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What
the World Could Learn from Summer Camp
In the summer of 2008, Matthew Carroll
decided to work as a counselor at a traditional
American summer camp in upstate New York.
This trip to New York quickly turned into
a journey of discovery. Having just finished
University in his native country of Ireland
only one week before, he thought a couple
of months working in a camp would assist
in his pursuit of avoiding the real world.
It was exactly this mission that made him
realize what the world could learn from
summer camp.
- Everyone is equal – at
camp Carroll noticed that the kids dressed
the same as the counselors; counselors
were dressed the same as kitchen staff;
and office staff were dressed the same
as the head counselors. You couldn't
distinguish the kids whose parents had
saved up for months to send their kids
to camp from those who had spent the
spare change of a week's pay.
- Everyone is respected - While
the campers and American counselors recited
the Pledge of Allegiance, the international
staff looked on in silence. Different
faiths and different cultures were respected
and tolerated. Coming from Northern Ireland
this was not only a novelty but something
that impressed Carroll. People of all
faiths were observing Jewish culture
with respect, while back home in Northern
Ireland, Christians struggle to tolerate
the cultures of other Christians.
- Camp went back to basics – Mobile
phones were banned and internet access
was limited. A strong emphasis was put
on keeping camp tidy, with everyone sharing
in the task of keeping trash off the
ground. Carroll was surprised to learn
that the kids didn't seem to miss "the
outside world." Bringing down the
veil of technology led to more open conversation
between friends, better networking, and
the development of new relationships.
- Everyone was active and playing -
Older kids played with younger kids;
brothers played together; twenty-one-year-olds
challenged eight-year-olds to games of
chess . . . and lost. Kids were able
to play outside in a safe environment
the way they used to.
So what can the world learn from camp?
In short, to let kids be kids. According
to Rodger Popkin, owner/director of Blue
Star Camps and past national president
for the American Camp Association® (ACA),
camp is a human relations laboratory — where
people are encouraged to invent and re-invent
themselves. The process of self-invention
will involve all the building blocks necessary
for a life based on self-knowledge, focused
purpose, and a well-defined understanding
of our personal place in the world.
Contact Public Relations at 765.349.3317
or pr@ACAcamps.org to
interview an ACA
spokesperson for more information
about what the world could learn from
the camp experience. For customizable public
service announcements or article
reprints, visit our Media Center
at http://www.ACAcamps.org/media.
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.
About Matthew Carroll
Matthew Carroll is twenty-three-years-old and is originally from Coleraine, Northern
Ireland. He is a graduate of Queen’s University Belfast with a degree
in French and German. He has previously worked and studied in France, Germany,
and the USA. He most recently worked as a division leader at Camp Scatico in
Elizaville, New York.
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