Top Tips for Camps
- Intentionally select program activities that provide one or more of the youth-development supports (supportive relationships, safety, youth involvement, skill building).
- Identify and improve ways in which campers are immersed in your camp’s program, philosophy, traditions, and mission.
- Examine ways to enhance camper's feelings of physical and emotional safety.
- Create meaningful new practices in which youth feel involved in decision making and leadership opportunities.
- Evaluate activity plans to see how they provide challenges, support, and reinforcement of your camp’s mission.
Tips adapted from Designing Quality Youth Programs [1]. American Camp Association.
Articles and Advice
- ACA' s Camp Program Improvement Project: Discovering Program Strategies That Make a Difference [2]. American Camp Association
- Building Camps that Care About Kids. Camping Magazine Series
- Camp Program Quality Assessment [7]. American Camp Association
- Creating Positive Youth Outcomes: Linking Camp Programs to Camper Outcomes through Assessment. [8]American Camp Association e-Institute
- Designing Quality Youth Programs. [1]American Camp Association e-Institute
- Explore 30 Camp Reading Program [9]. [9]American Camp Association
- Fostering Quality Athletic Programs in Camps to Promote Lifetime Physical Activity [10]. Camping Magazine.
- Program Improvement Toolbox. [11] American Camp Association e-Institute
Resources
- American Camp Association — Research on Program Design [12]
- American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences [13]
- American Association for Horsemanship Safety [14]
- American Canoe Association [15]
- American Legion — Junior Shooting Sports [16]
- American Red Cross [17]
- American Riding Instructors Association [18]
- American Therapeutic Recreation Association [19]
- Association for Challenge Course Technology [20]
- Association for Experiential Education [21]
- Association of Technology Teachers [22]
- Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports [23]
- Certified Horsemanship Association [24]
- Civilian Marksmanship Program [25]
- Educational Theatre Association [26]
- Individual Special Needs Resources [27]
- Music Teacher's National Association [28]
- National Art Education Association [29]
- National Association of Special Education Teachers [30]
- National Association of Underwater Instructors [31]
- National Gardening Association — Kid's Gardening [32]
- National Outdoor Leadership School [33]
- National Science Teacher's Association [34]
- Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International [35]
- Reading Is Fundamental [36]
- Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) [37]
- U.S.A. Archery [38]
- U.S.A. Baseball [39]
- U.S.A. Waterski [40]
- U.S. Sailing [41]
- U.S. Youth Soccer [42]
- All ACA Resources on the Emerging Issue of Public Violence [43]