It’s official! The Congressional Camp Caucus has its first leaders, and they have filed the paperwork to bring it to life on Capitol Hill.

Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH) and Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC) have agreed to serve as the cochairs of America’s first-ever Camp Caucus.

This is the first time in history that members of Congress have volunteered to lead a formal caucus devoted entirely to the camp community.

Simply put, this is what leadership looks like.

Why This Matters For Camps

Securing any congressional cochair can be difficult. But securing two, one from each party, creates legitimacy and momentum.

Being first to a caucus requires vision and conviction.

Rep Edwards and Rep Pappas stepping up changes our camp message.

We’re now saying, “Join this bipartisan team to help one of the most important American institutions going.”

These two stepped forward because camp matters. To families. To local economies. To the country’s future.

Rep. Chuck Edwards: Camp Central

Chuck Edwards represents North Carolina’s 11th District, covering Western North Carolina’s mountain region.

This area is “Camp Central.” Over 25 ACA-accredited camps operate in his district. These include private camps, nonprofit camps, church camps, and Jewish camps. The full camp ecosystem lives in his backyard.

Camps are major economic engines in Western North Carolina. Rep. Edwards sees that every day.

He also sees it personally. His children have gone to camp. His staff went to camp. When we met during Hill Days, we didn’t need to explain the power of camp. He and his team already knew.

In Congress, Edwards serves on the House Appropriations Committee, a rare honor for a freshman member. He’s Vice Chairman of the National Security Subcommittee and built a reputation for focusing relentlessly on constituent services.

And a funny sidenote? Our meeting with his office was the very last meeting of my entire first DC trip. The final conversation before heading home.

And he became the first Republican to step forward.

His office reached out quickly. They saw what the caucus could do for camps across the country, starting with the dozens in their own district.

Rep. Chris Pappas: Close to Home

Chris Pappas represents New Hampshire’s First Congressional District.

New Hampshire has deep camp tradition. The camp that has been my home for the last 50+ years, Kenwood & Evergreen, is in NH. Camp is woven into the state’s identity.

Pappas said yes almost immediately after Hill Days. His office reached out proactively, without any follow-up needed from our team. In fact, he had been thinking about the need for a camp caucus even before we asked him.

Before Congress, Pappas ran his family’s 108-year-old restaurant in Manchester. He knows what it means to serve a community over generations. He brought that same work ethic to politics.

In Congress, he serves on the Veterans’ Affairs and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees. He’s known as a pragmatic problem solver who delivers results.

With Rep Pappas and Rep Edwards, we begin to bring some geographic balance to the caucus leadership. A Northeast anchor paired with a Southern anchor. A Democrat and a Republican. Both representing states where camp is essential to the fabric of summer.

Both believers from day one.

What This Unlocks

Their partnership officially launches the caucus. And momentum is building. Equal numbers of Dems and Republicans have already signed on to start building out our membership, and excitement is building.

Now the work shifts to continue to build out House membership with our new leaders driving that effort forward. We are also readying the launch of our Senate caucus and are busily identifying Senate cochairs, reaching back to every office we met with during Hill Days.

The work has just started.

We’re now inviting offices to join an existing, bipartisan effort led by two respected members of the House, with more to follow in the Senate.

That makes recruitment dramatically easier.

It’s sometimes tough to be the first name on a petition. But once two people sign, the rest follow.

The Foundation Is Set

These two leaders see clearly what camps contribute.

Economic vitality. Youth development. Building uniquely human skills that will likely matter most in an AI-driven world. Mental health support. Safe, structured environments where kids grow. Authentic connection. Unplugged relationships. Belonging.

They stepped forward first. That takes courage. It also signals something important.

Camp now has real champions in Congress.

The caucus is no longer an idea. It’s real. It has bipartisan leadership. It has momentum.

And it’s just getting started.

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.