Camp and Year-round School

Camping Magazine, July, 2000 by Paul E. Marsh

Finally, a camp should adjust programs to meet the needs or constraints of the client base. If a camp's client base is impacted by year-round school, then summer session length may need to be adjusted accordingly. Those camps that will be most challenged by this issue are those that offer sessions longer than four weeks. With more than 50 percent of year-round schools using a single-track system, the actual need for accommodating this issue is likely to be small.

Adopt a Strategy for Success

The threat of year-round school to camping is perceived. Once the issues are examined and understood, the opportunities that actually exist are exciting. That does not mean it will be an easy transition. However, camp teaches the very skills that will allow camps to respond to these opportunities.

The strategy for success is to be active and creative. Camps should attempt to inform parents and educators about the benefits and possibilities that exist in both summer and outdoor/environmental education programs. Being creative in working with the schools, parent organizations, and other community agencies to help develop year-round education programming that meets the community's needs will also further the cause of camp involvement. Every organization has constraints and shortcomings, successful communities recognize this and work together to take advantage of each organization's strengths.

Be positive, patient, and persistent. Camp offers the resources to help a community meet the needs of youth. After all, it is still about making a difference in the life of a child.

Paul Marsh holds an honors B.A. in business administration from the Ivey School, London, Canada, and an M.S. in recreation from Indiana University. Most recently Paul was the coordinator of IU's CORE Program, an experiential education based outdoor leadership program that works closely with Bradford Woods.

Answering the Staffing Challenge

Staffing of expanded programs and seasons may be one of the biggest challenges faced in meeting the needs of a year-round school calendar. There are several potential sources of staffing for expansion of camp programs that can be used in response to the change.

Currently, the number of university recreation degree programs is expanding in the United States. Typically, many of these students are both interested in working in the year-round education field and are required by their academic programs to participate in internship programs. College students are also a potential source of summer staff who can provide continuity for the length of the summer program. These college students can be assisted by different groups of high school students as they rotate through their intersession breaks. There are also several reputable placement agencies that bring young people from overseas to work in summer camp programs. These firms would likely welcome the opportunity to expand their businesses.

Senior citizens and retired people are another group who are often interested in spending part of their day working in the community. Also, the expansion of the camp program will mean the creation of year-round, jobs, with professional staff needed to deliver programs. Some scholars and practitioners have even suggested working to set up programs with local schools for students to earn credit while completing service work at camps.