SUMMER CAMP TRENDS and other hot topics!
ENROLLMENT CONTINUES TO RISE
Total enrollment last summer increased by 9 percent. This is
consistent with the 8 - 10 percent annual increase in enrollment
since 1992. Female campers account for 55 percent of total
enrollment and male campers account for 45 percent.
NEW CAMP PROGRAMS
75 percent of camp directors report adding new activities to their
programs overt he past few years. New programs include
- adventure programming (mountain biking, rock
climbing, canoeing and kayaking);
- increased emphasis on fine arts (performing
arts, photography, and jewelry making);
- in line skating/roller hockey
- travel camp
- sports programs (gymnastics, soccer,
volleyball and golf)
- unique program additions: rocketry, Sioux
reservation program, youth in government and Noah's Ark camp.
PARENTS AND CAMP DIRECTORS FORM PARTNERSHIPS
ACA's vision statement is "Camp gives kids a world of
good" because camp is a building block to the successful
development of young people. According to camp directors, parents
rated the following as the most important benefits for sending
their child(ren) to camp:
- increasing self-confidence and self-esteem
- providing a safe place
- making new friendships/getting along with
others
CAMP BUILDS COMMUNITY
65 percent of camps surveyed reported offering campers some level
of financial assistance. The average amount given per camp was
$24,619. Amounts ranged from small contributions to $1,000,000.
56 percent of camps surveyed report having
community service or good deed programs incorporated into the camp
curriculum. The top projects conducted at camps last summer were:
- community clean-ups
- food drives
- recycling programs
- volunteering with senior citizens and
hospital patients
CAMP DIRECTORS REPORT TRENDS
According to camp directors, the following general trends are
significant:
- campers are getting younger
- parents and campers want shorter session
lengths
- more campers are on prescription medication
*Trend information is complied from the American
Camping Association's 1998 annual summer camp survey. For more
information visit ACA's Web site at www.ACAcamps.org
or call them at 1-800-428-CAMP.
© American Camping Association
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