC Creations
Jared Hubschman of Chinqueka
Gift Certificate
4 Fisher Cats Tickets
4 T-Shirts
Bunk1
NH Fisher Cats
O’Brien & Sons
Steve LaFountain
of 4-H Camp Middlesex
2 Tickets
Water Country
Gus Planchet of Fatima
2 Six Flags Passes
4 PawSox Tickets
Six Flags New England
Pawtucket Red Sox
Debbie King
of Girl Scouts Swift Water Council
Party for 25
Hats and T-Shirt
Tote Bag
Jillian’s
Girls at Work
IM Incentives
Beth Johns-Thomas
of Camp Lovewell
April 2008 Communicate
10
American Camp Association, New England
The Prize
Contributed By
Won By
Party for 25
2 Fun Passes
4 Camp Chairs
4 Blankets
Backpack
Leather Kit
Jillian’s
Breathe NH
Maine Outfitters
Maine Outfitters
Outdoor Rec Supply
Tandy Leather Company
Backpack
Leather Kit
Camping Closet
Outdoor Rec Supply
Tandy Leather Company
Outdoor Rec Supply
Larry Davis
of Pemigewassett
Weekend Getaway
Dinner for 2
Linger Longer
Brazilian Grille
Dana Sears of YMCA Camp Aya-Po
JD Drew-signed Baseball
Boston Red Sox
Paul Davis of Avoda
2 Red Sox Tickets
Nat Saltonstall
Amanda Ridge of Camp Ketcha
Footlocker
1000 Stickers
T-Shirts
C&N Footlocker
Larry Fox & Co.
Mr. D’s Tees
Ellen Flight of Songadeewin
Mountain Bike
Ken Kornreich
Allen Beavers of Camp Jewell YMCA
Air Hockey Table
Mark Fraser-signed Puck
4 Devils Tickets
Ken Kornreich
Lowell Devils
Lowell Devils
Nancy Frankel
of Menotomy Family Camp
Commercial Grill
Ken Kornreich
Paul Davis of Avoda
$1500 Travel Voucher
Steve Fisch, of Amerasport
Heather Kiley of Merrowvista
Alex Jackson of Runoia
Bette Bussel of ACA New England
Alex Thomas
of Delaware Outdoor Adventure Ctr.
More Thanks!
To All of Our Conference Sponsors
Amerasport
Bolduc’s
C.C. Creations
Schirick & Associates
S & S Worldwide
To A-Cal Copiers,
for the loan of a copier
To Bill Sullivan at Crown Trophy,
for providing plaques for our award
honorees
Paul Davis of Camp Avoda celebrates his raffle victory on the back of a truck.
April 2008 Communicate
11
Looking for a Job? Looking to Hire? Come to the Right Place!
ACA National & ACA New England both provide online resources to advertise full-time and seasonal jobs at your camp.
In addition, ACA National also allows you to make your résumé available to potential employers.
Visit the links below to get your search started:
http://www.acane-camps.org/jobs/index.php
http://www.acacamps.org/jobs
Looking for Staff Training Opportunities? Look No Further!
We have all kinds of certification and educational options listed on our website:
http://www.acane-camps.org/training/certification-trng.php
80 Westview Street
Lexington, MA 02421
(781)541-6080
camp@acane-camps.org