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The camp experience enriches lives
and changes the world.
 Camp
provides children with a community of caring
adults, who nurture experiential education
that results in self-respect and appreciation
for human value. All of the outcomes - self-identity,
self-worth, self-esteem, leadership, and
self-respect - build personal competencies.
These personal competencies are reflected
in the four "C's" of the camp community:
compassion, contribution, commitment, and
character! For years, campers' parents have
reported that when their children return
home from camp they are more caring, understand
the importance of giving, are more equipped
to stand up for what they know is right
and are willing to be more responsible.
These are the qualities that will help build
a successful nation and a civil society.
Children are at less risk at camp where
they have a sense of community, develop
intergenerational relationships, and learn
through first-hand experiences. Trained,
caring adult role models help children feel
loved, capable and included. Camp provides
children with a safe, supervised, positive
environment, which helps children grow.
Camp Professionals have enormous power in
conveying simple teachable moments.special
moments of passing experiences touched by
the human spirit. These fleeting moments
of time build three significant ACA values
that are reflected in the benefits campers
derive from camp.
ACA values people. The moments that result
in the camp experience repeatedly express
the value of people. We demonstrate that
value through respect, honesty, caring,
and sharing. Through the camp experience,
young people learn to understand the strength
of mankind. They also develop an appreciation
for the qualities required to protect the
fragile relationships needed to protect
these relationships.
ACA values the natural world. We seek and
appreciate what is real, genuine, and non-artificial.
In seeking those qualities in people as
well as in the actual world, we foster understanding
of the importance of human connections for
survival and of the critical connections
to our physical world. Campers realize the
need to protect not only one another, but
also the environment in which they live.
Our intent is to preserve and share that
legacy with the next generation.
 Finally,
ACA values a sense of contribution. Our
contributions are both obvious and subtle.
The benefits of our work are both immediate
and slow to emerge. Most significantly,
although the experience itself is often
fleeting, our impact on the human spirit
lasts a lifetime. Children who attend camp
develop connections with the world.
We never underestimate the simplest lesson
or the briefest wink of time. It may be
a star in someone's horizon for all eternity.
Benefits and Anticipated
Outcomes of the Camp Experience
Social Skills Development
- Leadership
- Communication
- Participation
Self-respect and Character Building
- Responsibility
- Resourcefulness
- Resilience
Community Living/Service Skills
- Caring
- Fairness
- Citizenship
- Trustworthiness
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