The Popularity of Summer Camps

Authors:

Melissa Hoover, Graduate Student

Michael J. Bradley, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Department of Recreation and Park Administration

Eastern Kentucky University

www.recreation.eku.edu

The
Popularity of Summer Camps

            Youth summer camp create a unique type of community where
kids can be kids. Summer camp allows kids to ignite their creativity,
imagination, gain self-confidence, learn new skills, and develop everlasting
friendships. With the advancements of technology and the constant expectation
of instantaneous results, kids learning outside and facing their fear of
independent problems solving and situational thinking is becoming more
necessary. Across the country, there are more than 14,000 day and resident
camps. Camp is more than a $18 billion industry (ACA Facts and Trends, 2018).

            Summer Camp is popular right now in the recreation
profession, because it is a great way to keep children learning, and engaged
while having fun during the summer months. 
Structured teaching outside of the classroom can be a very effective
method for children who find learning in the classroom challenging. 1 in every
5 camps partner with local schools as part of the academic school year giving
an opportunity to children to continue education even into the summer months (ACA
Facts and Trends, 2018).
Many camps will provide activities outside of the traditional canoeing,
archery, swimming, and dancing; summer camps now incorporate activities such as
STEM incorporating science, technology, engineering, and math into learning
objectives. The benefits of camp stretch far beyond the imagination, camp
teaches kids that the can accomplish anything they put their mind to. Camp
allows youth to face their fears and experience something for the first time,
this helps to build self-confidence and gain everlasting skills. Summer camp
also allows participants to make new friends, and understand diversity. When
attending camp as a child, you are encouraged to acclimate and adapt to your
surroundings. Many campers will encounter the need to build relationships with
people of different backgrounds, religions, and ethnicities they might not
otherwise in their hometown setting.

            Camp is ever evolving as the interest, needs, and technology
advancements change. Over the years there has been a change to the traditional
forms of summer camp. Specialty camps have become most popular throughout the
camp community. Specialty camps focus on a common theme; sports camps, gifted
camps, youth risk camps, religious camp, horse camp, adventure camp, and
disability camps are among the specialty themes for which programing is
developed for the camp. Speaking directly from my experience with the YMCA of
Central Kentucky, specialty camps have some of the highest enrollments of any
at the YMCA. The camps provided by the YMCA are all day camps centered around
weekly themes, enrollment especially towards the end of camp varies due to
vacations, other camp options, etcetera. Specialty camps allow parents to
provide a variety of activities and experiences for their children.

            Summer camp remains popular today because it is an
experience of a lifetime that is adaptable to the generations participating in
it, while keeping to the traditional roots of camp. It was last reported over
14 million campers participate in camp each year; camp also employees over 1.5
million staff members in various roles from camp counselors, to grounds
keepers, and program directors. It has also been reported that 82% of camp
enrollment has stayed the same or increased within the past five years. Keeping
roughly 50% of camps at 90-99% enrollment (ACA Facts and Trends, 2018). Summer camp creates lasting
friendship, encourages group work, helps to provide direction, and creates a
sense of “safe place” for parents as a summer care program for children in
addition to the variety of specialty camps available to choose from. The lasting
impression camp leaves on kids is undeniable, typically campers return in their
teen and college years as counselors giving opportunities to share what they
learned and loved about summer camp. This creates a sense of family and
comradery for the summer amongst campers and staffers. Summer camp will always
be a place you do not forget, and provides lasting life skills for all.

References

ACA Facts and Trends. (2018, January 17). Retrieved
April 01, 2018, from

            https://www.acacamps.org/press-room/aca-facts-trends

Keywords: #therapeuticrecreation #summercamp #camp #kids #family #
#recreation #leisure #EasternKentuckyUniversity #EKU #parks #NRPA
#nationalcampingassociation