The morning after we announced the Congressional Camp Caucus at the ACA National Conference, a camp director in Oklahoma sent an email.

His name is Jason Brown. He’s the executive director of YMCA Camp Classen. He has already been part of our advocacy work for a while.

Jason is ACA’s Local Council of Leaders chair for his region, someone we’d been working alongside on state-level camp safety legislation. Oklahoma is among the states looking at new emergency management rules for camps, and Jason was in the middle of that discussion.

He knows the field and understands what we are building.

Jason was at the National Conference when we announced the creation of our House Camp Caucus. The next morning, he told his board about it on their regular call.

One Email

A day after the announcement, Jason emailed our ACA Government Affairs lead Michele Branconier. One of his board members had a personal relationship with Senator Lankford of Oklahoma and was willing to open lines of communication.

This wasn’t in any way an elaborate ask. Just, “I have something that might help, and I want to use it.”

I had visited Lankford’s office the previous November and had a good introductory meeting. Then it stalled. Months passed. Senate offices are large and busy. Getting past a mid-level staffer without a personal connection is slow work.

Then, some days later, Jason emailed Lankford’s chief of staff. His board had given him the direct contact.

A few minutes later, the chief responded. He added the deputy chief of staff. He asked for our ACA contact person and whether we had a lead democrat. We did.

Five minutes. After months. That’s how we got our Republican Senate cochair.

You Have This Too

I’m telling you this because Jason’s story isn’t unique to him. It’s available to all of us. He was paying attention, recognized he had a useful connection, and made a call.

Every camp in America has the same potential.

Think about your alumni. Former campers now working in state legislatures, on congressional staffs, in agencies that touch camp policy. Parents whose professional lives cross paths with elected officials. The counselor from 15 years ago who is now on city council. Board members with relationships that go back decades.

These connections are everywhere. No one has ever asked you to use them for this.

We’re asking now.

You don’t need to know the legislative details. You don’t need to lobby. You just need to reach out to someone with a connection to an elected official and say, “Camps are building something important in Washington, and I’d like you to know about it.”

That’s what Jason did.

And it’s a big reason why the Caucus is making huge strides.

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.