Camp & Camp Counseling

Course Overview Course website: Syllabus

What does camping mean to you?

Camping Stories Personal Family Organized

Why do we camp Get away from routines Refresh or relax What does progress (suburbs and cities) have to do with our desire to camp? –Nomadic urge Helps develop desirable physical, mental, social and spiritual qualities

Can build or maintain relationships –Friends –Family

Organized Camping Defined: organized camp as being comprised of a community of persons living together as an organized, democratic group in the outdoor setting –Related educational programs and activities are supervised by trained staff to meet personal needs and interests of participants –Activities of the camp should focus on natural environment and takes advantage of experiences inherent to living out-of doors –Thus, the natural surroundings should contribute significantly to the Mental Physical Social Spiritual Growth of the camper

4 Principles of Organized Camping 1.Focuses on the natural environment in an outdoor setting 2.Consists of the total of all experiences that take place throughout the length of the camp 3.Revolves around group living experiences in an organized community 4.Relies on trained and well-qualified staff

What are the various types of organized camps? 1.Resident or established camps 2.Trip or travel camps 3.Day camps 4.Special camps 5.School camps

Resident or Established Camps Campers live for a period of time –Few days to 8 or more weeks Most have permanent buildings –Rustic or primitive Very different from home Simple life –Summer resorts Comforts of home Give me some examples

Trip or Travel Camps Trip Camps start from a common base, then travel by foot, canoe, bicycle, horseback, sailboat, a horse-drawn “covered wagon”, etc. –Key self-propelled means of transportation Travel Camps groups are transported by car or bus and usually make camp each night at a new location.

Wilderness, pioneer or survival camping Specialized form of primitive camping undertaken by older campers trained for the experience. –Dropped off –One or more skilled counselors or guides are in charge –Mainly get food from nature –Can last from a week or an entire summer

Day Camp Set up to accommodate campers who commute from home each day –1 to 5 days of operation –Who offers day camps? –What kinds of day camps are there?

Special Camps Camps that focus on one or a few special interests or needs Classified as either –Special interest camps Examples (p.8): –Special purpose camps Examples (p.8):

Outdoor Education and School Camping Outdoor Education: Process of learning that takes place out of doors –Broadly includes education on: environment, conservation, adventure, school camping, wilderness therapy, outdoor recreation. School Camping: camping trip to a regular campsite by one or more school classes to learn about various topics –Can be outdoor education related or may not be (could be math for example) –The key is to correlate the camping experience with what is occurring in the classroom Example?

Independent or Private Camps Owned by individuals and usually run for a profit (but, not always). –Often incorporated and some sell stock –Receive no public $ –Charge fees between $500 to $1000 Limits participants to middle or upper class –4 to 8 weeks

Government-Sponsored Camps Acting on behalf of the public use tax funs to support camp programs –Meaning these are either free or have a minimal fee –Examples: municipal recreation and park depts, school systems, welfare depts, and state-owned hospitals or rehab. centers

Length of the Camp Season Summer camps –July and August – referred to as the “camp season” –When divided into several shorter periods “camp sessions” –“Long-term camps” – stay for half or the entire camp season: 4 to 8 weeks –“Short-term camps” 1 week 10 days 2 weeks Most camps sponsored by an agency or organization are short-term camps

Fast Facts 8,500 organized camps are in operation in the US –65% are resident camps –35% are day camps 73% of the resident and day camps are operated by agency or non-profit groups 23% of resident and day camps are private/independent Records show that total number of camps is declining; however, camp attendance is at an all time high –Why do you think this is happening? –Is going to ‘camp’ an American tradition?

American Camping Association (ACA) Developed standards of performance –Regarded as the standards of the industry by government, courts and public –Only standards that are applicable to all kinds of camps

To be Accredited by ACA Camp must be visited by a trained ACA Standards Visitors who verify compliance in the following areas –Site & Facilities –Administration –Transportation –Personnel –Program –Health Care –Aquatics –Horseback Riding –Trip/Travel camping –Accreditation occurs once every 3 years

American Camping Association (ACA) ACA Standards

The ultimate goal of organized camping is education.

Staff ratio: What does ACA recommend? AGE SERVED 6 and under and over # of Campers to Individual Counselor Special Populations may be 1:1 or 1:2 ratio

Trends in camping Why are camps competing for campers? How are camps competing for campers?

Camp Personnel Correct ratios Diversity –Religious, social, economic, ethnicity Gender variation

Ages of Campers Problems with ….been there done that… With diversified camp activities each year there is a trend that older campers will return –Attracted by wilderness adventures, whitewater boating, mountaineering, spelunking, sail boarding & CIT programs (counselor in training)

Qualification & Professionalism of Camp Staff 1 st counselors were often college athletes –(well, I would say a lot of them still are!) But, today they are much better trained. –How? College courses offer training CIT…biggy! ACA courses Research –We learn more as more research is gained in various areas »Psychology, education, health, sociology

A few more key trends Using facilities year-round to help cut costs (or subsidize income) Smaller and shorter group outings Urban facilities More people making “organized camping” their profession