Recognizing that their activities and programs are highly effective alternative learning models, camps are accepting a greater role in year-round education and youth development. Camps can reinvigorate their businesses, and schools can benefit from the power of outdoor, experiential learning. Advice includes explaining camp benefits in terms…

Describes symptoms of learning disabled (LD) children and describes often-associated affects of learning disabilities on child's social skills. Recommends residential camp setting for LD children, suggesting the "learn-by-doing" environment helps them overcome challenges and to improve self esteem. Offers tips for designing LD camp programs. (TES)

Stresses the importance of developing camp programs that serve the needs of economically disadvantaged, inner-city youth. Suggests strategies for recruiting and working with inner-city youth and parents. Suggestions based on programing at Camp Rosenthal (Dowagiac, Michigan), a residential camp that hosts more than 800 inner-city Chicago youth each…

Resident outdoor environmental education (ROEE) is a camp-based extension of the classroom for two to five days, promoting student independence, interpersonal skills, and ecological awareness. Advantages and disadvantages of the "camp as innkeeper" and full program-provider models are given. Program development guidelines cover expenses,…

Describes two-step exercise for applying imagination to summer-camp programing. Step 1 involves casting programs in imaginary environment, altering them for new setting. Step 2 involves role playing, encouraging participants to "wear" new cultural roles such as American Indians, cowboys, or sailors. Emphasizes value of imagination for improving…

For camps to be successful, management should empower camp staff to be heroes (leaders). This is based on three rules: campers look for heroes; heroes build successful camps; and successful directors build heroes. Being a hero implies being the best one can be and always attempting to improve the example communicated to others. (LP)

Camps perceive year-round school as a threat, but since less than 4 percent of students are affected, the impact is minimal. Camps that are affected can make schools and communities aware of camps' strengths in outdoor and environmental education, self-esteem building, and meeting youth's developmental needs; become a partner in year-round…

Discusses the effect of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on camp programing and provides strategies to improve camp accessibility for people with disabilities. Discusses obstacles to integrated programing including ecological and architectural barriers, attitudinal barriers, transportation barriers, barriers of omission, economic…

Provides selected 14-item outdoor-environmental education bibliography and 20-item checklist of factors weekend/summer camp directors should consider when pondering entry into the outdoor education market. Covers issues of camp philosophy, staff, facilities additions/alterations, equipment, food service, competition, environmental impact,…