camps said they partner with schools either directly or indirectly. • About 43 percent of responding camps said that they partnered with schools primarily to keep children engaged throughout the year. • Targeted programs include team- work, social skills, and problem solving. The results are promising: • 75 percent of campers report learn- ing something new at camp (Directions – Youth Development Outcomes of the Camp Experience. American Camp Association. 2005). • Studies showed a statistically signif- icant growth in thinking skills in chil- dren attending camp (Directions – Youth Development Outcomes of the Camp Experience. American Camp Association. 2005). • Summer camps can motivate stu- dents to plan and prepare to enter post- secondary education upon graduation from high school (Beer, Le Blanc, & Miller, 2008). • Summertime educational programs have shown increases in literacy (Borman, Goetz, & Dowling, 2009), read- ing comprehension (Schacter & Jo, 2005), and language learning (Feuer, 2009). Camp as an extension of a tradition- al education is not a new concept. Early camp pioneers were mainly educators who recognized a need to continue learning throughout the summer in an environment that also allowed children to be children. In a 1928 Red Book Magazine editorial, camp advocate Frederick Guggenheimer stated that: “The school and the camp are comple- mentary to each other — the one begins where the other leaves off.” Why is camp so effective as an edu- cational tool? Camp allows children to relax and just be kids. They can run, play, and get dirty. They develop friend- ships, have adventures, and sit on the grass and look at the stars. At the same time, they are learning hands-on lessons in math, writing, problem-solving, teamwork, and independence. For those reasons, camps do an excellent job of extending a traditional education. Camps often fill in the blanks left by declining school budgets, provid- ing art and music programming. Or camp is an opportunity to learn new skills, such as languages, sports or com-
(ACA) works to preserve, promote, and enhance the camp experience for chil- dren and adults. ACA-Accredited® camp programs ensure that children are provided with a diversity of educational and developmentally challenging learn- ing 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.
puters. Because of the hands-on nature of camp, even children who struggle in traditional educational settings often excel. “To succeed in school and life, chil- dren and young adults need ongoing opportunities to learn and practice essential skills. This is especially true during the summer months,” said Kosch. “Summer camp can help stem summer learning loss and assure that children have productive things to do.” About the American Camp Association: The American Camp Association®
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Summer Camp Special 2018
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