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Green
Spoken Here: Children and Nature Belong
Together
"Children are simply happier and
healthier when they have frequent and varied
opportunities for experiences in the out-of-doors," says
Richard Louv, author of the best selling
book Last Child in the Woods: Saving
Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder and
chairperson of the Children & Nature
Network.
The American Camp Association (ACA) is
pleased to announce a new collaboration
with the Children & Nature Network
to reconnect children with nature. According
to Ann Sheets, ACA's national president, "The
camp community has always been dedicated
to connecting children with nature, and
environmental stewardship serves as one
of ACA’s core values."
In support of the work of the Children & Nature
Network, ACA has launched two Web resources—one
for families and
one for camp
professionals—both sites provide
activities, resources, and information
to help promote the value of connecting
with nature and respecting the environment.
Families can visit www.CampParents.org and
link to "Children and Nature Belong
Together."
Camps Go Green
Camps throughout the United States are "walking
the walk" and becoming increasingly "green." A
recent survey of ACA-accredited camps reported
that 64 percent of ACA day camps and 81
percent of resident camps offered at least
one type of environmental activity or program.
For day camps, 28 percent offer programs
that focus on environmental issues, 27
percent on conservation, and 22 percent
on environmental ethics. For resident camps,
43 percent offer programs that focus on
environmental ethics, 36 percent on conservation,
and 30 percent environmental issues.
- Camps practice what they preach by
recycling and conservation efforts. Sanborn
Western Camps in Florissant, Colorado,
recycle so many products, that they use
a semi to truck to send the recyclables
to a recycling center!
- Many camps are using revolutionary
waste water treatment centers. Camps
implementing the state-of-the-art water
treatment system include YMCA Camp Seymour
in Gig Harbor, Washington; the FFA Camp
Muskingum in Carrollton, Ohio;and 4-H
Camp Ohio, St. Louisville, Ohio.
- Many camps are building "green" facilities. "Green" camps
include Concordia Language Camps in Bemidji,
Minnesota, as well as Tanglewood 4-H
Camp in Lincolnville, Maine, which recently
built ten "green" buildings.
- Camps are using alternative fuel and
energy sources to light up camp and enlighten
campers about the environment. Camps
use solar panels to do everything from
heating a pool at YMCA Camp Seymour in
Gig Harbor, Washington, and energizing
major buildings at Sanborn Western Camps
in Florissant, Colorado, to preheating
water at FFA Camp Muskingum in Carrollton,
Ohio, and to heat water and generate
electricity at Camp Hanover in Mechanicsville,
Ohio.
Contact Public Relations at 765.349.3317
or pr@ACAcamps.org to
interview an ACA
spokesperson on how camps
are going green and the American Camp
Association’s commitment to the Children
and Nature Network and the nationwide movement
to "Leave No Child Inside."
Also, for customizable public
service announcements, story
ideas, article
reprints, including articles about
nature-oriented camp programs, visit
our Media
Center.
Check out last week's Tip
of the Week!
MEDIA CONTACT:
Public Relations, American Camp Association
765-349-3317; 765-342-8456, ext. 317
pr@ACAcamps.org About ACA
The American Camp Association® (ACA) works to preserve, promote, and enhance
the camp experience for children and adults. ACA-Accredited® camp programs
ensure that children are provided with a diversity of educational and developmentally
challenging learning opportunities. There are over 2,400 ACA-accredited camps
that meet up to 300 health and safety standards. For more information, visit www.ACAcamps.org.
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