Summer Camp Is Affordable, According to American Camp Association Northern California

CARMICHAEL, CA--(Marketwire - April 29, 2009) - There is a summer camp for virtually every child and every budget, according to the American Camp Association® (ACA) Northern California.

"Today, some parents might be surprised to learn how affordable camp can be, and what a big impact it can have on their kids," said Sari VanOtegham, president of ACA Northern California. Studies have documented the dramatic physical, psychological and emotional benefits of summer camp.

And the camp industry is working to assure that all children, regardless of their situation, can enjoy this life-changing experience. Here are some tips on how parents can find an affordable camp.

Research the options.

To find a quality summer camp in Northern California visit http://www.ACAnorcal.org./findcamp.php. To learn about camps in general, go to http://www.CampParents.org.

Register early.

Many camps offer discounts to people who commit early.

Consider a day camp.

Day camps tend to cost less than resident camps.

Go for a shorter session.

Camp programs run between a few days and 10 weeks. Kids generally get most of the benefits of camp regardless of the length of the program.

Ask for help.

Ask the camp director what type of aid is available. Each year, camps in the ACA community give away more than $39 million in scholarships, and 90 percent of ACA camps offer some form of financial aid.

Not-for-profit camps might reduce or waive fees for families that can't afford to pay.

Some camps allow people to pay on the installment plan, or give discounts for siblings.

Consider the bigger benefits.

Besides being fun, summer camp benefits children dramatically. In independent research published by the ACA, campers report significant growth in several areas, including leadership, independence, values, decision-making skills and social skills. The research shows that children maintain these gains long after summer camp.(1)

"The most valuable gift you can give your child is the chance to learn and to grow," said VanOtegham. "Summer camp is an investment, not just an activity."

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. More than 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.

(1) 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.

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

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