Chapter 1 - Organized Camping - What Is It?
 On-line Lesson

REASONS FOR CAMPING

·     Reacquaint 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, democratic group in an outdoor setting.

      The camp program consists of the total of all experiences or events in the camp, whether structured or not.

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

FIVE CAMP CLASSIFICATIONS

·     Resident

·     Trip/travel camps

·     Day camps

·     Special camps

·     School camps

YOUTH SERVING AGENCIES

These organizations are supported largely by public funds, i.e., United Fund, government, taxes, fund-raising, private donations.

·     Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts

·     Camp Fire USA

·     YMCA/YWCA/YMHA/YWHA

·     Easter Seal Society

·     Four-H Clubs

·     Jewish Community Centers Association & The JCC Find-A-Camp

EXAMPLES OF CAMP TIME FRAMES  IN GENERAL

Camp Season - July & August

Camp Sessions – season divided into shorter periods

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

NATIONAL SURVEY FIGURES  

·     Agency sponsored     41.9%

·     Private                     36.6%

·     Religious               19%

·     Municipal             2.1%

·     Resident                   83.3%

·     Day Camps                  15.1%

·     Boys only              13.4%

·     Girls only              19.5%

·     Coed                      66.2%

·     Family            less than 1% (this is going up)

ACA  RECENT REPORTS

·     8500 organized camps in U.S. with over 2,000 accredited by ACA in 1993;  12,000 organized camps with 2,545 accredited by ACA in 2001. (ACA 2001 Annual Report)

·     7000 are resident camps (ACA, 2007)

·     5000 are day camps (grown nearly 90% in the past 20 years) (ACA, 2007)

·     6200 are operated by non-profit groups

·     2300 are operated by private groups

·     Total ACA  individual memberships in 2001 was 6,190 (ACA 2001 Annual Report)

·     $150,000 given in Scholarships to over 100 children in 2001 (ACA 2001 Annual Report)

TRENDS FACT SHEET

Records indicate the total number of camps is shrinking, but the number of campers is increasing steadily. The economic impact of organized camping is estimated to be 2.5 billion dollars….a substantial, national industry.

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