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

OUTDOOR CAMPING EXPEREINCES

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” and break from today's technology-reliant lifestyle

·     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

TYPES OF CAMPS

·     Resident

·     Trip/travel camps

·     Day camps

·     Special camps

·     School camps

·     Conference and retreat centers

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.

·     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 - typically 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

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.

AMERICAN CAMPING ASSOCIATION  RECENT REPORTS 2,400+ ACA-accredited camps meet up to 300 standards for health, safety, and program quality. 

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