Something has changed in summer camping over the last few years, and it isn’t about any of the activities.

It’s something much bigger than the lakes, pools, ropes courses, and dining halls with millions of campers in them every year.

Government agencies have started calling ACA first, not last. Foundations have begun viewing camps as essential infrastructure, not just enrichment programs. Policymakers have started asking for our input, not just wondering who we are and why we’re there.

The question isn’t what changed externally.

The question is, what changed internally that made the external shift possible?

Credibility Is Claimed, Not Granted

No one handed ACA a seat at the table. The invitation didn’t come first.

What came first was a decision. To show up as if we already belonged there.

This meant showing up with clarity about what camps contribute to this country.

Character building.

Critical skill development.

Growth mindset and belonging.

College and career readiness.

Physical and mental health.

And, of course, community building.

These aren’t secondary benefits. They’re core outcomes.

Camps teach the skills young people need most. Leadership. Collaboration. Problem-solving under pressure. The ability to live and work with people who see the world differently.

We do this at scale. We do it deeply and meaningfully. We do it efficiently. We do it in ways other programs struggle to replicate.

Once we believed that internally, everything else followed.

Action Built Credibility

During COVID, we didn’t wait for the CDC to tell us what to do. We partnered with public health experts and built the Field Guide ourselves (in six weeks!). States across the country adopted it. Other youth-serving organizations used it as their blueprint.

When summer seasonal businesses were excluded from PPP, we didn’t accept it. We fought. We made the case. We won. That funding saved countless camps.

When funders saw what we could do as a field and understood what we do every summer to help kids to become strong, caring future leaders, they made the decision to invest in us.

Now we’re building the first Congressional Camp Caucus. There is a buzz on the Hill. The Camp Caucus is on the runway, about to take off (more on that soon)!

The pattern is consistent.

Each time, we acted first. We showed up prepared, professional, and serious. We spoke with an authority that’s been earned over decades.

And each time, the response has been the same: “Yes, this matters. We want to be part of it.”

What Changed

Government agencies now engage ACA as a credible partner. Not someone asking for help. Someone offering solutions.

Peer organizations in youth development recognize ACA’s leadership. Foundations respond to demonstrated capacity. Congressional offices take meetings seriously, because they know we’ve done the homework.

This didn’t happen overnight.

It’s the result of years of consistent, serious work. Showing up prepared. Delivering what we promise. Leading instead of waiting to be led.

The external perception shift followed the internal one.

Once we believed camp belonged in national policy conversations, we started showing up for those conversations. Once we showed up consistently and competently, others started expecting us to be there.

Credibility became structural.

Why the Caucus Matters

The caucus isn't the beginning of this story. It's the continuation.

It's the next logical step for an organization that's proven it can lead.

But it’s also infrastructure. So the next crisis doesn’t require improvisation. So relationships are already built when legislation gets written. So camps have a permanent voice, not just a crisis response team.

The Field Guide proved we could move fast under pressure. PPP proved we could shape policy outcomes. Grant support shows funders see camps as worthy of transformational investment.

The caucus proves we’re not stopping there.

We’re Just Getting Started

The shift from limited awareness to being taken seriously happened because we chose to lead.

Belief drove behavior. Behavior earned credibility. Credibility opened doors.

And those doors lead to bigger opportunities for every camp in this country.

This is still early. There’s room to go bigger. To do more. To claim an even larger role in shaping how this country thinks about what kids will need to thrive in this rapidly changing world and how to give it to them.

That world is listening now.

Let’s make sure they hear us.

Join the movement. Get updates on the Camp Caucus and learn how you can support camp advocacy in DC.

Scott Brody is ACA’s Government Affairs co-chair and leads the association’s advocacy efforts in Washington, DC. He served as ACA National Board Chair during the COVID-19 crisis, helping guide camps nationwide through safe reopening while securing unprecedented federal support. A camp director for more than 30 years, Scott is Director Emeritus of Camps Kenwood & Evergreen and owner of Everwood Day Camp and Camp Sewataro. He has dedicated his career to advancing the life-changing impact of camp and championing its value on a national stage.

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