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by Dr. Nathan A. Schaumleffel, CPRP, and Rebekah Carmichael
 "The
Student Camp Leadership Academy (SCLA) is a weekend retreat that brings together
students, camp professionals, national American Camp Association (ACA) staff
and leadership to explore, learn, and understand what the camp professional
of the future must be and the leadership opportunities within the ACA structure
at the local and national levels to impact the development of youth and others" (ACA,
2008, p. 1). Logistically, the SCLA is a three-day weekend retreat that
takes place in the fall of each year. SCLA is specifically designed for
undergraduate and graduate student members of ACA who have spent at least one
summer working at a camp and who plan to make camp a career.
The SCLA curriculum addresses critical professional development topics, such
as standards, resources, and post-college professional training and conferences
(e.g., New Director's Orientation, BCDC), and current trends and issues
in American camps. The curriculum also addresses the future of the profession
in terms of employment opportunities and industry needs. Most importantly,
SCLA serves as a time for sharing and as a launching pad for college students
to network with their peers, as well as with leading professionals and academics.
History
SCLA is the innovation of Dr. Dale Adkins, professor and chairperson of the
Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Administration at Western Illinois
University. In April 2004 at the ACA Mid-States Conference, Dr. Adkins
gathered together with Gordie Kaplan (Illinois); Tom Neppl (Great Rivers);
Kurt Podeszwa (formerly Illinois); Mary Rogers (St. Louis); Kim Rathsack
(Wisconsin); Gail Tumidajewietz (Wisconsin); Kate Mace (Wisconsin); and Dr.
Sandra Hupp (Illinois) to share his vision and to begin planning the first
SCLA. The group agreed to have a formal planning meeting at Timber
Pointe Outdoor Center on July 12, 2004, to crystallize the SCLA concept,
and plan the logistics and curriculum of the first SCLA. Dr. Hupp (Illinois);
Lee Smith (St. Louis); Gordie Kaplan (Illinois); Tom Neppl (Great Rivers);
Kurt Podeszwa (formerly Illinois); and Gabriel Castillo (Illinois) all attended
the first formal planning meeting. At the July 2004 meeting, the Steering
Committee decided that the initial plan to launch the first SCLA in November
2004 was too ambitious, so the group decided to back up the first SCLA to
fall 2005.
The founders started SCLA in an effort to cultivate young camp professionals
and to educate them about the camp field. The SCLA Planning Committee
has produced three events (2005, 2006, and 2007) thus far, all of which have
been held at Timber Pointe Outdoor Center in Bloomington, Illinois. Since
the inaugural SCLA in 2005, a number of people have joined the SCLA Planning
Committee representing other ACA local offices, such as ACA, Indiana, and ACA,
Michigan.
From a participant perspective, over the course of three events, SCLA has
been a powerful experience for approximately thirty-five students. However,
we, as an association and profession, need to encourage more college students
to attend. SCLA can serve up to twenty-five students per year. SCLA
was developed initially for college students in the Mid-States region of the
United States with the intention of other ACA local offices eventually collaborating
and hosting regional SCLAs throughout the U.S. Interest in the event
has drawn students from around the U.S., which demonstrates a need for the
program. Students have attended from Western Illinois University; North
Carolina State University; Ohio University; Eastern Illinois University; University
of Missouri; Columbia College; Indiana State University; Winthrop University;
Carroll College; Minnesota State University; Mankato, University of Wisconsin;
La Crosse, University of Wisconsin; Stevens Point; Indiana University Purdue
University of Indianapolis; University of Connecticut; University of Georgia;
Michigan State University; University of Wisconsin; University of Illinois;
Purdue University; James Madison University; and the University of Northern
Iowa.
What do SCLA Alumni Have to Say?
SCLA alumni all have extremely positive things to say about their SCLA experience.
2007 SCLA alumus, Evan Russo, reaffirmed his career goals as a result
of SCLA:
"The chance to ask questions and share experiences was
the most valuable to me. We all know camps are a special place, but it is hard
to see a roadmap of how to get from student to camp director/owner. Through
our discussions, we were able to learn from each other as well as our facilitators
and guests." Russo ended by saying that "SCLA taught me
that I am not alone in my dreams and goals."
