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Top 5 Things You Need to Know

1 . It ’ s Legit . Everything is based on 13 youth development-related core competencies .

2 . You Get Credit . For all the hours you spend learning , you get continuing education credits . Track your progress and verify your qualifications for the job you deserve .

3 . It ’ s 24 / 7 . Learn in person at events and conferences or online anytime .

4 . The Price Is Right . The education you need to succeed , without burning a hole in your pocket . ACA members receive discounts on courses , webinars , 500 books , and DVDs .

5 . It ’ s All about You . Education on leadership training or risk management , health and safety or marketing .

For more information about online courses and webinars , continuing education credits , the job center , staff training DVDs , research and outcomes tools , and a calendar of events visit www . ACAcamps . org / PDC .

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER

That ’ s what Andy Webster , an alumnus and father of two seven-week campers , said to me on opening day of the camp season last year . I was speaking with Andy , who is the head of a college preparatory school , about a topic familiar to camp and school professionals alike : how and when to best communicate with parents in today ’ s digital world .

Today , we can text , email , FaceTime , tag , upload , stream , and tweet to a global audience instantaneously . While in the past we might have thought twice about the appropriateness of our communications , current technology makes it so easy to be in touch that we do so instinctively . Digital communication provides advantages for connecting on a personal and professional level like never before , and there ’ s no doubt that camps can be more effective by tapping into these powerful tools . But just because we can do all of the above , should we ?

Are there times when restraint — not connecting — is in the best interests of the parties involved ? I ’ m intrigued by the intersection of these two complex realities :

How tricky it is to be a parent in an age defined by the accessibility and immediacy of communication , and

The powerful opportunity camps have — depending on their missions — to communicate with parents in ways that encourage and support them as they navigate the challenging yet necessary art of letting go .

In his recent book , Letting Go With Love and Confidence : Raising Responsible , Resilient , Self-Sufficient Teens in the 21st Century , Kenneth Ginsburg claims that parenting is “… not about managing your child ’ s life , [ but ] at its essence , is about providing the right mix of warmth , support , and monitoring so your child learns to manage his own life and make his own good decisions .”

Parenting is like a classic “ push-pull ” train with a locomotive on each end ,

DOTTIE REED Camp Pemigewassett

one pulling a long line of cars from the front and the other pushing from behind . The challenge is in balancing the stress on the cars , knowing when to lead from the front and when to support from behind to arrive successfully at the destination . How do we protect our precious child while also being mindful of our desire to raise a self-sufficient , well-adjusted , and happy adult ? The dichotomy places the heart and the head in conflict , with acts of letting go grating against our deepest instincts to safeguard our children .

Not long ago , I overheard a college professor tell a story about her freshman advisee . The bright 18-year old female came to her office five weeks into the first semester and , while discussing her courses , mentioned a class that hadn ’ t been on her original schedule . When asked about this , the student replied that she had switched into it a few weeks earlier , dropping another course along the way . Her advisor asked why .

“ Well , I was having a really hard time . I just didn ’ t understand what was going on in the class .”

“ Did you speak to the professor ? Arrange a meeting to talk about the content that was confusing ?”

The student shook her head . “ No . But I called my parents . They said since I didn ’ t like it and it was still within the time period to drop a course that I should just drop it and take something else .”

Her advisor reminded her that the dropped course was a prerequisite for the one she was eager to take the following semester . It wasn ’ t going to be offered again for two years .

The flustered student replied , “ But my parents didn ’ t know that !”

What more could her advisor say ? She said , “ With all due respect , your parents are there for many reasons , but I ’ m your academic advisor .”

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