As we celebrate the third anniversary of the 20/20 Toolbox series in Camping Magazine and start a new publication year, we are given not only a chance to pause and reflect on what we have accomplished, but an opportunity to reinvent, re-imagine, and recommit ourselves to the purpose and intent of this very important article series.

The 20/20 Vision is a desire and a commitment to serve 20 million by the year 2020. Today, 10 million children and youth go to camp annually. By 2020, we want no fewer than 20 million children going to camp annually, with ACA's camp community directly impacting the lives of those 20 million children.

Strategies for implementation of the 20/20 Vision include:

  • Increasing outreach to camper participants, including those from populations who have not traditionally been served in the camp marketplace.
  • Reaching out to the broader public and communities.
  • Encouraging more camps and people who deliver "camp," including diverse models of the camp experience, to become part of the ACA family.
  • Welcoming more camp and youth development professionals to participate with us in the ACA family.

The 20/20 Toolbox series is designed to provide tools to help existing camps, those who deliver "camp," and those developing new camps, realize a vision that includes an increasing number of children, youth, and adults of all social, cultural, and economic groups having a camp experience.

This series is about building the 20/20 Vision. We have called this series a "toolbox" for a reason; our intent is to focus on providing hands-on, real life "how-to" ideas that can be implemented — going beyond just offering theory.

In keeping with the toolbox concept, we have included — and will continue to include — articles that provide camps with processes and systems on diversity and outreach related topics, such as how to increase diversity, how to serve new audiences, ways to market to new and diverse clienteles, tools for developing outreach strategies, how to be more inclusive of the broader public — the list is limitless.

Additionally, in keeping with the "hands-on tools" approach, we will also continue to showcase camps that are implementing varied, unique, and successful outreach strategies and delivery — to offer the readers of Camping Magazine the opportunity to learn about other programs and efforts that can be adapted for use in their own camps.

And, as we reach out as a more inclusive organization and help camps broaden their horizons, we will continue to challenge thinking and boldly embrace a "mind-wide-open" view within the article series to include fairly boundless definitions of the camp experience and diversity.

CALL FOR WRITERS

Article Expectations/Writing Guidelines

In order to help ensure that the 20/20 Toolbox goals are met, and consistency in the series is maintained, we request that articles meet the following guidelines:

  • Toolbox articles should provide real, user-friendly, "how-to" advice and examples, such as tips, techniques, advice, specific examples, dos and don'ts, suggestions of whom to contact, timelines, implementation plans, etc.
  • Any research must include specific application(s) for the end user (camps); for example, articles must specify how staff can take the research and use it at their camps.
  • Some theory is acceptable, provided that it is used to set the foundation for providing specific examples, tools, and techniques. • Sidebars with chronological steps, pertinent information, and resources (print and Web) are encouraged.
  • Articles should be between 1800–2600 words.
  • Photographs are welcome! Photographs must follow ACA guidelines at www.ACAcamps.org/campmag/photo_release.php.

Submitted articles are not guaranteed publication in any specific issue. All articles undergo an editorial review process, and every submission will be acknowledged and reviewed for potential publication. To submit an idea, please contact Harriet Lowe, director of communications, at 765-342-8456; 765-349-3303 (direct); or hlowe@ACAcamps.org.

Diane Tyrrell, CCD, is a former member of the ACA 20/20 Taskforce and a former ACA National Board member. She currently serves on the Leadership Council for ACA, Virginias and is the director of Camp Motorsport — a residential summer camp specializing in racing and motorsports sciences education for youth ages nine to sixteen.

Originally published in the 2011 September/October Camping Magazine.