ANN ARBOR, June 3, 2024 — Through innovative research conducted by the University of Michigan Economic Growth Institute (EGI) in collaboration with the American Camp Association (ACA),
The U.S. youth camp industry contributes
This figure represents the industry's overall economic impact across the nation while also supporting more than 986,428 workers. The industry
“This project is the first national economic impact study for the industry conducted since 1982 and builds on state-level and regional economic impact analyses conducted over the last 15 years,” said Sarah Crane, director of research at U-M's Economic Growth Institute, who conducted the study with EGI Research Project Manager Eli McClain.
The study, a collaborative effort between EGI and ACA,
- Direct impacts: These are the immediate economic contributions from the industry's core operation. They include camp staff wages and the money spent to operate the camps.
- Indirect impacts: These effects come from camps buying goods and services from other businesses, which creates a spending chain that boosts economic activity across sectors.
- Induced impacts: This is the economic activity that occurs when employees from the camps and the businesses supplying them spend their wages, which further stimulates economic growth.
Crane and McClain to date have compiled an extensive dataset on day and overnight camp operations, encompassing more than 20,000 records and survey data from 1,137 camp operations. The comprehensive study enabled researchers to assess economic impacts both nationally and on a state-by-state basis. In Michigan, for example, the camp industry generat
ACA President and CEO Tom Rosenberg says the study “provides the camp industry a critical launching point for demonstrating its national presence as an important context for youth development, workforce development, and state and local economic impact.
“We have strong research supporting the developmental and social benefits of summer camp experiences for young people,” Rosenberg said. “This new view of camps across the U.S. suggests there are more camps — which means more opportunities for young people to attend camp — than we knew before. This study also elevates the unique nature of the camp workforce and the ways working at camp can provide critical workforce development skills for emerging adults. We are excited to use these findings to ensure every child, youth, and young adult has access to an impactful camp experience.”
About American Camp Association
The American Camp Association® (ACA) is a national organization serving the more than 20,000 year-round and summer camps in the US that annually serve 26 million campers. ACA is committed to collaborating with those who believe in quality camp and outdoor experiences for children, youth, and adults. ACA provides advocacy, evidence-based education, and professional development, and is the only independent national accrediting body for the organized camp experience. ACA accreditation provides public evidence of a camp's voluntary commitment to the health, safety, risk management, and overall well-being of campers and staff. For more information, visit ACAcamps.org.
About U-M's Economic Growth Institute