1. What organized camp is

Part of Camp leadership basics, an introductory course on general camp-leadership knowledge. It is not the official material of any certification course.

A family weekend at a campground and a two-week youth camp are both "camping," but only the second is an organized camp: a program with a purpose, a plan and trained leaders. This course is for people who lead or help at organized camps: youth camps, school outdoor programs, scout and church camps, community or "disaster camping" events.

A definition

The American Camp Association (ACA) quotes a classic definition of organized camping as a "sustained experience which provides a creative, recreational, and educational opportunity in group living in the out-of-doors," using "trained leadership and the resources of natural surroundings to contribute to each camper's mental, physical, social, and spiritual growth." ACA notes that camping itself is ancient, while organized camping is more recent, dating back to the late 1800s.

Japan's national camp association uses a similar idea: organized camping is camping with a program prepared and planned to achieve a purpose. It lists six requirements, which make a useful checklist anywhere:

1. It has an intention or purpose.
2. It is run as an organization.
3. It values the process from planning to delivery.
4. There are leaders.
5. The leaders understand the campers.
6. It involves the natural environment and outdoor living and activity.

Accreditation versus licensing

ACA says its standards focus on health, safety and risk management, and include practices for screening and interviewing staff, staff training, supervision ratios, minimizing one-on-one interactions, and emergency procedures. It is also candid: no accreditation process, licensing program or set of laws can guarantee safety.

What campers gain

Between 2001 and 2004, ACA surveyed over 5,000 families from 80 accredited camps. Parents and children reported growth in areas such as confidence and self-esteem, social skills and making friends, and independence and leadership qualities. No differences were found by camp type (day or resident) or session length. These are self-reported outcomes from accredited camps, so treat them as encouraging rather than proof that camp causes the change.

How a camp is organized

Most organized camps have two lines of work: program (counselors or group leaders who live and play with campers) and operations (logistics, food, transport, health, communications), both under a camp director. Whatever your role, three basics keep the organization working: do your own job fully, help each other, and report, contact and consult (keep information flowing up and across).

Think it through

1. Which of Japan's six requirements does a camp you know meet? Which is missing?
2. If you were choosing a camp for your own child, what three questions would you ask the director?

Related on this site

• The Ten Essentials and a trip plan
• Active kids