More than four million children spent part of summer 1984 at a day or resident camp. The age, interests, and activities enjoyed by the child should be considered when choosing a camp. Advice about finding the right camp from meeting the director to refund policies are discussed. (MT)

The article discusses, in question and answer format, some considerations for parents of the gifted in selecting a summer camp for their child. Aspects covered include needs and interests of the child, staff to camper ratio, camp accreditation, health and safety precautions, and program structure. (DLS)

It is important to start planning for children's summer camp activities long before summer arrives. This paper presents advice from the American Camping Association on asking the right questions of the camp director when looking at different camps. It also discusses the importance of knowing one's options in regard to summer camps. A sidebar…

Recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics discuss components of the medical program for children's camps and provide guidelines for the camper's annual or biennial physical examination, maintenance of health records, health screenings on camper arrival and departure, daily health surveillance, camp health care facilities, and children…

When choosing a summer camp program for a disabled child, parents should look for programs and activities that present the child with a maximum challenge that can be met successfully. After checking agencies with information on various camps, parents should consider the camp's facilities, philosophy, resources, and staff. (CB)

Discusses advantages of camp fairs in establishing contact with new campers and their families. Suggests eight techniques to help camp directors successfully represent their camps. Lists 25 camping fairs held January-March 1987 with date, sponsor, location, and contact. (LFL)

The purpose of this manual is to educate camp directors and camp personnel regarding government-recognized standard practices and procedures followed within the camp industry. These standards also provide a basis for voluntary accreditation of camps by the American Camping Association (ACA) beyond the minimum requirements of licensing. The manual…

Language camps that provide language immersion and cultural experiences for high school students outside of the classroom are described. Descriptions of 49 camps in 26 states are arranged alphabetically by state and provide the names and addresses of sponsors and facts about the program activities and fees. Two of the language camps programs are…

This guide was developed to help the nurse in any outdoor setting or organized camp program serving children and youth to: (1) understand the responsibilities of camp nursing; (2) be aware of the nurse's relationships with the camp director and other workers; (3) relate the camp health program to the overall objectives of the camping program; (4)…

Provides a rationale for using international applicants for American summer camp positions and summarizes the services of organizations that screen, interview, and orient qualified applicants. Discusses contributions that international staff can make to a camp program with a global perspective and points out staff orientation and other practical…

An inclusion audit looks at the messages that a camp conveys to campers, parents, and the public and evaluates whether those messages are congruent with policies of acceptance and inclusion of diversity. Elements include reviewing camp promotional materials, the camp mission statement, and the location of advertising; evaluating forms; examining…

Recommends camping programs for older adults be based on exchange theory of aging, retirement role, and leisure concepts of state-of-mind/holism. Discusses aging, adjustment to retirement, leisure concepts, and aging stereotypes. Urges awareness of social change to provide diversity, leadership, and participant involvement in programs for the…

Addresses the importance of camp evaluation, including the role of formative and summative evaluations; overviews areas of evaluation such as administration, facilities and grounds, programming, and staff; describes functions of evaluation, including human relations, technical function, and conceptual function; describes evaluation tools; and…

School-to-Work programs can help camps address the chronic shortage of support staff and can provide funding for the training and support of teenage staff. One camp's success with teen workers was based on collaboration with families and local schools and agencies, staff cooperation, and administrative willingness to stretch job roles. Benefits to…

This book is the primary text for the Certified Camp Director Program and the Basic Camp Directors Course sponsored by the American Camping Association (Indiana). It provides an orientation for new and prospective camp directors and a quick reference for experienced camp directors. The book covers the following topics: (1) an historical overview…