Janice Rinaldo reflected on her experience by saying:
"If I find a student who is interested in experiential education and
considers working at camp a career opportunity, I would definitely suggest
they apply. The three-day leadership training adds to their resume, improves
their career opportunities, and offers fellowship with others who have found
a passion to do a job they truly enjoy. Oh, and did I mention how much fun
we had? The curriculum has been established and the experienced leadership
in our field could easily duplicate the SCLA. If ACA would like to have 20,000
members by 2020, the time to start increasing awareness is now. Mentoring future
camp leaders needs to start today for the future growth of the organization."
Another 2007 SCLA alum, Shannon Clark, from Indiana State University, said:
"I learned a lot of hands-on aspects and got to talk out real-life situations
with other camp staff and professionals. I would tell anyone that they should
go to SCLA if given the opportunity. The experience of being with other camp
staff members, seeing how they do things at other camps, hearing new innovative
ways to entertain and teach campers new things, and hearing from real professionals
that are in the field either as camp directors or professors and past professionals
was a wonderful learning time all around."
Lastly, Ben Cober, from the University of Illinois, reflected on his SCLA
experience by saying:
"SCLA was not only an excellent net-working tool with my peers, but
introduced me to a number of professionals in the field, which inadvertently
led to an internship the following summer. I learned a very good staff training
tool and discussed some issues with the group that I had always wondered
about the camping industry. It was inspirational, educational, and empowering."
What's in it for Camps?
Currently, most sponsoring Midwestern ACA local offices have one to four SCLA
scholarships available for college students who are members of their local
office. Also, other non-SCLA sponsoring ACA local offices, as well
as other organizations offer SCLA Scholarships. For example, Gary Forster
of YMCA of the USA offered a scholarship in 2007 for a college student who
had worked for a YMCA camp program somewhere in the United States. SCLA
fees can also be paid for by the college student or by the students' past,
current, or future camp. Camps are encouraged to fund their staff to
attend SCLA.
SCLA offers a unique opportunity to camps looking to recruit and retain quality
staff. The students who attend are not your average summer camp job fair
attendees—they are not looking for just another summer job. They
are planning careers in camp and are primed for success. Camps can sponsor
current, former, or future staff members by funding scholarships for college
students who qualify for SCLA. A camp's investment in one or more
SCLA scholarships can serve as a pre-camp staff training tool and can assist
in recruiting staff, both seasonal and full-time. Furthermore, many SCLA
participants combine their SCLA experience by attending future regional and
national conferences, as well as completing national training seminars (e.g.,
New Director's Orientation, BCDC, Standards Training, Visitor's
Training). Investing in your camp career-oriented staff by funding SCLA
scholarships can pay dividends by having your staff gain more training, certifications,
and a larger professional network for them and your camp.
Application Process
The next SCLA will take place November 7-9, 2008, at CampWhite Eagle in Leaf
River, Illinois (thirty miles from Rockford, Illinois). College students
wanting to attend SCLA must apply and be approved to participate through
their ACA section offices regardless of where the funding for the students' SCLA
fee is coming from (even if the student is paying for himself or herself).
The section offices and education/scholarship committees serve as a critical
screening tool for ensuring that students attending SCLA have demonstrated
a keen interest in the camp profession, as well as the maturity to attend
an advanced collegiate training event. For further information, application
deadlines, or application packets for the 2008 SCLA, please visit the SCLA
Web site: www.ACAcamps.org/scla/.
Please, note that all application packets should be submitted to the executive
director of the college students' ACA local office. All attendees must
be a member of ACA.
Conclusion
The SCLA Planning Committee is well into planning for the 2008 SCLA. The
SCLA planning committee is continuing: 1) to recruit more college students
to participate; 2) to encourage other groups of ACA sections to replicate the
SCLA event to keep cost down for students; 3) to encourage more ACA sections
to offer scholarships for SCLA; and 4) to encourage more camps to offer scholarships
as a staff recruitment and staff training tool.
References
American Camp Association (2008). About SCLA: Student Camp Leadership Academy.
Martinsville, IN: American Camp Association. Available: www.acacamps.org/scla/
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