Time to Think About Summer Camp, Advises American Camp Association Northern California

ORINDA, CA--(Marketwire - February 14, 2008) - It is not too early to think about summer camp, advises the American Camp Association (ACA) Northern California. Many camps begin filling up early in the season. Early registrants typically get the camp, timeframe and activities they want.

Fortunately, parents looking for a quality summer camp in Northern California can easily find the information they need at http://www.ACAnorcal.org/findcamp.php. The online database contains information about the Northern California summer camps accredited by the ACA.

Parents can search for day camps or resident camps by multiple criteria, including location, activity, focus and affiliation. In addition to the more traditional camps, the listing includes family camps, special-interest camps and camps for special populations, such as children with disabilities. Several camps have expanded programs for teens, and many have sliding-scale fees or scholarships. Other resources, including a list of camp fairs, are also available on the website.

"Camp is a wonderful change of pace for kids, but it is much more than a good time," said Sari VanOtegham, president of ACA Northern California. "At camp, kids can have fun, grow and learn in ways that will serve them for their entire lives. Camp can have a positive effect on children for the long term."

Research has shown that children who go to camp improve their sense of positive identity, social skills, positive values and spirituality, as well as increase their physical and thinking skills. The research also shows that children maintain these gains after the summer camp experience. (Source: The Youth Development Outcomes of the Camp Experience research project, 2005. Conducted by The American Camp Association in collaboration with Philliber Research Associates and supported in part by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.)

All camps in the ACA database are accredited, which means they have undergone a thorough (more than 300 health and safety standards) review of their operation, from staff qualifications and training to emergency management. Accreditation is voluntary and, while many good camps are not accredited, ACA accreditation assures families that camps have made the commitment to a safe, nurturing environment for their children.

About the American Camp Association

For nearly 100 years, ACA's community of camp professionals has joined together to share knowledge and experience and to promote positive human development by enriching the lives of children, youth, and adults through the camp experience. Over 7,000 individual members belong to the American Camp Association, which is the only national organization that accredits camps. There are over 2,400 ACA-Accredited® camps throughout the U.S., which meet up to 300 health, safety, and programming standards.

For more information about summer camps in general, visit www.campparent.org and www.ACAcamps.org. To find an ACA-accredited camp in California, visit http://www.ACAnorcal.org, phone 415-453-1832 or e-mail info@acanorcal.org.

Note to Editor: Feature materials, photos and other resources are available upon request and at www.acacamps.org/media_center.

Contact Information: Contact: Kay Paumier Communications Plus 510-656-8512