Suggests possible responses for summer camp operators facing insurance rate increases and other insurance industry changes. Examines areas of risk in summer camping and suggests general ways that camps can become more desirable to the insurance industry as "insurable groups." (TES)

This article presents the author's response to Joseph Reimer's essay titled, "Beyond More Jews Doing Jewish: Clarifying the Goals of Informal Jewish Education." Joseph Reimer states that the challenge for informal education is to move beyond socialization to clarify and achieve "deeper" educational goals. Distinguishing between…

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)

Creating a video to use in marketing camp involves selecting a format, writing the script, determining the video's length, obtaining release forms from campers who appear in the video, determining strategies for filming, choosing a narrator, and renting a studio and a mixing engineer (videotape editor). Includes distribution tips. (LP)

Describes the elements of high quality summer music programs for students. Points out considerations for selection of a summer music camp, including setting daily schedule, amount of performance and private lessons, cost, faculty, and program scope. (LS)

Provides camp directors with ideas for building and maintaining a sense of community among their staff, including (1) establishing a vision statement; (2) conducting team-building activities during precamp training; (3) establishing a "full value-no discount" policy that encourages caring behaviors; and (4) reinforcing a sense of…

Discusses options for the hiring, testing, training, and supervision of lifeguards. Stresses the responsibility of camp directors in hiring properly trained lifeguards to ensure camper safety. Includes a precamp screening test of lifeguard knowledge and skills. (LP)

Camp Releaf, a weekend camp in North Carolina, uses therapeutic recreation to help children in grades K-8 develop positive coping skills for dealing with the recent death of a family member. The camp's therapeutic activities are described. Sidebars outline the nature of grief in different age groups and suggestions for working with grieving…

In this article, the authors describe a leadership experience that allows hard of hearing students to learn from the diverse identities of their peers. They describe a Youth Leadership Retreat for mainstream students that includes motivational speeches, adventure learning, ropes courses, team building activities, reflective and small group…

Why has it been so difficult to define the goals of Jewish informal education? Often informal educators define their work in terms of the goals of Jewish socialization. Those terms have worked to attract funders' support, but also limited the educational creativity of this field. This article argues for a dual defining of goals: socialization and…

The purpose of this study was to assess optimal experience, also known as "flow" and "quality of experience" in a private, coeducational resident camp program for children. Flow refers to those times in work and leisure when people report feelings of enjoyment, concentration, and deep involvement. Flow theory predicts that an…

Staff morale is part of all aspects of the camp operation. Six components of camp operation are reviewed in terms of how they affect staff morale. They include: scheduling, training, food, facilities, staffing pattern and program. Each of these aspects is presented in terms of physical needs, or emotional needs, or the subtle, underlying ideas…

This booklet presents information about developing a drama program for a summer camp. The booklet is divided into three parts. The first part deals with the drama program in camp and includes the following sections: (1) Why a Dramatics Program; (2) Principles for Success; (3) Two for the Price of One; (4) Do You Want to be Formal; (5) Creative…

Validated by a jury of experts, 17 basic concepts of outdoor education have been included as the generally accepted principles of outdoor education. The contents of this monograph serve as a guide to the historical data on specific factors and events which influenced the development of outdoor education in the State of New York. While not treating…

Reasons a learning disabled child should attend a summer camp are discussed, together with guidelines for selecting a camp and preparing the child. Information about the residential camps listed includes location, impairments served, age range, dates, size, fee, availability of camperships, and where to obtain further information. (KW)