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 This is an exciting time of year! Camps
are making their lists, interviewing campers
and staff, and checking details twice as
preparations are made for CAMP EXPERIENCES
just around the corner. Why do we
engage in all this activity each year? Because
we know how much campers will grow during
a camp experience, whether it is one week,
two weeks, seven weeks, or eight weeks.
Whether it is day camp or resident camp
or camp for a special population, each
participant will make strides toward adulthood
as they join new groups of peers, as they
encounter the outdoors in new ways, and
as they engage in human-powered activities.
The ACA National Conference in February
was a great educational event pushing
us into the future. Rick Rigsby challenged us to learn from those around
us (Lessons from a Third Grade Dropout). Michael Thompson reminded
us of the great gifts we give to campers as they engage in play and grow in intellectual
ability as well as physical skills. Sally Jewell reminded us of the great
impact that we have on the progression of campers from children to young adults
and challenged us to take that impact to a wider group of potential campers.
And then Peg Smith challenged us to think about what the 20/20 vision would look
like. What if we grow enough to serve 20 million children in camp each
year (up from 10 million today)? What if 20,000 persons participated in
ACA programs and resources? What if this great growth occurred by
the year 2020? This is not out of reach, just a stretch.
As you prepare for a busy summer of camp
experiences, recognize that you are a
change agent. You are helping campers
and staff make the transition into capable
productive community members. We
give staff new skills, we engage them
in learning communities and we provide
instruction as they learn to practice
new skills. We provide experiences for campers that are engaging, challenging
and planned with personal development in mind. We engage campers in challenging
activities which are designed for learning coupled with fun. And each season
of camp we make this happen with lots of energy and excitement.
I would challenge you to prepare to be
changed yourselves. If we embrace
the 20/20 vision, we need to start to look at camp and our love for it in new
ways. What are the populations outside our usual campers who need to be
invited to camp? What are the adaptations to our program which need occur
in order to support their growth as individuals? ACA is charged with serving
the whole public by growing stronger, more capable individual members of society.
What is your challenge to serve a larger piece of the whole public? Be prepared
to change even as you foster change in those around you.
Camp is just around the corner. May
it be all that you wish for and may you
be changed.
Peter Surgenor,
President, American Camp Association
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