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by Peg L. Smith, Chief Executive Officer
As an early childhood specialist, I have always understood that play
is the business of childhood. Take play away from children and youth
and we, literally, put them out of business. Play is the business of
learning, experiencing life first-hand. Can we afford to create such
a deficit model for today’s children and youth by eliminating the
opportunities for play—the very nature of childhood? To do so makes
the future look grim, very grim.
Maybe we have something important to learn from the Millennials (born
1982 to 1999). The Millennials view leadership opportunities as a participatory
process that is fully engaging—now. It is the experience of being
a part of something and the ability to use one’s mind and body
to influence outcome. I would suggest it is a sophisticated form of play—the
adult version of play—and equally important to human development.
The camp experience has honored and nurtured the traditions of play
for campers and counselors, alike, for nearly 150 years. The camp community
is, and has always been, an inter-generational environment advancing
the principles of play throughout the camp community. Isn’t it
curious that today we see what we have always known—that the importance
of play and experiential participation is recognized as developmentally
significant in a world that has gone crazy with academic over-drive?
I would suggest this academic fervor creates an environment that risks
forfeiting essential human needs: social, emotional, and physical health.
Humans are not one dimensional but rather complex personalities. Comprehensive
development must be addressed if we are to be healthy and productive.
And, understanding the importance of healthy development is crucial in
today’s society.
As ACA professionals, we believe in health and wellness as well as cognitive
development. As ACA professionals, we have dedicated our efforts to health
and safety evidenced in our Standards Program. As ACA professionals,
we have advocated for children, youth, and families for nearly 100 years
by ensuring that positive camp experiences are available to all interested
persons. Yet, as ACA professionals our voices have been relatively silent,
and our messages have been inconsistent or confounded by industry lingo.
Too often, we fail to communicate the essential truths of health, wellness,
play, and active participation to our parents and the public in our camp
literature. More of us than not, I regret to say, fail to display the
ACA-accreditation logo on our Web sites. How can we expect people to
understand who and what we are, let alone our importance, if we don’t
speak up as a community of camp professionals? If there was ever a time—now
is the time.
Originally published in the 2007 January/February
issue of Camping Magazine. |
