Trends Affecting Nonprofit Camps

Camping Magazine, March, 2000 by Deborah Bialeschki, Karla Henderson

Critical Issues

Trend: The demographics of American society are changing.

The changing face of America presents the following issues:

* Recruiting campers and staff that reflect local and national diversity.

* Resolving the income gap problem in our society

* Using camp to address youth development issues.

* Getting leaders that can serve as positive adult role models.

Trend: Accountability is critical in all social organizations.

This presents the issue of:

* Determining what goals and objectives camping accomplishes

Recommendations

* Camp staff need to examine fee structures to make sure that some campers are not being eliminated from camp. In nonprofit camps, the balancing of young people from all income levels should be considered.

* Staff in camps need to examine cultural values that may preclude people from participating in camp programs

* The focus on increasing camp numbers must examine how to make camps inclusive as well as how many campers can be reasonably served without sacrificing a quality experience.

* Staff who can serve as positive role models must be hired and trained in what it means to be a positive role model.

* Camp programs must address a variety of opportunities and skill levels.

* Youth have many choices with what to do with their lives. In choosing to come to camp, they should know what to expect.

* Camp programs attempt to address ethics and values; staff must be able to clearly articulate these values.

* A camp cannot be everything to everybody. Each camp must determine what camper needs they can address and what groups to target in their recruitment efforts.

* For effective recruitment, camp directors will need to be sensitive to diversity issues such as disability and income status.

* A focus on recruiting campers who represent diverse groups must be done in collaboration with the agency at large and its recruitment efforts.

Looking to the Future

Nonprofit camping will survive into the new millennium. With a focus on mission, strategic planning, and making a difference in addressing critical societal issues, nonprofit camps will flourish. Big challenges exist, however, that camp leaders must address. Camp leaders may have to focus their energies in new ways, be more cognizant of changing social patterns, and adapt to a work environment more similar to the corporate world. Camp professionals will be asked to do more with less, wear more "hats," and still provide the stable camp programs that are often the most visible articulation of the agency's mission and goals. When nonprofit camp directors are asked "What difference do you make?" they will have to show outcomes and results based on providing effective leadership, clarity of vision, and fiscal responsibility to demonstrate accountability and commitment of to the agency, the campers, and the local community.

Deborah Bialeschki, Ph.D, is an associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Karla Henderson, Ph.D, is professor and chair at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.