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Spring
is Here! It's Not Too Late to Think
About Summer Camp
Summer is fast approaching, but even if
you haven't made all your summer plans,
there are still several reasons why it's
not too late to plan for camp—whether
you're a parent looking for great programs
for your child, or you're a student looking
for the perfect summer job.
1) A great day camp can be right
around the corner—literally.
The ideal day camp program for your child
may be right in your neighborhood. Check
with your local YMCA, Jewish Community
Center, 4H, or city parks and recreation
department for programs that suit your
child. A wide variety of programs
with many choices are available. From
cartooning and playing the guitar to
animal care and designing theatre costumes
and sets—there is a day camp nearby
offering sessions for every interest.
Parents can research camps by location,
cost, and activities offered, as well as
other options at www.CampParents.org. Here
are important questions for parents to
ask about day camp programs:
- Is the camp accredited by the American
Camp Association® (ACA)?
- Is transportation available?
- What about extended care before and
after camp?
- Will the camp provide lunch?
- Are campers grouped by age, activity,
or both?
- Does the price include the full range
of activities?
- Are parent visits encouraged?
2) Camps today offer a variety
of sessions—including ones for
the whole family. Over 25 percent
of camps today offer family camp programs. For
parents looking for a new way to spend
vacation time together with their children
this summer, and even do it close to
home, family camps offer a great option
for parents looking for healthy, positive
experiences to share with their families. Parents
participate in the same activities as
their child would if the child was at
camp by him or herself. Everyone
in the family—from grandparents
to young children—can participate
and enjoy the same camp experience together.
Family camp programs have grown over 215
percent in the past fifteen years. A
major trend has been for camps to offer
family sessions with much more programming
and many more instructional activities. Responding
to accommodate families' busy schedules,
some camps may offer variations such as
overnight camping trips, one-day tours,
or evening programs.
Family camps also help parents introduce
the camp experience to younger children
who have yet to experience time away from
their parents. A family camp program
serves as great training wheels for a future
resident camp experience for children.
There's a camp for every budget. ACA's
family-oriented Web site, www.CampParents.org,
includes a searchable database of over
2,400 ACA-Accredited® camps, where
families can search by many variables,
including cost, location, activities, and
length of session.
3) Students can find a rewarding
summer job at camp. Every year,
an estimated 1.2 million Americans find
a job at camp. Although jobs for the
coming summer season are filling up,
camps are still recruiting staff now.
A job at camp offers a unique life experience
while earning summer pay.
Camp prepares students for their future
careers by teaching leadership and team-building. Camp
complements the academic skills that are
learned in school with experiential, life-based
lessons. In a summer camp setting,
young adults working as counselors have
the opportunity to master real-life, problem-solving
skills, as well as have a significant and
positive influence in the lives of children.
Young adults can find more information
on camp jobs at www.ACAcamps.org/jobs,
where they can view job listings and post
résumés.
Whether it's a day camp in your neighborhood,
a camp experience for the whole family,
or a great summer job, camp offers rewarding
life experiences for people of all ages. The
good news is that there's still time to
take part in a memorable camp experience
this summer.
Contact Public Relations at 765.349.3317 or pr@ACAcamps.org to
interview an ACA
spokesperson for more information on the ways the camp experience
enhances the lives of children, teens, and adults.
Also, for customizable public
service announcements or article
reprints, visit our Media
Center.
About ACA
The American Camp Association® (ACA) works to preserve, promote, and enhance
the camp experience for children and adults. ACA-Accredited® camp programs
ensure that children are provided with a diversity of educational and developmentally
challenging learning opportunities. There are over 2,400 ACA-accredited camps
that meet up to 300 health and safety standards. For more information, visit www.ACAcamps.org.
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