Campers have a world of good: Insights from the ACA Sites, Facilities, and Programs Report: 2011
Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Camping Magazine
Volume
84
Issue
5
Publisher
American Camp Association
Publication Date
9-1-2011
First Page
64
Last Page
69
Abstract
Each year, camp staff members spend days — if not weeks — preparing facilities, activity areas, and programs so their campers can enjoy fun, educational, and life-enhancing experiences. Whether operating on a public grassy field or nestled in the woods, one key to successes is knowing about programs and facilities. Every three years, ACA conducts the Sites, Facilities, and Program Survey (SFPS) as a part of the larger, annually conducted business operations surveys. This article focuses on the SFPS completed during the fall of 2010. Fifty percent of ACA-accredited camps were randomly selected to participate in the survey and 539 (40 percent) of the camps responded. Questions focused on general camp operations, facilities, staffing, program activities, and several current issues. Varied characteristics of camps such as budget, size, primary type of camp operation, as well as type of sponsorship and geographic regions, were also gathered. While the survey data are extensive, this article shares some of the key findings of interest to the camp industry. While the general camp operations information as provided in this article offers a useful overview, the real value to these data to camp professionals is found in comparison to other similar camps. If something in particular piques your interest, take note of comparison data details at the end of the article.
Recommended Citation
Roark, M. F., & Mikami, M. (2011). Campers have a world of good: Insights from the ACA Sites, Facilities, and Programs Report: 2011. Camping Magazine, 84(5), 64-69.