ACACamps
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Mar 29, 2005, 1:52 PM
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The History of the Organized Camp Experience
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The camp experience is a unique American tradition. With more than 140 years of history, camp as we know it today has its roots deeply planted in American soil. But while clothing, music, and pastimes have changed over the years, camp has always been a place where children could prepare to be productive and healthy adults in the context of fun and games.
1861—The Gunnery Camp is founded
The Gunnery Camp is considered the first organized American camp. Frederick W. Gunn and his wife Abigail operated a home school for boys in Washington, Connecticut. In 1861, they took the whole school on a two-week trip. The class hiked to their destination and then set up camp. The students spent their time boating, fishing, and trapping. The trip was so successful; the Gunns continued the tradition for twelve years.
1874—First YWCA camp
The Philadelphia chapter of the YWCA founds the organization's first camp (or "vacation project," as it was called). This summer boarding and vacation house was for "tired young women wearing out their lives in an almost endless drudgery for wages that admit no thought of rest or recreation."
1876—The first private camp founded
Dr. Joseph Trimble Rothrock founds the North Mountain School of Physical Culture near Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. For about $200, boys from Philadelphia and Wilkes-Barre came for four months over the summer. The idea was to take "weakly boys out into camp life in the woods . . . so that the pursuit of health could be combined with the practical knowledge outside usual academic lines." (Dr. Rothrock)
1885—First YMCA camp
Summer F. Dudley and seven boys from the YMCA in Newburgh, New York, go on a camping trip. By 1891, there were eighty-three campers.
1900—First Boys' Club camp
The Boys' Club in Salem, Massachusetts, organized a seven-week summer camp and 76 boys attended. By 1930, more than 60 Boys' Clubs conduct summer camp with approximately 26,088 campers attending.
1910—The American Camping Association (ACA) is founded under the original name, Camp Directors Association of America (CDAA), founder Alan S. Williams creates a model and standardizing influence for the organized camp experience for the young. The CDAA merges with the National Association of Directors of Girls' Camps in 1924 and changes its name to the Camp Director Association (CDA). In 1935, the name is changed to the American Camping Association.
1912—First Girl Scout camp
Ever since the founding of Girl Scouts in 1912, camp has played an important role in the Girl Scout program. In 1922, the organization decides to charter camps throughout the country.
1914—First Camp Fire Girls camp
Approximately 500 Camp Fire Girls participate.
1926—The forerunner of Camping Magazine, The Camp Directors' Bulletin, was founded. Camping Magazine is the official publication of the American Camping Association, under the authorization of the National Board of Directors. Its purpose is to inform and educate camp professionals and others in related fields so they can successfully serve their clientele.
1930—The name of the magazine was changed to The Camping Magazine.
1930's—National Park Service develops Recreation Demonstration Areas as part of the federal government's work relief programs, the National Park Service develops Recreation Demonstration Areas, 34 of which are organized camp facilities made available for lease by camp groups that did not own camp grounds. These sites are later turned over to state agencies, particularly state parks.
1946—The title of ACA’s official publication, The Camping Magazine, shifted to simply Camping Magazine.
1948—ACA adopts the Standards, which are the basis for ACA camp accreditation. The ACA Standards are recognized by courts of law and government regulators as the standards of the camp industry. There are currently 300 standards for health, safety, and program.
1955—The ACA national office moves to Bradford Woods in Martinsville, Indiana.
1996—ASCAP agreement reached
The American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) and the American Camping Association make an agreement to let ACA-accredited camps pay a small fee for all ASCAP licensed music. 1996 - United Way changes its focus from an emphasis on numbers served to benefits or outcomes achieved as a result of the participation experience.
1997—Emphasis on Youth Development Outcomes of the Camp Experience
In the mid 1990s the Search Institute begins providing results of research in schools on child and adolescent development, risk prevention, and resiliency based on a framework of forty developed assets, which are positive experiences, relationships, opportunities, and personal qualities that young people need to grow up healthy, caring, and responsible.
1997—ACA begins to integrate education on youth development outcomes in all aspects of camp operations.
1998—The New York Public School System initiates Breakaways
Creating a new model for public education, our nation's largest public school system incorporates camp into its curriculum. The new focus on year-round learning adds up to 28 days of nontraditional learning during the summer and school-year breaks.
1998—Camp standards change to reflect the nature of year-round camps. Many camps offer outdoor education in partnership with schools as part of the year round camp operation.
2001—ACA is awarded a national research grant by the Lilly Endowment based in Indianapolis, Indiana, to conduct research to quantitatively assess the youth development outcomes of the camp experience.
2004—Outcomes study is completed and results are published.
The "About ACA" article was reproduced with permission from the American Camping Association.
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American Camp Association
5000 State Road 67 North
Martinsville, IN 46151-7902
Map to ACA
Phone: 765-342-8456
Fax: 765-342-2065
Web: www.ACAcamps.org
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(This post was edited by ACACamps on May 16, 2006, 7:30 AM)
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