Summer camp is a longstanding tradition in American culture. Unfortunately, it's also becoming a struggle for children to attend camp...or for that matter, for camp operators to remain solvent.

The problem isn't lack of willing participants; the truth is that lots of kids want to go. The problem has been that summer camps in North Carolina have increasingly been "pinched" into a shorter time span.

Prior to the passage of North Carolina's current School Calendar Law, the window of time for many camps and campers had been reduced to just a bit over a month...from mid-June to mid-July. This created a ripple effect:

• Fewer children and families could arrange their schedules to make attendance possible.
• Camp sessions had to be reduced. Why conduct camp if nobody could attend?
• Hiring camp counselors (often college students) became difficult. Why engage in a one-month summer job?

Our society struggles with children becoming sedentary and technologically addicted. If for only a short time, summer camps give a respite to that trend, allowing for physical activity, heathy outdoor living and the formation of relationships--often across racial, ethnic, religious and other cultural boundaries.

If you feel strongly about children being able to enjoy summer camps, we invite you to leave a comment below.