Chapter 2 - History of Organized Camping
On-line Lesson

EARLY CAMPERS

·     American Indians

·     Pilgrims

·     American campers

EARLY RURAL LIFE

·     98% of population lived in rural areas when constitution was signed

·     today  2% live on farms

·     children grew up as jacks-of-all-trades

·     very little formal school training

·     farm chores provided vigorous exercise

·     socializing and church attendance was popular

MODERN URBAN LIFE

·     as people moved to cities, they lost contact with nature

·     today, children spend 9-10 mths in school

·     children get very little exercise

·     less family time due to both parents working

·     children have a great deal of leisure time

·     “spectatoritis”

HOW ORGANIZED CAMPING BEGAN     

Organized camping was originally a “Yankee notion”, started in New England  before spreading across the nation and other  countries.

·     First school camp 1861 – Gunnery School for Boys

·     First private camp 1876 – North Mountain School of Physical Culture

·     First church camp 1880 – The Good Will Farm for Boys

·     First private camp 1881 – Camp Chocorua

·     First institutional camp 1885 – YMCA Camp Bald Head

FIRST CAMPS FOR GIRLS

·     1890 – private camp for Luther Gulick’s daughter, later Camp Fire Girls.

·     1892 – Camp Arey, natural science camp

·     1902 – Camp Kehonka for Girls

DEVELOPMENTAL PERIODS OF CAMPING – 3 classifications according to main emphasis at the time

·     The Recreational Stage 1861-1920

·     The Educational Stage 1920-1930

·     Social Orientation and Responsibility 1930-present

HISTORY OF CAMPING PROFESSION

·     1910 – Camp Directors’ Association of America, 11 charter members; Charles R. Scott, first president

·     1916 – The National Association of Directors of Girls Camps; Mrs. Luther Halsey Gulick, president

·     1921 – Mid-West Camp Directors’ Association

·     1924 – the three joined forces as the Camp Directors’ Association of America; George L. Meylan, president

·     1926 – began publishing a magazine called The Camp Directors’ Bulletin, later changed to Camping

·     1935 – CDAA was renamed the American Camping Association, now American Camp Association.

THE AMERICAN CAMP ASSOCIATION (ACA)

Mission – to enhance the quality of the experience for youth and adults in organized camping, to promote high professional practices in camp administration, and to interpret the values of organized camping to the public.

·     more than 7000 individual members in 50 states/10 countries and  2,481 accredited camps. (ACA Annual Report, 2005)

·     ten categories of membership (reduced rates for students)

·     composed of 5 regions subdivided into 32 sections with conferences and meetings

·     national office located at Bradford Woods, an outdoor ed. and camping center in Martinsville near Indianapolis, IN

·     Publications – Camping Magazine, Guide to Accredited Camps, and Camp and Program Leader Catalog

·     provides leadership training resources in camp counseling & administration

·     developed first nat’l programs in camp director certification & outdoor living skills training

·     established high standards of accreditation

THE FUND FOR ADVANCEMENT OF CAMPING (FAC) – purpose is to raise funds to support needed projects in camping that are not included in the ACA budget.

OTHER  PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

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