1. Camp is older than dirt, almost
literally. Started in 1861, the camp
experience turned an impressive
150 years young in 2011. The
secret behind the longevity? “One
hundred and fifty-five years later,
there is a camp for every child,”
said Tom Rosenberg, president
and chief executive officer for the
American Camp Association®
(ACA). “From specialized camps
to general, traditional camps, the
essence of the camp experience
is stronger than ever.”
2. Camp is worth its weight in
gold, and then some. The camp
experience is life-changing
– developing friendships and
memories that last well beyond
the final campfire. And, there is
a camp for literally every budget.

Often camps offer special pricing
or financial assistance, and some
camp experiences qualify for tax
credits or for payment with pre-
tax dollars.

3. Green is “zen.” Research
shows that first-hand experiences
with nature, like those at camp,
reduce stress in children and help
them better handle stress in the
future. In addition to teaching
children how to be good stewards
of the environment, camps are
teaching children how to enjoy
the world around them and take
a minute to breathe deep and
feel nature, which ultimately
teaches them how to de-stress
the natural way.

4. Mommies and Daddies do
it too. Camp is not just for
children. There are family camp
experiences, and camps for
single adults, senior adults and
any adult who wants to relax
and enjoy all camp has to offer.

Adults benefit from the same
sense of community, authentic
relationships and self-discovery
that children do. Camp is an
excellent vacation option,
allowing adults to try a variety of
new activities in a safe and fun
environment. 5. Try this on for size. Camp is a
great place to try new activities
and hobbies. Afraid of rock walls?
According to ACA research, 74
percent of campers reported they
tried new activities at camp that
they were afraid to do at first.

And, those activities often leave
lasting impressions. In the same
survey, 63 percent of parents
reported their child continued
new activities from camp after
returning home.

6. Manners matter, and often
linger. The camp experience
teaches more than just archery
or lanyard making. The entire
experience is made of teachable
moments. Perhaps one of the
biggest is how to live with a
group of people. Campers learn
to pick up after themselves,
respect each other’s property and
to say “please” and “thank you.”
7. Veggies taste better with
friends. Hollywood and fictional
novels may have given camp food
a bad reputation, but in truth,
camps are constantly exploring
healthy food options, and often
are at the forefront of things like
allergy-specific diets, healthy
snack options and vegetarian
meals. According to ACA’s 2011
Emerging Issues Survey, 90.7
percent of responding camps
indicated that healthy eating and
physical activity was an important
or very important issue.

8. If everyone else went to camp,
maybe there’s something to it.

Camp has played an important
role in the lives of some of the
most talented people in history.

ACA’s family resource site offers
a list of notable campers –
including business professionals,
celebrities, artists and great
thinkers. 9. Camp gets those neurons
pumping. Education reform
debate and concern over summer
learning loss have pushed
academic achievement into
the spotlight. Research shows
that participation in intentional
programs, like camp, during
summer months helps stem
summer learning loss. In addition,
camp provides ample opportunity
for developmental growth, which
is a precursor to academic
achievement. And, because of
the “hands-on” nature of camp,
often children who struggle in
traditional education settings do
well at camp.

10. Camp builds leaders for
the 21st century and beyond.

Independence, resiliency,
teamwork, problem-solving skills
and the ability to relate to other
people — these are the skills that
tomorrow’s leaders will need,
and the skills camp has been
adept at building for 150 years.

“Camp gives children and youth
the critical tools they will need to
become successful adults,”
said Rosenberg.

Reprinted by permission of the
American Camp Association. ©2016,
American Camping Association, Inc.

The American Camp Association®
ACA is a national organization
with more than 10,000 individual
members and nearly 3,000 member
camps. ACA is committed to
collaborating with those who
believe in quality camp and outdoor
experiences for children, youth and
adults. For more information, visit
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