WHY CAMPS?
SUMMER CAMP- The Antidote for Summer Learning Almost all children experience some
Pic Courtesy ClubSport
degree of learning loss in the summer. Research spanning 100 years shows that students typically score lower on stan- dardized tests at the end of summer vacation than they do on the same tests at the beginning of the summer (Council of Chief State School Officers 2006, Key State Education Policies on K-12 Education). “Summer learning loss” is a major concern to educators and national poli- cymakers. However, research shows that learning loss can be diminished when children participate in camp experi- ences. “After all, camp provides almost endless activities and social interaction opportunities, offering educational opportunities in nature’s classroom,” said Sharon Kosch of the American Camp Association (ACA) Northern California. “Camp teaches life lessons through art, music, sports, and a host of other activities. In fact, today’s camp is comprised almost entirely of teachable moments when children are actively engaged and using creativity and cogni- tive skills,” she continued. Increasingly research is document- ing the important role summer camp plays in education. According to the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) and research conducted by Johns Hopkins sociology professor Karl Alexander, intentional summer pro- grams—like camp—help stem summer learning loss, providing experiences that challenge children, develop talents, keep them engaged, and expand their hori- zons. The ACA agrees, reminding families that camp fosters year-round education through: Developmental Growth: Developmental growth—such as inde- pendence, self-sufficiency, and learning to overcome adversity—is the founda- tion for academic achievement. Reading,
ly over recent years. Other camps have subtly comingled academically centered skill-building activities with more tradi- tional camp activities. Partnerships with Schools: Camps and schools often partner to create exceptional learning opportunities, even when school is not in session. According to the ACA’s recent survey on camp- school partnerships: • Fifty-eight percent of responding
Writing, and Arithmetic: Camp was founded by educators. Today camps continue the practice of using things like environmental studies, map reading, and habitat restoration to teach problem- solving, math, and biology. Camps also promote reading and writing, whether through quiet time in a bunk, or sched- uled time for journal and letter writing. Camps specializing in math, language arts, and the sciences have grown steadi-
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Summer Camp Special 2018
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