How Valuable is Camp? Part One

How Valuable is Camp?
A Thought Before You Completely Delete it From Your Budget. Part 1

There is no doubt in anyone’s mind with the economic downturn of 2008, family's budgets noticed the change; cutting out luxuries and focusing on necessities. Nonetheless the American Camp Association (ACA) enrollment trends survey (April 2010) determined that for the average American family, camp is still part of the budget.  When camps were asked in this survey why enrollment was higher or lower from last year, one answer stood out “…not as much panic about the economy.” Then as I continued reading I noticed a growing number of similar remarks “… improvements in economy, better economy, economy is looking up.”  There seems to be a positive tone for the future as there should be during hard times. Yet many families have still kept camp cut from budgets due to financial instability. 

“Our parents are communicating to us that the camp experience is more important than ever to kids today.”- Unknown Camp

Clearly the present is influencing us now, but what is its impression on the future? Google search “How has economy affected our children” and you’ll notice headlines such as Massive Debt threatens to impoverish our children and Labor is stealing from our children’s future. Evidently this question isn’t new and pin-pointing the reason frequently sparks unsolicited arguments. The question here is not what, but how to undo what we may have already done. Sending our kids to camp may make the difference.  In America, camps have been around since 1861 with over 500 million attendees. Each year an additional 10 million children go off to create new memories.

“Camps enhance the lives of children and families. I see it every day after summer camp in my family.”-Alicia H. (parent)

So what makes camps so important to our culture? Research has been conducted around the nation in search of the answer.   Barry A. Garst, Ph.D. of the ACA is one such person to investigate this question. He states that during the summer the average child loses 2.6 months of grade equivalency in math skills.  He goes on to express that camps are playing grounds for summer learning.  He uses one case study to support his statement: Camp Pfeiffer; Little Rock, AR.  Camp Pfeiffer’s director approached local schools about ways the camp might play a larger role in students’ development. Third through fifth grade students took part in this study. They were taken to a 5 week residential camping experience program. The program is established heavily on academic and behavioral activities.  Once the camp ended the students participating in this study achieved one-grade level improvement in math and reading test scores.

“The organized summer camp is the greatest contribution America has made to education.”- Former Harvard University president Charles W. Eliot, 1922

Academic improvement is only one constructive result of camp, there are also findings suggesting nature-based outdoor settings reduce ADHD symptoms in children. Common knowledge is already that nature-based experiences lower stress levels and improve moods. Sending your kids to experience nature while simultaneously stimulating a child’s senses facilitates a better learning environment.  These varieties of camps are also perfect settings to create environmental awareness and develop better general care of the world around them.

“Our 14 year old niece just visited camp (first time) and had the time of her life!”- Nichole D (Parent)

Read part two next week. Check out Kidscamps for camp options.

"Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future" -John Fitzgerald Kennedy

  Let’s prepare them the best we can. Send them to camp.