OUTDOOR CAMPING EXPEREINCES
|
Short overnight excursions | |
|
extended outings of several weeks or more | |
|
car camping in forest, park or private campground | |
|
backpacking and hiking in wilderness areas | |
|
"Soldiers" go to boot camp | |
|
people "camp out" in line for tickets or sales |
REASONS FOR CAMPING
Richard Louv (Last Child in the Woods, 2005) - children have become disconnected from nature - "Nature deficit disorder:"
·
Reacquaint or
connect with outdoor
world
·
Escape routine, daily
grind
·
Experience cultural
heritage
·
Opportunity to “rough
it”
·
Develop physical, mental,
social, spiritual qualities
·
Acquire valuable skills
and attitudes
·
Maintain
family/friendship ties
·
Opportunity for personal
involvement, enrichment and renewal
ORGANIZED CAMPING
Definition – being comprised of a community of persons living together as an organized group usually in an outdoor setting, under the directions of designated leaders.
The camp program consists of the total of all experiences or events in the camp, whether structured or not and/or associated with the outdoors.
FOUR COMPONENTS OF
ORGANIZED CAMPING
·
Focuses on natural
environment in outdoor setting
·
Consists of the total
experiences
·
Revolves around group
living experiences
·
Relies on trained and well-qualified staff
T
·
Resident
·
Trip/travel camps
·
Day camps
·
Special camps
·
School camps
CAMP AFFILIATIONS
· Organization or agency not-for-profit camps
· Independent or Private Camps
· Religiously affiliated camps
· Government sponsored camps
YOUTH SERVING
AGENCIES
These organizations
are supported largely by public funds, i.e., United Fund, government, taxes,
fund-raising, private donations.
· Jewish Community Centers Association & The JCC Find-A-Camp
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EXAMPLES OF CAMP TIME FRAMES IN GENERAL
Camp Season -
typically July
& August
Camp Sessions –
season divided into shorter
Long-term camps –
half or full season (4-8 weeks)
Short-term camps –
limited to one session (one week, ten days or two weeks)
Weekend Retreats
Special Holiday/Vacation
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CAMP AND CAMPER
CHARACTERISTICS
· Resident camps typically have more white campers than campers of color
· Racial and ethnic breakdown of campers has not been adequately documented because not all are ACA accredited
· Many day camps in urban areas serve a high population of racial and ethnic minorities
· Most ACA accredited camps are coed but not all
·
Some camps do not emphasize outdoor activities
· 94% of Camp Directors reported that their campers spend more than 4 hours outdoors every day
·
83% reported that their camp programs were conducted primarily outdoors.
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AMERICAN CAMPING
ASSOCIATION
RECENT REPORTS
Copyright
2001 Northern Arizona University, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED