Leaders Assembly 2018

Trauma comes in many forms – such as experiencing first-hand or living in a world with school shootings, violence, natural disasters, antisemitism, and difficult home lives. Childhood trauma can have a profound impact on brain development, social, emotional, and cognitive growth, and the adoption of health-risk behaviors. What do we do when we discover our campers and staff are experiencing or have experienced trauma? How do we ensure that no child is lost in our camp system?

Prepare to experience a paradigm shift in how you understand your campers, your staff, and the untapped potential Camp can have as a medium to help people navigate the devastating effects of childhood trauma. This session will provide an overview of the most current research on childhood trauma and the growing movement to create trauma-informed and responsive youth programming. You’ll receive an evidence-based framework for understanding Camp’s unique role in helping children foster resilience and heal, and you’ll be equipped with a set of approaches and tools to start down the path towards being a trauma-informed organization.

We know Camp connects. It educates and empowers. Come discover how Camp can heal.