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.
