Summer camps back in vogue as pandemic wanes

By Nicholas Allen on May 21, 2022.

Photo courtesy of Chris Bolin Summer camps can give children positive impacs on social skills, imagination and more.

The organization in charge of accrediting summer camps in Alberta is trying to increase recognition of the value of camp and what their logo means.
The Alberta Camping Association (ACA) is trying to raise awareness of summer camps after the pandemic affected the ability for some camps to operate, as well as reduce concerns parents might have sending their kids to camp.
According to the ACA, summer camp is the ideal environment for a child to spend time outdoors while learning valuable personal and interpersonal skills. They said it is where adults can nurture children in an outdoor-based environment and help them grow their self-esteem, leadership, kindness, and cooperation.
Vice Chair for the Board of Directors at the ACA Kathleen Gurski said that in Alberta there are currently around 75 ACA accredited camps.
“There [are] some camps that haven’t been open in three years from the pandemic. There are others who have maintained operations throughout, and then there’s some who, you know, scaled back and then are now going back towards a normal summer,” said Gurski.
According to Outdoor Play Canada outside free play is essential for healthy child development, with positive impacts on social skills, imagination, executive function, problem-solving ability, resiliency and more.
“Any person who has attended camp can attest to the value of it,” says Jessica Miller Switzer, executive director of the ACA. “As a former camper myself, I have made sure to enroll my children so that they too can experience the fun and growth that comes from a camp experience.”
According to the Canadian Camping Association, there are positive life skills acquired while at camp.
“Campers are encouraged to be co-operative, caring, tolerant and respectful – qualities which benefit them beyond camp.”
Executive Director at Southern Alberta Bible Camp, Jon Gartly, said it is a great way for kids to get away from normal life.
“You’re getting away from the video games and the phones and getting away from school and getting away from kind of your normal life and just getting put into an environment where it’s just different,” said Gartly. “You learn new things, you’re challenged with different things. you’re able to meet new people, meet new friends.”
According to Gurski, camp is for everybody regardless of socio-economic status, race, religion, creed, gender expression, gender identity, sexuality, level of ability or disability or age.
“We want camp to be an inclusive place for everyone. That doesn’t necessarily mean one camp can be serving all of that diversity at once,” said Gurski.
Although she said it would be great for that to be true, Gurski said it is more manageable for camps to serve different populations. “The camp that I manage, we serve kids with learning disabilities, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and related diagnoses,” said Gurski. “We’re the only overnight camp that serves that population in the entire province.”
According to Gurski, she has a lot of parents nervous about having their children return to camp. She said the best thing for any parent to do is look for the ACA accredited logo at the camp they are planning to send the kids to.
“All staff who work at ACA camps, there’s a certain level of standards; first aid, CPR, as well as vulnerable sector checks,” said Gurski. “I often think a vulnerable sector check is absolutely the bare minimum that someone needs to be working with children to make sure those children are safe.”
She said there is no guarantee at locations that are unlicensed and unaccredited that any of those standards are being met.
“If that logo does not exist at the camp you are sending your child to, it’s time to ask them some really specific questions to ensure your kid is going to be safe this summer,” said Gurski.
Gurski added that it is voluntary for a summer camp to become accredited.
“If you’re doing all the things right, if you’re running a really high-quality program that is safe for the kids and that is doing good work, you would spend the couple hundred bucks to prove it,” said Gurski.
Parents can be confident when selecting a camp accredited by the ACA, according to Gurski, as this designation means that the camp delivers safe, high-quality facilities and programming.
For more information on the accreditation process for camps in Alberta visit the ACA website at albertacamping.com.