A Snapshot of Camper Enrollment in 2015

After reviewing the results of the 2015 Enrollment Survey, in general, camps had a good year as enrollment continued to rise. The majority of camps reported at least maintaining the same enrollment numbers compared to 2014, and, in many cases, they were higher. Generally, the camps in the sample were representative of overall ACA membership (231 camp directors responded). The following data, charts, and graphs are based on camp directors’ responses.

Let Your Research Flag Fly! How to Magnify Your Camp Story with Research

In one of her 2010 commentaries in Camping Magazine, former American Camp Association CEO Peg Smith reflected on her conversations with award-winning researcher Marge Scanlin nearly a decade earlier about establishing a strong research tradition in the ACA). She said, “We wanted to find a way to create a culture that could not only say, ‘Camp Gives Kids a World of Good,’ but demonstrate science-based evidence of such” (Smith, 2010). This contrasting desire for both anecdotes and evidence resonates with me.

Program Quality Enhancement

The resources on this page will help you address quality improvement in your programs, staff training, and health practices.

Research Column Manuscript Requirements

Academic research articles must contain information useful to camp professionals. All manuscripts must be the original work of the author and not currently under review elsewhere or previously published.
 
Research article ideas for Camping Magazine's Research column are accepted from camp researchers on an ongoing basis. The Research column reflects current findings of camp-related research in a format that Camping Magazine readers can use to improve the quality of their programs and staff and enhance the experience of the campers.
 

2019 Camp Research Forum

Submit Your Camp Research Forum Call for Proposals

 

The American Camp Association invites researchers to present results of camp-related studies at the ACA Camp Research Forum to be held during the Association's 2019 National Conference from February 19-22, 2019 in Nashville, TN.

Camp Research Forum Submission Details

Bios: Committee for the Advancement of Research and Evaluation

The Committee for the Advancement of Research and Evaluation has the charge to "advise and support the research function of the Association as it serves to develop and enhance knowledge generation and dissemination within ACA." 

Chairperson, Ann Gillard, Ph.D., will be working with Dr. Deb Bialeschki, Dr. Laurie Browne, Mary Rogers, Dr. Tom Akiva, and Dr. Tracey Gaslin to design studies, write scholarly articles, advise on grants, distribute results, and otherwise advance ACA's systematic program of research and evaluation.

CARE Applicant Information

The Committee for the Advancement of Research and Evaluation (CARE) is seeking one new volunteer committee member. An applicant for a CARE member position should ideally have:

CARE: Committee for the Advancement of Research and Evaluation

Interested in serving on CARE? Applications now available for submission! 

Frequently Asked Questions about the ACA Youth Outcomes Battery

Why Were These Tools Constructed?

Many camp professionals are faced with the challenge of proving that they meet their program goals. The following tools — designed with camp professionals in mind — are:

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