Understanding the Send a Child to Camp Fund

The American Camp Association (ACA) Send a Child to Camp Fund provides camp scholarships for ACA-accredited day and resident camps to support children who will benefit from the camp experience but whose families may not otherwise be able to afford camp for their children.

How to access Send a Child to Camp Fund scholarships

ACA does not provide scholarships directly to camper families, and we do not directly select which camps receive scholarship dollars. ACA partners with the UltraCamp Foundation to distribute Send a Child to Camp Funds. UltraCamp selects camps to receive funding through a formal application process. Those camps then award scholarships to campers on behalf of ACA and the Send a Child to Camp Fund. ACA accredited day and resident camps are eligible to take part in the program. Learn more about the UltraCamp Foundation.

Emphasis is placed on children from financially disadvantaged backgrounds

Every child experiences some summer learning loss—the loss of skills learned during the school year resulting from a lack of organized learning during the summer. Children whose families are not struggling financially have more opportunity to participate in camp and other educational programs during the summer to help their minds stay sharp. ACA believes children whose families are financially disadvantaged should have the same opportunity. Send a Child to Camp scholarships help children from financially disadvantaged backgrounds to constructively learn independence and safe risk-taking, build essential mentor relationships, and reap the benefits of connecting with nature.

Camps: Learn more about the ACA Camper Scholarship Program

Families: Learn more about affording camp.