WHY CAMPS?
SUMMER CAMP- The Antidote for Summer Learning Almost all children experience some
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degree of learning loss in the summer. Research spanning 100 years shows that students typically score lower on standard- ized tests at the end of summer vacation than they do on the same tests at the begin- ning 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 policy- makers. However, research shows that learning loss can be diminished when chil- dren participate in camp experiences. “After all, camp provides almost end- less activities and social interaction oppor- tunities, 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 cognitive skills,” she continued. Increasingly research is documenting the important role summer camp plays in education. According to the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) and research conducted by Johns Hopkins soci- ology professor Karl Alexander, intentional summer programs—like camp—help stem summer learning loss, providing experi- ences that challenge children, develop tal- ents, keep them engaged, and expand their horizons. The ACA agrees, reminding families that camp fosters year-round education through: Developmental Growth: Developmental growth—such as indepen- dence, self-sufficiency, and learning to overcome adversity—is the foundation for academic achievement. Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic: Camp was founded by educators. Today camps continue the prac- tice of using things like environmental studies, map reading, and habitat restora- tion to teach problem-solving, math, and biology. Camps also promote reading and writing, whether through quiet time in a
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 partner- ships: • Fifty-eight percent of responding
bunk, or scheduled time for journal and letter writing. Camps specializing in math, language arts, and the sciences have grown steadily over recent years. Other camps have subtly comingled academically cen- tered skill-building activities with more traditional camp activities.
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Summer Camp Special 2016
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