At any given point in the summer, I can stop what I am doing and listen. Through the distance and the noise, I can hear the laughter and play of millions of children at camps across the country. As I hear that unique sound in my mind, I recognize all that is happening through those relationships and all that fun. Whether labeled as such or not, for as long as camps have existed, character development has been foundational to the learning and growth that happens there.

As ACA continues to focus on supporting and extending the character development that happens at camp, we have found the Character Lab definition most useful: character is the “intentions and actions that benefit both the individual and others.” Personal character is the recognition that we are not alone in this world, and so much of what will define our individual journeys has to do with our relationships with those around us.

At the conceptual level, character can be hard to grasp. Just name the character traits, however, and what you are talking about comes clearly into focus. Gratitude. Honesty. Grit. Self-control. Curiosity. Creativity. When you talk about these things, people understand what you mean. And it becomes easier to see how camp experiences have always centered on building character.

Through the generosity and vision of Lilly Endowment, Inc., ACA is fortunate enough to bring resources to camps to create, improve, and extend character development in your programs. At the end of this six-year initiative, I truly believe that the entire camp field will be forever transformed.

Within these pages, you will find an initial taste of the resources that ACA is developing and aggregating to benefit your work. I hope you will enjoy the insights of thought leaders such as Bob Ditter, Audrey Monke, Sterling Leija, and others. These resources offer thought-provoking perspectives on character development in a camp setting, as well as practical guides to marketing character programs and utilizing character as a framework for strategic planning. As we move through this exciting time together, ACA is eager to continue to bring together the best minds and provide practical resources that can easily be implemented at camps.

Character development has been a central part of how camps prepare young people for their best futures. ACA’s research over the years has demonstrated how camp can be an accelerant within the child development ecosystem. Positive camp experiences can drive better educational outcomes.

With such incredible impacts, we should celebrate the 26 million children who annually have the opportunity to develop these critical character traits at camp. However, we are compelled to acknowledge that such a large number still only includes about half of the school-aged children in our country. At ACA, we will continue to focus on the work required to expand our field until every child, and many adults, have the opportunity for such life-changing experiences.

As you engage in this hard work, it is important to stop occasionally and listen to the sounds of your impact. The laughter. The relationships. The fun. 

Thank you for what you do every day. It is the most important work there is!