Top Ten Things You Never Knew About Camp
Camp has become a staple of the summer season. Each year, millions of children, youth, and adults head to the hills,
lakes, valleys, and parks to participate in the time-honored tradition of camp. And, while most people easily conjure
up images of campfires and canoes, there is a lot more to the camp experience. Here are ten of the things you may
not have known about the camp experience.
10. Camp is older than dirt, almost literally. Started in 1861, the camp experience turned an impressive
160 years young in 2021. The secret behind the longevity? “Camps are adapting to meet the needs of today’s
campers,” says Tom Rosenberg, president/CEO of the American Camp Association. “At the same time, the
impact camp has on campers, the life-changing experience, has remained after all these years.”
9. Camp is worth its weight in gold, and then some! The camp experience is life-changing – developing
friendships and memories that last well beyond the final campfire.
8. Green is “zen.” Research shows that first-hand experience with nature, like those at camp, reduce stress
in children and help them better handle stress in the future. In addition to teaching children how to be good
stewards of the environment, camps are teaching children how to enjoy the world around them and take a
minute to breathe deep and feel the nature, which ultimately teaches them how to de-stress the natural way.
7. Try this on for size! Camp is a great place to try new activities and hobbies. Afraid of rock walls?
According to ACA research, 74 percent of campers reported that they tried new activities at camp that they
were afraid to do at first. And, those activities often leave lasting impressions. In the same survey, 63 percent
of parents reported that their child continued new activities from camp after returning home.
7. Manners matter, and often linger. The camp experience teaches more than just archery or lanyard
making. The entire experience is made of teachable moments, perhaps one of the biggest is how to be with a
group of people. Campers learn to pick up after themselves, respect each other’s property, and to say
“Please” and “Thank You.”
5. Veggies taste better with friends. Hollywood and fictional novels may have given camp food a bad
reputation, but in truth, camps are constantly exploring healthy food options, and often are at the forefront of
things like allergy specific diets, healthy snack options, and vegetarian meals. According to ACA’s
Emerging Issues survey, 90.7 percent of responding camps indicated that healthy eating and physical activity
was an important or very important issue.
4. If everyone else went to camp, maybe there’s something to it! Camp has played an important role in
the lives of some of the most talented people in history.
3. Camp gets those neurons pumping! Education reform debate and concern over summer learning loss
have pushed academic achievement into the spotlight. Research shows that participation in intentional
programs, like camp, during summer months helps stem summer learning loss. In addition, camp provides
ample opportunity for developmental growth, which is a precursor to academic achievement. And, because of
the “hands-on” nature of camp, often children who struggle in traditional education settings do well at camp.
2. Camp gets those neurons pumping! Education reform debate and concern over summer learning loss
have pushed academic achievement into the spotlight. Research shows that participation in intentional
programs, like camp, during summer months helps stem summer learning loss. In addition, camp provides
ample opportunity for developmental growth, which is a precursor to academic achievement. And, because of
the “hands-on” nature of camp, often children who struggle in traditional education settings do well at camp.
1. CAMP IS FUN!