About American Summer Camps

History

The concept of summer camping in the USA first began about 125 years ago, when schools and other organizations began taking groups on retreats in a back-to-nature trend aimed at pastoral rejuvenation. William Frederick Gunn, headmaster of the Gunnery School in Connecticut, is documented as having organized the first summer camp in 1861 for his pupils. Since that time, over 10,000 camps have sprung up across the USA, many with long histories and revered traditions. Summer camp is now a way of life for most American children, with the American Camping Associate (ACA) reporting that approximately 10 million children now attend camp annually.

Location & Size

There are literally thousands of camps across the US, from the Catskill Mountains of New York to the Arizona desert and even in the Alaskan wilderness! Camps range from small independent programs with under 100 campers to large, specialty programs with hundreds of staff and campers.

The Campers

The primary purpose of many camps is the educational, physical and social development of campers. Children are encouraged to try new things in safe surroundings. Summer camp is often the first time that many children spend an extended period of time away from home and parents. As such, a great deal of trust is imparted to the camps to provide a nurturing and holistic environment.

The Staff

At most camps, the adult supervisors are referred to as counselors and they are assigned to small groups of campers, called "bunks", "cabins", or "units". Counselors often share living accommodations with their campers or other counselors. Camps also recruit support staff to work in areas such as the camp office or the kitchen and these roles are just as important to a thriving camp environment. Camps hire staff from all over the US and many camps also choose to hire international counselors, who can provide a first-hand cultural experience for the campers and add value to any camp program.

Camp Activities

Although still true in many respects, the traditional view of a summer camp as an outdoor environment with hiking, canoeing, and campfires is evolving. In order to meet the ever-expanding interests and needs of campers, more and more summer camps are offering a wider variety of specialized activities. There are camps for the performing arts, rock music, magic, computers, languages, mathematics, persons with special needs and weight loss, just to name a few!

Whatever you are looking for this summer, we have a camp that will provide you with an amazing adventure and a life changing experience.