Camp 2 Grow is a youth leadership and environmental stewardship program developed by the American Camp Association (ACA) through funding from Lilly Endowment Inc.

In the summer of 2009, ACA introduced Camp 2 Grow in twenty-four grant-funded camps in Los Angeles, New York, Indianapolis, Chicago, and Boston. Evaluation results showed significant changes in campers in the areas of independence, empowerment, citizenship, and nature stewardship.

Special thanks to all of the camps who helped ACA pilot the Camp 2 Grow program during the summer of 2009: The Nature Institute Discovery Day Camp, Kiddie Keep Well Camp, Camp Endeavor, Vacamas Programs for Youth, Mass Audubon/Drumlin Farm Day Camp, Flat Rock River YMCA Camps, Greater Elgin YMCA Day/Taylor Family Branch YMCA, Watershed Day Camp, The Fresh Air Fund (Camp ABC and Camp Mariah), Camp Fiver, AYF-Miniwanca, Camp Homeward Bound, Jameson Camp, UCLA UniCamp, Trail Blazer, Kid City Original, Union League Boys & Girls Club, Camp Hollywoodland, CYC - Camp Rosenthal, Holiday Home Camp, Camp Wilbur Herrlich, House In The Wood, and Camp Kaleidoscope.

The Camp 2 Grow program teaches middle- and high-school-aged youth fundamental leadership knowledge and skills in a nature-based setting. The nucleus of the program is LifeKnowledge® — a cutting-edge leadership curriculum created by the National FFA Organization, with environmental stewardship applications designed to be integrated into a typical camp schedule. Camps can customize Camp 2 Grow to achieve camp-specific goals.

Based on a solid educational model and tied to national education standards, each lesson includes learning objectives and applications, step-by-step instructions for easy delivery, and an intentional scope and sequence that will help youth develop essential leadership competencies.

Camps can still get involved in Camp 2 Grow. Grant funding will be available for the 2010 summer camp season (for camps meeting specific criteria) with applications becoming available in December 2009.

To learn more about ACA’s Camp 2 Grow program, contact Andrea Stearley at astearley@ACAcamps.org or visit www.ACAcamps.org/camp2grow.

Any day or resident camp that does not qualify for grant funding can buy-in to Camp 2 Grow to gain full access to the leadership lessons at reduced rates. Start by registering at http://aca.lifeknowledge.com, then clicking on the Camp 2 Grow tab.