When we hear the letters “A, C, A”, many of us cringe:
- “It’s our year to be visited and I haven’t started yet”
- “It’s so expensive!”
- “We follow their guidelines, so accreditation doesn’t really matter.”
- “There’s not much there for faith-based camps.”
- “I can get all the resources I need through UMCRM.”
- “Been there, done that!”
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes and yes – AND it is still important to stay in touch with the American Camp Association as the standard, leader, trendsetter, and advocate for our industry. We are a ministry first, but we also participate in the marketplace of commerce and ideas that is an industry that spans the globe involving 15,000 day and overnight camps, 26 million children and youth served and 1.2+ million staff.
Full disclosure: I served on the National Board of ACA for six years, I am a standards visitor, a donor and I am committed. I serve an organization now that must stretch a bit financially to participate fully, yet there are many ways to engage in the resources of ACA without spending much money.
The most recent ACA National Conference in Orlando was attended by 1700+ persons over four days with keynotes, workshops, forums, vendors, and many sideline conversations. I always find it valuable to share with our professional colleagues who don’t necessarily work for faith-based camps or even nonprofits (many of these are self-sustaining, market-based enterprises with a similar mission) – that camp changes lives – yet many operate without a safety net of a parent organization. And there are so many young people, increasingly diverse, more and more each year, who are called to this mission and have such great enthusiasm and ideas. It is energizing and hopeful.
What were the key learnings from this year’s ACA National Conference for me?
- Day camps are the trend and the key to a sustainable future. Many attendees who operate both have seen a decline in overnight camp enrollment and an increase in day camp enrollment. Parents are less likely to send their campers overnight or a place far away than they are to put them in a local day camp which can provide a meaningful camp experience. This is especially true for urban parents and parents of color – they want local.
- Intergenerational events are also on the rise – people want to spend time away as families and feel safer and happier doing so, even sharing with other families, grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins, too!
- Attendees from faith-based camps did meet for breakfast and conversations about what we have in common. About 24% of ACA membership is faith-based and there is a continuing desire to have a stronger voice. ACA can provide the unique opportunity for interfaith camping conversations among Protestant, Catholic, Non-Denominational, Jewish, and Muslim camps. We share a common scripture and basic theological perspectives on caring for creation, working for justice, the love of neighbor, and care for all God’s people. Yet we face the growing societal bias against organized religion, some based on real trauma, hurt and fear. We seek a way to communicate who we are that corrects misconceptions and emphasizes common values.
Note: I led a workshop at the ACA Conference in Orlando last month on using summer camp curriculum and when I got about 20 minutes into the presentation and it was revealed that I was from a faith-based perspective, about half of the attendees in the workshop walked out! It was in the description, but not that clear. The 23 who stayed had a good time, I think!
4. Networking with hundreds of vendors again helped me realize how large our industry is and new innovative ways entrepreneurs are seeking to resource us with new ideas and products. There are more and more choices for registration software, insurance, training modules, consulting, apparel, and activities-based equipment! Even if it isn’t affordable, visiting with the vendors helps to generate ideas of how to do it ourselves.
5. The two best workshops were a forum of day-camp leaders that involved shouting out challenges and the community of leaders offering ideas of support and solution. So full of energy! The other was the best staff training workshop ever, attended by almost 200 people – showing how to best organize the subject matter and time. It was led by Kim Aycock (you can find her online).
So, what can we do to stay in touch with what ACA has to offer?
A. Join as a member – first timers are free – which opens a huge box of resources on the website and beyond.
B. Attend your local ACA gathering, which usually happens once a year. You meet the folks doing camp in your area and get a sample of what the national event has to offer. It’s usually not too costly.
C. Become a visitor. An associate visitor is the way to start – you just help the main visitor yet gain the whole experience of visiting a different camp and going over the details to refresh your operation.
D. If you are not accredited, create a timeline towards a time when you will be. There is great help from the ACA staff including phone consultations, pre-visit visits, and online resources. As most of us are more about ministry than details, this helps so much in getting together what we need to do. And UMCRM Association membership gives you a 15% annual organizational discount on the cost (and 50% off for those being accredited for the first time!)
E. Since there is no UMCRM National Gathering in 2024, why not put aside some money each month and plan to go to the next National ACA Conference February 6-9, 2024, in, wait for it…New Orleans!
Rev. David Berkey is Executive Director of Michigan Area United Methodist Camping. He is an active member and longtime supporter of the UMCRM Association, former ACA and UMCRM Board member, and a lifelong advocate for Camp and Retreat Ministries. Thanks for sharing your insights, David!
